Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:32:53 -0500
From: Sam Groce
Subject: News Release on Beef Quality Assurance Training
Upcoming Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Training Program
Many of you will remember during 1997-98 there was the initiative called th=
e North Carolina Certified Beef Producer Program also called Southeast Prid=
e, which encouraged producers to not only vaccinate and more actively manag=
e their animals, but also the proper methods for doing this. Unfortunately=
, this program never really got off the ground the way that the organizers =
had hoped it would have.
As a part of a national initiative North Carolina has decide=
d to revive this program, but with not only a new name, but new information=
and new practices, partly brought on from the foreign animal disease threa=
ts that we now face and the changing global markets in the beef industry. =
The North Carolina Beef Quality Assurance Program is a voluntary program de=
signed to certify producers about those issues surrounding production and m=
arketing that are vital in today’s markets. As far as I know this program =
will continue to be a voluntary program, however, in the near future there =
will probably be some special sales that require certification to participa=
te in those sales and other markets will become available to those producer=
s who are certified. The new training program will not only allow you to e=
arn your certification, but will also provide you with some excellent resou=
rce materials to use in your operation.
There will be North Carolina Beef Quality Assurance Program =
training held in Chatham County on Tuesday March 23, 2010, at Carolina Stoc=
kyards, Inc. in Siler City. The training program will last for 2 hours. F=
ollowing the training producers who wish to be certified will be required t=
o take a 20 question test from material covered in the training. Producers=
will be required to pass the test with a minimum of 80%. The cost of memb=
ership in the program will be $15.00 for a three year period of time if you=
are a member of the North Carolina Cattlemen’s Association. If you are no=
t a member of the North Carolina Cattlemen’s Association the cost of member=
ship in the BQA program will be $40.00. Every three years a certified memb=
er of the BQA program will be required to take a recertification training t=
o keep their membership active.
The Tuesday March 23, 2010, training at Carolina Stockyards,=
Inc. in Siler City will begin at 6:45 p.m. Training should end by 9:15 p.=
m. Preregistration required by Friday March 19, 2010. In order to have th=
e training materials on hand that is needed, please call the Chatham County=
Center at 919.542.8202 or e-mail . We are tentatively =
planning a Value-added, Beef Quality Assurance Graded Feeder Calf Sale for =
Carolina Stockyards on September 1, 2010. Even though this program is co=
mpletely voluntary, to participate in the Value-added BQA sales you will ne=
ed to be certified producer.
North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State=
University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunit=
y regardless of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, age, di=
sability, or veteran’s status. In addition, the two Universities welcome al=
l person without regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State Univers=
ity, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, a=
nd local governments cooperating.
Persons with disabilities and persons with limited English proficiency may =
request accommodations to participate by contacting Carolyn Langley, Interi=
m County Extension Director, at 919.542.8202 or , o=
r in person at the County Extension Office at least 5 days prior to the event.
Samuel E. Groce
Extension Agent
Livestock & Forages, Field Crops, Pesticide Education
Chatham County Center
North Carolina State University
Post Office Box 279
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Telephone: 919.542.8202 FAX: 919.542.8246
Homepage: http://chatham.ces.ncsu.edu/
e-mail: