US Cattlemen's Association Fly-In - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

2 days of beating the pavement to meet with lawmakers and top agriculture officials.

Members of the Independent Beef Association of North Dakota recently traveled to Washington DC to help push the 2012 Farm Bill through it's final steps.

Agriculture Reporter Sarah Gustin was on the trip and brings home the top issues circulating on Capitol Hill.

From lawmakers to lawyers, these ranchers are getting the full tour of D.C.

(Jeff Morgan / KS Rancher) "So it was an opportunity with the weather and the drought that we are having to hopefully come out and make a difference, where I could make a difference. I can't make it rain this week, and we need it. But, I could come out here and spend some time with some fellow ranchers and learn a lot."

There's not many legislative days left to move a Farm Bill through the House.

But these nearly 20 producers and beef industry officials are determined to get the job done.

(Buck Maher / ND Rancher) "We got to come down and support these people and all the things they do for us, representing us in the livestock industry. 

(Frank Tomac / ND Rancher) "I think it's real important that we get over to DC. It dispels a lot of rumors that you hear in the backgrounds about our organizations. about COOL or GIPSA. Then you come talk to these people face to face and they say no that's just a rumor."

From the dry areas of Kansas to the deep south of Texas, producers from across the nation share their concerns and struggles on Capitol Hill--emphasizing the importance of pushing the bill through the legislative chambers.

(Jeff Morgan / KS Rancher) "The cracks in the field are larger than I had ever seen. Some people were saying with a tape measure you could measure up to 3 feet down. With the cracks in the soil structure. On our no till ground I could put my forearm down into the ground in the wheat fields and our pastures are cracking the same way. And the ponds are completely dried up. We are bringing them home for water."

(Chuck Kiker / TX Rancher) "This is big feeding country. The corn program, how that effects corn producers and the amount of corn, energy policy on that corn. The ethanol policy is huge to the cattle industry."

(Brooke Miller / VA Rancher) "In our area agriculture is not something that appears to have a very good future because of all the competing interests, yet I think it's a national security issue to make sure that we grow our own food."

(Kenny Graner / ND Rancher) "It is our industry. It is an industry that we want to pass on to our next generation. I am a 4th generation rancher so I want to try to protect and preserve lifestyle that we live."

(Sarah Gustin / sgustin@kxnet.com) "From crop insurance to a livestock protection title, these ranchers know their number one concern is still, will this bill pass before the September 30th deadline. In Washington DC for KX News, I am Sarah Gustin." 

Tomorrow night Sarah Gustin sits down with Deputy Ag Secretary Edward Avalos (ah-vul-ose) to talk about our nation's record livestock exports.