BQA Certification Meeting in Blue Hill March 10

Many cattle buyers, sale barns, and packing plants are asking producers for their BQA identification number, and are becoming more insistent on this qualification. Here is a chance for area producers to add one more tool to their producing and marketing arsenal. Any beef producer who would like to become certified for Beef Quality Assurance is urged to attend the meeting that will be held in Blue Hill on Thursday night, March 10 at the Blue Hill City Hall, starting at 7:00 pm. This meeting will qualify regional beef producers for Nebraska BQA certification. It can also be used for past BQA qualifiers to recertify. We will also touch on issues facing the beef industry and what we can do to offset those possible problems and/challenges. 4-H and FFA beef producers/exhibitors may also qualify for YLQA by attending this meeting. The Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance program is a voluntary educational program for beef producers statewide. The program is managed and administered by Nebraska Cattlemen and is jointly supported by the Nebraska Beef Council (NBC), the University of Nebraska - Lincoln (UNL) and the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA). Since its inception almost 5,000 Nebraska beef producers and ranch/feedlot employees have been trained and certified in BQA. Certified producers have received training and education encompassing the BQA guidelines and technical assistance through Nebraska Cattlemen, NC-BQA certified veterinarians and University of Nebraska Extension staff. The Nebraska BQA Program is designed to help cattle producers improve production practices that influence the quality, safety, and wholesomeness of beef produced in Nebraska. Ultimately, the program is intended to assure consumers that beef marketed by a BQA Certified producer is wholesome and safe according to standards set by the Nebraska BQA Program and to provide earned confidence and acceptance of beef. Nationally, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) provides uniform guidelines, best management practices, and leadership to 49 different state and regional BQA. It is a producer-driven, voluntary, and proactive effort targeted at helping beef and dairy cattle producers provide the type of meat and milk that the consumer expects and deserves. Ultimately, this effort to improve Nebraska’s beef will help the U.S. beef industry accomplish its nationwide mission of increasing consumer confidence in, and demand for beef. By participating in the NC-BQA program and adopting BQA production practices, the beef producers are positioning their business to take advantage of opportunities that lie ahead. Making a commitment to BQA isn’t just the right thing to do for the consumer it can also open doors to new marketing opportunities for participating beef producers. BQA can also help the beef producer become more competitive as a marketer. The producer’s active participation in this program is beneficial to building up the world’s image of Nebraska Beef, thus helping the bottom line. In order to secure the proper material we are asking that attendees pre-register for the meeting by Tuesday, March 8, but it is not required. Walk-ins are welcome. Please contact the Webster County Extension Office at (402) 746-3417 or email dlienemann2@unl.edu to register or if you have any questions.