By: Kim Ukura, Morris Sun Tribune

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar visited the West Central Research and Outreach Center on Friday night as part of a rural economic tour to nine counties in western Minnesota over the weekend.

During her visit, Klobuchar took a tour of the renewable hydrogen and ammonia pilot plant and learned about the WCROC's solar heating and cooling systems.

Klobuchar said she's currently working with a bipartisan group of senators to get a five-year commitment on the Farm Bill approved by the so-called Supercommittee, a joint panel tasked with recommending ways to reduce the deficit.

Klobuchar also said one of her goals is to bring back news about the strength of the rural economy to Washington.

Klobuchar started her day at Gorans Brothers Farm in Blomkest, Minn., then headed to Benson to see the Fibrominn Biomass Power Plant, the first poultry litter-fueled power plant in the U.S.

During her tour at the Gorans Bothers turkey farm, Klobuchar said that both agriculture and renewable energy are key components to a strong economy.

“I've always said on the floor of the Senate that rural Minnesota is where it's at right now in terms of jobs and in terms of stability,” Klobuchar said.