Beef Quality Assurance is a national program that provides training to beef and dairy cattle producers in food safety, proper cattle handling techniques, handling of animal health products, injection sites, and record keeping. The goal of this program is to maximize consumer confidence and acceptance of beef by focusing the producer’s attention to daily production practices that influence the safety, wholesomeness, and quality of beef and beef products.
This BQA Program is being sponsored by the New York State Beef Producer’s Association, in cooperation with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties.
BQA in a Day training will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2017, from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm, in Cattaraugus County. The program will begin at the Mansfield Fire Hall, 7960 S Maples Road, Little Valley, NY at 9:00 am with the classroom training and continue after lunch with the hands-on Chute Side Training hosted by Williams Ranch and Cattle, Jeff and Vicky Williams, 7860 Maples Road, Little Valley, NY. Dr. Shannon Carpenter, Veterinarian with the NYS Department of Ag & Markets, will teach this Beef Quality Assurance program.
The cost for the training for the first person from a farm is $25 which will include the program, BQA manual and lunch, and $15 for each additional person from the same farm. If you already have a BQA manual, the cost is $15 each for the program and lunch. The cost for youth is $8 to cover lunch. This educational program is open to anyone involved in the beef and dairy industry, including 4-H youth.
Youth 14 years old and above can participate in this training and receive their BQA certification. Youth under 14 years of age are welcome to attend the training, but cannot receive the formal BQA certificate.
By attending this BQA training, a producer will receive Level 1 Certification. After signing a Veterinarian Client/Patient Relationship (VCPR), a producer will be Level 2 Certified. The producer then has the opportunity to purchase a farm sign verifying the BQA certification. To maintain the BQA certification, producers should attend a training every three years. The Beef Quality Assurance Program is supported by the Beef Checkoff.
Registration
Pre-registration and payment for this BQA program is required by Wednesday, June 7, 2017 by sending names of participants and a check payable to Cornell Cooperative Extension and mail to CCE, 28 Parkside Drive, Ellicottville, NY 14731.
Questions
Please contact Jeff or Vicky Williams at williamsranchandcattle [at] outlook.com or 716-257-9176; Ted Card at lvg1259 [at] netsync.net or 716-664-3339; or Abigail Luzier, 4-H Program, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cattaraugus County at ajl387 [at] cornell.edu or 716-699-2377 ext. 130 if you need more information or have any questions.
We look forward to having beef and dairy producers attend this important educational program to learn more to ensure the safety and quality of the beef we produce and market.
