VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp hosted a discussion with community leaders, business owners and farmers about issues important to the community’s economic growth.

Heitkamp gathered input from about 30 people in Valley City on Monday to hear about the challenges they face. She said she will return to Washington with the input and work to help boost rural economies and support job growth in rural North Dakota.

She also talked about how the Trump Administration’s ongoing trade war with China is impacting area farmers, ranchers and agri-businesses. She said value added agri-business like the proposed soybean crushing facility near Spiritwood and the proposed vegetable oil facility in Dickinson maybe one answer to the trade war.

Barnes County Soybean Farmer Monte Peterson said we need to get the China market back.

Barnes County Farmer Mike Clemens said the proposed soybean crushing plant near Spiritwood is a good example of a value added market for farmers.

Heitkamp also addressed the importance of finding an answer to affordable housing, solving the high cost of health care and insurance and the importance of making an infrastructure investment to rebuild roads and bridges in America.