Government Programs for Ranchers
To access any of these programs, contact the BCCA office
Various programs are available specifically to those impacted by disasters and emergency events.
This initiative addresses situations arising from highway and traffic accidents as well as other emergencies regarding animal care that involve livestock.
Standard Emergency Response Teams are not equipped to be able to handle or manage livestock when they are involved in an accident or disaster situation. It is important for the safety of the first responders, the public at large and the livestock that the proper equipment and trained personal are available to assist during these events.
This program is in partnership with representatives from the BCCA, BC Association of Cattle Feeders, BC Horse Council and Ownership Identification Inc., with input from the RCMP Livestock Unit.
This initiative provides drought extension to livestock and forage producers in the form of workshops, one-on-one producer support, resources for drought management planning and feed access services.
Producers will also be able to ask experts questions as they make decisions on grazing management, alternative feeds, livestock water quality, herd/flock makeup and planning into the longer term.
This program supports development of beneficial management practices (BMPs) and business risk management programs for drought-affected producers. It improve awareness of support available to livestock and forage producers to prepare for and reduce the impacts of future drought.
This project will provide a system for livestock producers to test their water and potentially mitigate losses that result from poor drinking water due to severe drought and dry weather conditions.
There are serious implications for animal health and reproduction if impacts from poor water quality are not planned for and managed appropriately. Typically, impacts from poor water quality are only discovered after animals have become suddenly quite ill or a group of susceptible animals, i.e. calves, die.
This project is modelled after the Saskatchewan Livestock Water Testing program.
The Rancher Liaison (RL) serves as a conduit of information between the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) Incident Management Team (IMT) and affected ranchers.
RLs attend face-to-face planning meetings with the IMT and provide factual information as to the location of livestock and important infrastructure in relation to the wildfire. This becomes particularly important whenever a prescribed burn is planned or when livestock need to be relocated.
RLs provide an invaluable support to the ranching community.
This program helps ranchers round up/gather animals on Crown rangeland affected by wildfire. Riders return livestock to their home ranch sites or to alternative private/Crown sheltering locations as well as manage animals relocated to unfamiliar range tenures or other safe locations.
The program provides much needed support to cattle producers who are facing urgent need. This program covers the costs for hiring skilled riders (horse/quad) to find/move cattle swiftly and safely, allowing cattle to be moved in a way that will cause the least stress on the animals.
* Please note: Range Riders must be 19 years of age or older to apply for compensation
To access most programs, you will need documentation. Keep up-to-date logs or journals throughout the event.
Take a few minutes daily or weekly to record things such as: