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Trade with China tops agenda as Sen. Klobuchar visits Minnesota soybean farm

A Minnesota farmer who recently hosted the Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee says trade was a focus during the visit.

Joel Schreurs welcomed Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar to his Lincoln County farm last week.

“The biggest thing that we talked about was the lack of trade into China, and specifically the beans that normally go to the Pacific Northwest.”

Schreurs has been involved with state and national soy grower associations and currently serves on the U.S. Soybean Export Council executive board.

He tells Brownfield the lack of export business is weakening prices.

“And the cashflows don’t work for this coming year. I mean, you’re showing at average yield and average expense anywhere from $150 to $200 deficit per acre. And we just wanted her to understand that.”

Schreurs says Klobuchar talked about the possibility of government payments to help farmers, but where the money would come from remains unclear.

President Trump said recently he wants to use tariff revenue to assist farmers.