Premier Gordon Campbell has committed to establishing a task force on ranching to assist an ailing industry that's lost more than 30 per cent of its herd in five years.

Industry representatives in Kamloops for the B.C. Cattlemen's Association's annual general meeting said it's the first time the province has paid close attention to B.C. beef since a standing committee on agriculture under Social Credit almost four decades ago.

Campbell said the task force, in co-operation with the association, would start immediately after the June 8 swearing-in of MLAs in the legislature and selection of a new cabinet.

Campbell said the task force would determine how ranching families could maintain reasonable returns and incomes.

Roland Baumann, the association's president, said it's a good start, but he's still concerned about funding.

"Some of the things we want to implement actually cost money. I think the first thing we have to address if we sit down on a task force is, 'How much money is available to address the issues?'" he said.

Baumann said ranchers are also looking for a break on the carbon tax.

"That's a disappointing thing so far. I still hope that we find some ways to mitigate that [the carbon tax]," he said.

Baumann said he is hopeful the province and ranchers can work together to find ways to cope with the tough times the industry is facing.

The ranching industry is in a brutal downturn that started with the discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, in cattle six years ago.

Its crisis peaked last year with rising prices for fuel and feed coupled with rock-bottom beef pricing and a skyrocketing Canadian dollar.

With files from The Canadian Press