Among the British Columbia government’s responses to the recommendations of its ranching task force is a pledge for $2 million in domestic and export market development support for the province’s beef cattle sector.
The $2 million in new funding, pledged last week by provincial Ag Minister Steve Thomson, will help the cattle industry “strategically invest in market development opportunities” both domestically and internationally, the province said.
“An investment in research will support our industry to develop markets based on B.C. attributes and ensure our sector remains competitive globally.”
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The provincial market development funding also offers the B.C. cattle sector “the potential to lever up to $3 million” through the federal Agri-Flexibility program for further market development work.
The provincial ag ministry also pledged Thursday that it will continue to indefinitely finance the province’s Beef Cattle Industry Development Fund, which was previously budgeted for $9.347 million through to a fixed end date in 2014.
“This new funding is appreciated and comes at a critical time for the industry,” said Roland Baumann, a Vanderhoof, B.C. producer, president of the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association and co-chair of the ranching task force, in a provincial release.
The province said it will also respond to the ranching task force’s recommendations by “addressing regulatory issues, implementing changes that improve access to water and forage for livestock, and responding to concerns around waste disposal, meat regulations and the (province’s) Agriculture Land Reserve.”
The task force, which was set up in May 2009, “has been an effective tool for ranchers as it has helped raise the profile of ranching among government and given us the opportunity to begin critical conversations with several ministries that have an impact on our industry,” Baumann said.
The task force reviewed and officially endorsed its final report at a meeting at Richmond in November last year.
Following up on the report, the province committed to “regulatory and policy change” across seven ministries, the Integrated Land Management Bureau and the Agricultural Land Commission.
Affected ministries include Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Community and Rural Development, Environment, Forests and Range, Transportation and Infrastructure, Healthy Living and Sport, and Finance.
The province also pledged to raise the profile of ranching in government through strategies such as a new annual “B.C. Beef Day,” which was held Wednesday; a minister’s trade mission; and the continuation of the parliamentary secretary role within the ag portfolio.
Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake was the parliamentary secretary and co-chair appointed to the ranching task force when it launched last year.
The task force said continuing the role of its parliamentary secretary would help to “raise the profile of industry issues with caucus and government.”
