ORANGE CITY, Iowa — Producers needing to renew or obtain their certification in Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) or Beef Quality Assurance Transportation have a couple of opportunities to do so in northwest Iowa. In-person trainings are being offered by the Iowa Beef Center, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Beef Industry Council at no cost.
A majority of packers and local auction barns require cattle sellers to be BQA certified. Producers or custom transporters hauling cattle directly to a packing plant on their own trailer must also be BQA Transportation certified. These two certifications are not synonymous.
A BQA training is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to Noon on Dec. 1 at the Calhoun County Expo Center in Rockwell City. An optional lunch ($10 per person) will be offered from 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. and is followed with a BQA Transportation training from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Participants may register for both sessions or a single session by calling the ISU Extension and Outreach Calhoun County Office at 712-297-8611. The snow date is Dec. 3.
A second in-person BQA transportation workshop is set for Dec. 8 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the ISU Extension and Outreach Office in Orange City. Please RSVP to the ISU Extension and Outreach Sioux County Office at 712-737-4230.
Attendance at all sites is limited and face masks are required. Walk-ins will not be allowed. Those unable to attend an in-person training may complete their trainings online at no cost. BQA certification may be accessed at https://bqa.beeflearningcenter.org. BQA Transportation training is available at https://bqatransportation.beeflearningcenter.org.
For more information, contact Beth Doran, ISU Extension and Outreach beef specialist, at 712-737-4230 or email doranb@iastate.edu.
— Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
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