ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar made a stop at Paclear Farm in Eyota on Wednesday as part of her 13-county tour focused on rural economic conditions across Minnesota. During the visit, she highlighted growing financial strain within the agricultural sector, noting a rise in farm bankruptcies reaching their highest level in five years. She attributed this trend to elevated production expenses and trade policies involving tariffs. n nKlobuchar expressed skepticism about broad tariff applications, stating they have not benefited crop producers, particularly those growing corn and soybeans, where market values have declined. “I’m not a big supporter of these tariffs,” she remarked, advocating instead for more targeted trade measures. n nRon Pagel, a member of the family operating the farm, acknowledged that while tariffs have created difficulties, they’ve also revealed previously overlooked imbalances in international trade affecting American agriculture. He emphasized that the overall impact is complex and not entirely negative. n nDiscussions extended beyond commodity markets to include broader rural concerns such as access to agricultural technology, upcoming legislative decisions on the farm bill, and shortages in childcare services. Jeff Pagel shared personal experience, noting that securing daycare for his daughter was possible only through early planning, a luxury not all families enjoy. n nThe Pagel family cultivates dairy, corn, soybeans, and oats, and their diversified approach helps stabilize income amid fluctuating market conditions. Ron explained that relying solely on cash crops would leave them vulnerable, but supplementary revenue from selling cull cows—used in ground beef production—has been strong, with prices currently at record levels. n nKlobuchar pointed to Minnesota’s expanding oat industry as a promising development, underscoring the importance of cross-party cooperation in supporting rural communities. She urged lawmakers to back year-round E15 fuel use, revise tariff strategies, and address essential infrastructure needs like housing and childcare, which affect not only farmers but rural populations broadly. n nNext week, Klobuchar will return to Washington, aiming to build momentum for bipartisan action on the next farm bill and policies addressing rural economic resilience. n nShe maintains an annual tradition of visiting all 87 counties in Minnesota to stay connected with local economic realities. n
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Klobuchar visits Olmsted County farm during rural economic tour
ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar visited a farm in Olmsted County on Wednesday to discuss the changing landscape of agriculture in Minnesota as a part of her 13-county rural economic tour. n nDuring her stop at Paclear Farm in Eyota, with the Pagel family, Klobuchar noted farm bankruptcies are climbing to a five-year high. She said it’s been driven by high input costs and tariffs. n n“The prices for the crop, especially with corn and soybeans, have been down, and the tariffs aren’t helping. I’ll be honest, I’m not a big fan of the tariffs,” Klobuchar said. n nThe Pagels recognized their family-run farm has experienced some effects from tariffs, but they also said it’s a complicated picture. n n“The tariffs are not necessarily helping us in all aspects,” Ron Pagel said. “I think there’s another side that people don’t like to talk about. Maybe there’s some benefits. Maybe we didn’t realize what some of the tariffs were against the U.S., and they’re finally bringing [them] to light.” n nThier conversations with Klobuchar also touched on challenges beyond the fields, like ag technology access, the next farm bill, and rural childcare gaps. n n“We were lucky enough to get my daughter into daycare, but I have plenty of friends that haven’t been so lucky, or they have to try to find daycare even before they think about getting pregnant,” Jeff Pagel said. n nThe Pagels produce dairy, corn, soybeans, and oats. The family mentioned dipping their feet into each market helps them ride out the ups and downs of the ag economy. n n“If I’m strictly a cash crop farmer, I’m in a world of hurt,” Ron said. “We have cull cows that we sell [which] basically go into hamburger, into the beef supply. We’re at record prices for those cull cows when we sell them.” n nAs Minnesota’s growing oat market offers some relief for farmers, Klobuchar said it shows why bipartisan support is crucial. n n“So we need to get our colleagues to join with us [on] year-round E15, get rid of some of these tariffs, and get some balance when it comes to the tariffs and just do targeted tariffs,” Klobuchar said. “Do something when it comes to the real needs in rural America, which is daycare and housing and those kinds of things that don’t just affect farmers.” n nNext week, Klobuchar heads back to Congress, hopeful for more bipartisan support on a new farm bill and meeting rural economic needs. n nKlobuchar visits all 87 Minnestoa counties each year. n nFind stories like this and more, in our apps.