Task force to examine B.C. ranching
Sunday July 5, 2009 | by Frank Peebles, Prince George Citizen
A task force on the B.C. ranching industry has been struck by the provincial government. Two local ranchers are part of the committee, both beef farmers from the Vanderhoof area.
One of them, Karen Kochel, was included on the panel due in part to her position as president of the British Columbia Breeders & Feeders Association. She and her husband John have a ranch consisting of 5,000 deeded acres which produces the feed and pasture for 700 cow/calf pairs, as well as backgrounding calves. She previously served as director of BCBFA and the Nechako Valley Regional Cattlemen’s Association director and vice president.
The other local rancher is the co-chair of the task force. Roland Baumann is the president of the B.C. Cattlemen's Association, the flagship industry group in the province. He is also the director for the Canadian Beef Export Federation.
"Having industry and government at the same table should bring some good ideas forward and allow us to move quickly,” said Baumann about the launch of the task force. “B.C.’s ranchers have a proud heritage; that’s why we’re looking ahead, and making sure we have a strong industry so the next generation can benefit from it as well.”
The task force is co-chaired by the recently appointed parliamentary secretary to the Ranching Task Force, MLA Terry Lake. Discussions will centre on ways government and industry can work together to ensure a more profitable, self-sustaining industry in the long term, according to Lake.
“Our cattle industry has a tremendous product and a huge potential market for it right here in B.C.,” he said. “We want to see more B.C. families seeking out local beef for their table, and we’ll be exploring opportunities to do that along with other strategies to make the ranching industry successful.”
Eight others are on the panel, and their work is to call upon their individual experiences and solicit input from the industry-involved public. Any comments or ideas must be submitted no later than August 31.
Their stated mission is to "identify key issues and opportunities facing the ranching and beef industry in British Columbia, and make recommendations to ensure a strong, vibrant and sustainable industry in British Columbia for this generation, and future generations."
To meet this outcome the Task Force will:
- Identify policies, regulations and legislation that are adversely affecting the competitive position of the BC cattle industry;
- Identify the most immediate non-regulatory industry priorities;
- Identify actions to be taken by industry and government to ensure a more profitable self-sustaining industry in the long-term.
Any policies, regulations, and legislation that affect the beef industry is open for discussion, said the Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Steve Thomson, to whom the group's final report will be directed.
“It’s become obvious that we need to explore innovative ways of doing business in order to sustain this vital industry,” said Thomson. “This task force will bring together a range of knowledgeable people, and together we’ll make recommendations that will revitalize ranching in British Columbia.”
For more information, please visit the group's website at www.ranchingtaskforce.gov.bc.ca.
