There are huge issues affecting cattle producers across the nation. That’s according to Kimball, Minnesota rancher Don Schiefelbein, who was a featured speaker during the 92nd Annual North Dakota Stockmen’s Association Convention. Front and center in Washington D.C. are taxes. “There’s a lot of spending going on, and they’re trying to figure out how to get the dollars to pay for this spending.” Schiefelbein was described by one rancher in the crowd as having ‘a fire in his belly and a passion in his voice.’ While issues like taxes on Capitol Hill may come and go, there is one issue that keeps Schiefelbein up at night. “This inner fighting always seems to occur in our beef industry. Our strongest position is united. How do we best protect the interest of cattle producers?” Another issue, and maybe the most important, are the drought conditions many farmers and ranchers have been battling since last fall. Parts of the Northern Plains have caught some rain showers this fall. Schiefelbein says it’s amazing what two or three inches will do not only for people’s attitudes, but also for the crops and pastureland. Listen to the story.