UW-Madison’s Division of Extension and the Wisconsin Beef Council will be hosting a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification meeting Feb. 16, 6:30 pm, at the Eau Claire County Extension Office. Registration will start 30 minutes prior to the listed start time.
Farmers needing recertification can also achieve that through two additional options:
- Online: At this site, you will logon to an existing account or create a new account. Then, click on the ‘Course Catalog’ and choose either the Cow/Calf, Stocker/Backgrounder or Feedyard courses under the BQA Foundational Courses. Once you’ve selected a course, you can work through each lesson at your own pace. The website will keep track of your progress, so you don’t need to complete the entire course at one time.
- Continuing Education (CE) Credits: The BQA program is also offering new courses that will provide you with credit towards renewing your certification. This option is only available to farmers who hold a current BQA certification. By completing three continuing education credits from the options, your BQA expiration date will be extended by an additional three years. To do so, you will login to an existing account or create a new account, click on the ‘Course Catalog’ and choose the BQA Continuing Education Courses to compile 3 credits. The Division of Extension also offers meetings throughout the year which offer CE credits.
BQA does more than just help beef producers capture more value from their cattle. BQA also reflects a positive public image and instills consumer confidence in the beef industry. When producers implement the best management practices of a BQA program, they assure the cattle they sell are the best they can be. Consumer research showed that learning about BQA made consumers more confident in beef safety and animal welfare. It also showed that improved positive consumer perceptions of how cattle are raised for food.
