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Sen. Smith 'inspired' by Luverne economy

Lead Summary
By
Lori Sorenson

U.S. Sen. Tina Smith spent time in southwest Minnesota Thursday, May 30, on a “rural economy tour” of outstate communities.
She boarded the Luverne Trolley that afternoon and visited Midwest Dry Cast, Premium Iowa Pork and Dragonfly.
“It’s good to be here today,” she said. “To see what’s happening out here is really inspiring.”
She said she was impressed by what she saw and the people she met. She particularly praised the public-private partnerships that have encouraged growth.
“There is some amazing and creative activity out here creating jobs and real opportunities,” she said. “The best ideas are coming from the people with boots on the ground doing the work.”
She said it’s encouraging to see Luverne and other communities benefiting from the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System, and she said she’s working to support initiatives to improve the labor force for outstate businesses.
See the guest editorial on page 4 for her response to the Luverne visit.
Her day wrapped up with a meet-and-greet event at Take 16 where city and county leaders, along with local business and ag leaders, were on hand to exchange information.
The farm crisis was one topic that emerged.
“Our farmers are really living through a double whammy of trade disputes, low prices and bad weather,” Smith said. “Some are wondering if they’re even going to plant this spring.”
Rock County Farm Bureau President Peter Bakken offered perspective on how the current farming crisis is affecting the community.
“Right now we’re looking at a 15-percent reduction in yield on 143,000 acres of corn in Rock County,” he said.
Considering $4 per bushel corn (the spring crop insurance guarantee), that adds up to $15.4 million loss in gross revenue for those corn acres.
“And if you use the $7 economic multiplier effect, that’s $108 million not coming to town,” Bakken said about businesses that rely on agriculture spending.
Corn needed to be planted by May 31 in order to qualify for full crop insurance coverage, but as of June 1, only about half of Rock County corn was in the ground.
Producers that missed that deadline have a host of options to consider — plant late, don’t plant, switch to soybeans, plant something else …
At stake are a host of outcomes with potential for major impact on farm revenue — insurance coverage, reduced yield, prevent plant payments, possible disaster compensation and more.
Bakken urged Smith and other legislators not to overlook livestock producers in disaster aid packages. “If the price of corn is going through the roof … we need corn for feed and bedding.”
Rock County Commissioner and Magnolia farmer Gary Overgaard reminded Smith that agriculture relies on stable markets.
“We don’t want a government handout,” he said. “We want a fair price for our products.”
Several farmers asked about a solution for tariffs on ag commodities and trade disputes with countries that purchase U.S. ag products.
“I hope we can get these trade disputes in hand,” Smith said, adding that she’s optimistic about a U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.
“Yes, it’s important to stand up for American businesses and for fair trade, but it’s not a good idea to start a multi-front trade war. It’s chaotic and it’s harming our economy.”
As a ranking member of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Rural Economic Development and Energy, Smith said she would use her influence to help rural Minnesotans.
Smith toured the Minnesota Veterans Home earlier in the afternoon to observe the facility’s 25th anniversary and to meet with local Veterans Affairs officials who were on hand for a Memorial Day event with residents and staff.
Smith is Minnesota’s former lieutenant governor under DFL Gov. Mark Dayton from 2015 to 2018 when she was appointed to the U.S. Senate seat that was vacated by Sen. Al Franken.
She won the 2018 special election to fill the remainder of that term, defeating Republican Karin Housley, a Minnesota state senator.

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