The Minnesota Farm Bureau, which rarely endorses Democrats, is backing U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar for reelection.

Klobuchar's campaign announced the endorsement Friday. The bureau backed Klobuchar's Republican opponent in 2006, but this year says the Democrat has been "a strong and effective advocate for Minnesota farmers."

Klobuchar is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. The Farm Bureau praised her for working with Republican colleagues on a number of agricultural and rural issues, including passage of the bipartisan 2012 Farm Bill in the Senate.

Klobuchar's Republican opponent, Kurt Bills, has said he would not have supported the recent Farm Bill because its price tag was too high.

Klobuchar is also endorsed by the Minnesota Farmer's Union, a more liberal group.