Don’t discount importance of the farm [UPDATED]

Published 9:23am Friday, March 15, 2013 Updated 11:24am Friday, March 15, 2013

With all of the economic fluctuation in the last several years, Otter Tail County residents have felt the squeeze, but things have remained relatively stable compared to most of the country. Much of the reason for this can be found in the dirt. We would like to recognize our local farming community and the farmers themselves for helping the area stay on track.

Minnesota has about 81,000 farms covering about 27 million acres. It is this land that puts the state in fifth place in the nation for annual farm income. Producing basic life essentials drives much economy in the area, and this is what has kept the area thriving when much of the U.S. is not.

Increased knowledge of agriculture and nutrition can help us make more informed personal choices when it comes to diet and health. The more we know about what we consume, the more likely we are to make healthy decisions.

We thank everyone involved in the agriculture industry for keeping the economy of the area healthy and thriving. It is the hard work of farmers, tractor mechanics, truck drivers, welders and farm hands that have made this possible.

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