Through membership in the Canadian Bison Association (CBA) and their regional associations, bison producers provide financial support to assist the associations in protecting and promoting the interests of the bison industry. This support enables the national and regional associations to provide benefits that include:

• Smoke Signals, an industry magazine and Bison Link an association newsletter both published three times per year, a national electronic newsletter and regional new letters to keep members current on industry issues
• Seminars and a national conventions to educate members and to enhance their management practices both in production and marketing

The Canadian Bison Association and regional associations represent their members in many ways. These include:

• Lobby on industry’s behalf to ensure the interests of the bison industry are considered in federal and provincial policy development
• Lobby on the industry’s behalf to remove trade restrictions both domestically and internationally
• Represents the interests of the bison industry to assist in opening the U.S. border to live bison and bison products
• Lobby on behalf of the industry to obtain financial assistance as required. i.e. $550,000 Other Ruminant Market Development Program
• Represent the industry in dealing with animal health issues i.e. worked with CFIA to move to TB/Brucellosis slaughter surveillance rather than live animal testing, thus reducing the stress on bison, facilities, and handlers while reducing operating costs
• Lobby on behalf of the industry and prevented plains bison listing as a threatened species under the Species at Risk Act
• Represent the industry in dealing with conservation and environmental issues
• Work with the National Bison Association in the U.S. to ensure free trade in bison and bison products as well as sharing industry knowledge
• Develop national marketing strategies and promotional material
• Increase consumer awareness by participating in food shows
• Administer the bison identification and trace back program
• Administer the On Farm Food Safety Program
• Developed a Code Of Practice for producing bison
• Developed grading program for bison
• Funds research in production, finishing and marketing of bison
• Promote the bison registry                                             

Where appropriate, regional associations work with their provincial governments to ensure provincial programs and support include the bison industry.

The activities of the Canadian Bison Association and Regional Associations are supported financially by membership.  Non-members have access to all of these benefits, and are encouraged to join to support the Canadian and Regional Bison Association’s initiatives and activities.