BCRC highlights its past year of industry investments in research and extension

The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) has released its 2023-2024 Year in Review highlighting key activities and outcomes from the past fiscal year. The report showcases how producer investments in the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off are tackling beef industry priorities while generating maximum value from every research dollar.  

“The BCRC uses producer input to direct Check-Off dollars toward priority beef and forage research projects,” says Alberta producer and BCRC Chair Craig Lehr. “Our practical extension materials make certain this research doesn’t just sit on a shelf, but it actually gets out to producers so we can improve our individual operations and make our industry even better.” 

The 2023-2024 BCRC Year in Review reports funding, project spotlights and research findings for: 

• 23 research and technology transfer projects from Canada’s Beef and Forage AgriScience Cluster, 
• 75 priority research projects, 
• 14 proof of concept projects and  
• more than 200 extension activities and projects funded outside of the Cluster.  

The report also features university research chair positions, mentorships, and other collaborative activities in which the BCRC is involved. It includes an update from the national Verified Beef Production Plus program that the BCRC continues to fund and oversee.  

“This report is just one of several ways the BCRC strives to share the impacts research is having on industry productivity, beef quality, food safety and public trust with our investors — which are Canada’s beef cattle producers,” said BCRC Executive Director Andrea Brocklebank. 

In addition, the Year in Review provides a broad funding overview by program area and source. In the past fiscal year, the BCRC received on average $0.67 (unaudited) of every $2.50 of the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off collected by provincial beef cattle associations. Typically, for every $1 of producer investment, the BCRC looks to leverage $2-3 in other direct funding and in-kind contributions. 

This annual stakeholder report offers a visual summary of the BCRC’s 2023-2024 Results Report, which was submitted to the Canadian Beef Cattle Research, Market Development and Promotion Agency, and covers the fiscal year, July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024.