OSU Extension in cooperation with United Producers Livestock Auction in Creston is holding a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification training on Friday, October 19 from 11 am to 1:00 pm.  Please plan on arriving 15 to 20 minutes before the start of the training to allow time to fill out the registration form.  BQA certification is applicable to and recommended for, both beef and dairy producers.

Consumer expectations are affecting beef cattle marketing.  Tyson Foods, who harvest and process 25% of the US beef market share, and also Wendy’s, now the second largest fast food hamburger chain in the U.S., have both announced that beginning in 2019, cattle they purchase must originate from producers and feedyards who are Beef Quality Assurance certified. Not only are today’s consumers sharing their concerns, but now the businesses who are supplying the public’s demand for a quality beef product raised in a humane and sustainable fashion also want some guarantees that it’s happening throughout the production chain.

The BQA certification involves a set of best management practices, many of which are common sense.  According the to the BQA web site, BQA is valuable to all beef and dairy producers because it:

• Demonstrates commitment to food safety and quality.
• Safeguards the public image of the dairy industry.
• Upholds consumer confidence in valuable beef products.
• Protects the beef industry from additional and burdensome government regulation.
• Improves sale value of marketed beef cattle.
• Enhances herd profitability through better management.

For more information about the BQA certification training, contact Creston Livestock at 330-435-6867 or the Wayne County Extension office at 330-264-8722.