Membership Benefits

There are many benefits of membership in the BC Cattlemen's Association.  Most noteably is that staff, Board of Directors and Committees all work for you, the producers, on lobbying government, communicating the latest industry news & positions, and by offering programs & services to our members.  We a tough and credible advocate for British Columia beef producers.

Efforts of the BCCA are focused in these three areas:

1. Advocating on issues (lobbying)
2. Communicating to the Public and to Producers
3. Programs & Services

ADVOCATING on ISSUES
The BC Cattlemen’s Association works on behalf of all cattle producers to tackle issues impacting the beef industry. We are always ready to take action on behalf of our members.

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

• Communicate the latest information on BSE to producers, students, media and general public.
• Seek BSE support programs that meet the needs of BC cattle producers.
• Argued for compensation to ranchers for the increased costs associated with BSE surveillance.
• Lending support to beef packing plant initiatives in BC.
• Share information with producers about support programs and industry direction on issues.

Aboriginal Affairs

• Monitor and provide input to treaty negotiations with First Nations.
• Intervened in all three Haida Nation vs. Weyerhaueser and the Province of BC court appeals about First Nations Consultation requirements for tenure holders.

Animal Health

• Securing funding to deliver an On-Farm Food Safety Program that will encourage good production practices.
• Promote research that enhances animal production.

Consumer Confidence & Beef Promotions

• Assisting Overwaitea & Save-On Food stores in delivering and promoting a Western Family ™ beef brand in over 200 grocery stores.
• Answering hundreds of media inquiries & interviews in order to provide the public with correct information about our industry and our high food safety standards.
• Attending grocery store meat-dept. promotions and delivering accurate information to our consumers.

Environmental Stewardship 

• Advocating for the protection of ranch's historical water rights recognized in provincial legislation.
• Present the annual Environmental Stewardship Award to deserving cattle producers for their outstanding commitment to stewardship.
• Deliver programs to assist with environmental farm planning, mitigating cattle losses due to wild predators, and livestock water management,etc.
• Protect landowner rights with regard to Species At Risk Legisation and endangered/threatened species recovery.

Land Stewardship 

• Protect ranching interests and provide significant input to the new Forest & Range Practices Act and associated regulations. 
• Provide input to government on changes to range tenure administration.
• Ensure that grazing interests are recognized at the same level as timber harvesting.
• Make certain that range and grazing are included as part of the provincial government's Working Forest legislation.

Research

• Make recommendations on necessary research.
• Award two $2000 grants for beef cattle research into animal health, pasture management, food safety, water quality, etc.
• Support research into biological insect control of new invading plants and established noxious weeds.

Trade & Finance

• Lobbying federal government for increased efforts to re-open the US border to Canadian live cattle.
• Lobby the provincial Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Provincial Revenue for additional items on the Provincial Sales Tax exemption list.
• Argue for amendments to the national income stabilization programs. 
• Award educational bursaries and scholarships to assist worthy students, especially those from rural areas where cattle are raised, with their studies.

Transportation & Noxious Weeds

• Fought to have government assume their responsibilty for highway fence maintenance and reconstruction in an effort to protect public safety and reduce rancher liabilty.
• Participate and assist in founding the BC Invasive Plant Council to address the impacts of noxious and invasive weeds impacting valuable grazing lands.
• Provided signifiant input to ICBC for their Farm Vehicles on the Move brochure

COMMUNICATIONS

BC Cattlemen’s Association has been the official voice of the beef cattle industry for more than 75 years.  We also are an active voice to beef producers through our timely and reliable communications. We reach our membership through:

• Beef In BC – a magazine published 7 times a year and distributed to member & non-member subscribers.
• BCCA Newsletter – published monthly and distributed free of charge to members.
• BCCA Website – your complete source for beef industry information.  Always up-to-date with BSE info, news releases, etc.
• BSE e-bulletins– breaking news and BSE updates circulated free of charge to e-bulletin subscribers.
• Letters, faxes and emails sent directly to our membership in urgent cases.
• Newspaper articles – featured in agri-media and popular urban media newspapers.
• Mailouts - regional and local cattlemen’s associations receive a minimum of three mailouts per year reporting on BCCA activities.
• Directors Updates – a monthly 4 page industry update is circulated to our 29 Directors at the beginning of each month.  BCCA Directors use this update to report current information on issues to the local and regional cattlemen’s associations. 

PROGRAMS & SERVICES

• Wild Predator Loss, Control & Compensation Program is designed to reduce the economic impact of wild predators on cattle.  Three elements of this program include: limiting the damage or loss of cattle; provide predator control measures; and provide compensation for a portion of the losses incurred.  Maximum compensation coverage will be 75% of average price.  Applications are available at the BCCA office.
• Verified Beef Production Program is designed to help producers provide the necessary documentation assuring that safe food practices are applied on their operation.  The program is voluntary and helps producers verify (and provide proof) of the excellent practices already in place on their ranch.  This program shows buyers that food safety is a daily commitment on an operation.
• Environmental Farm Plan Program is designed to assist beef producers in reviewing stewardship practices and accessing funding to farm improvements.  A farm plan is a voluntary and confidential risk assessment that producers do for their own farm.  Several farm planning advisors are available throughout the province to host workshops for groups beef producers free of charge.
• Highways Fencing Program is designed to help increase motorist safety as well as livestock safety along schedule one and two highways across the province of BC.   This program repairs sections of fence located adjacent to a numbered highway, along the highway right-of-way and that is part of a complete containment system.
• Farmland Riparian Interface Stewardship Program is designed to help provincial agriculture producers to protect and enhance water quality, to protect and enhance riparian vegetation, and prevent and mitigate agricultural impacts on streams and lakes.
• Promotions & Educational Materials Services are provided by the BCCA.  Three educational displays can be shipped free of charge to tradeshows, agri-fairs and community events.  A great variety of handouts accompany the display (including bumper stickers, cow erasers, banners, recipes, etc.)