By Andi Anderson
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, in collaboration with the Iowa Beef Industry Council, is organizing a series of Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) workshops this September.
These workshops are scheduled on three consecutive Wednesdays in central and south-central Iowa, providing an excellent opportunity for beef producers to learn about the BQA program and become certified.
BQA certification has become increasingly important as major beef packers now require producers to hold a current BQA certificate before purchasing market-ready cattle.
Chris Clark, a beef specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, emphasized, “It’s essentially about market access for those selling fed cattle. All major packers now demand BQA certification from their suppliers. Beyond meeting this requirement, the BQA program offers valuable information that producers can apply directly to their operations.”
The workshops will cover a broad range of topics essential for BQA certification, including animal care and handling, feed management, proper injection site techniques, biosecurity, and record-keeping.
These sessions are designed to provide participants with practical knowledge that they can immediately implement in their beef cattle operations.
Iowa beef producers, veterinarians, feed industry personnel, and others interested in beef cattle production are encouraged to attend. Each session is free and open to the public, but preregistration is requested two days prior to the program date.
The workshops are scheduled as follows:
Wednesday, Sept. 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the ISU Extension and Outreach Davis County office, 402 E. North St., Bloomfield. Light refreshments will be provided. To register, contact Jami Seaman at 641-664-2730 or jseaman@iastate.edu.
Wednesday, Sept. 18, 6-8 p.m. at the Humeston Livestock Exchange, 1026 N. Front St., Humeston. A meal will be served at 5:30 p.m. To register, contact Denise Hutchison at 641-872-1755 or deniseh@iastate.edu.
Wednesday, Sept. 25, 6-8 p.m. at the ISU Extension and Outreach Marshall County office, 2608 S. 2nd St., Marshalltown. Light refreshments will be available. To register, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Marshall County office at 641-752-1551 or chelsea@iastate.edu.
These workshops provide a critical opportunity for beef producers to gain the certification necessary for market access while also enhancing their knowledge of best practices in cattle management. Don’t miss out on this valuable training.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-sstajic
Categories: Iowa, Livestock, Beef Cattle