BC Ranchers look for more help from the Province

The B-C government is being urged to review lands in the Agricultural Land Reserve and do more to promote the cattle industry.

The recommendations come from the Ranching Task Force set up by the provincial government to find ways to help the industry, which produces annual revenues of 250 million dollars but, has been hit hard by the recession and drought.

The panel wants a review of land in the Agricultural Land Reserve to make sure the reserve boundaries properly reflect acreage that would be good for ranching or farming.

Among other things it also suggests, more efforts to promote B-C beef in butcher shops and restaurants, faster spending on fencing, and increasing the term of grazing licenses from 10 to 20 years.