BROOKINGS, S.D. — In support of pork producers and transporters looking for certification or re-certification in Pork Quality Assurance (PQA Plus) and/or Transport Quality Assurance (TQA), SDSU Extension has planned quarterly regional certification trainings throughout South Dakota.
The next certification training will be held July 19, 2017 in Mitchell at the SDSU Extension Regional Center (1800 E. Spruce St., Mitchell, SD 57301).
The PQA Plus training begins at 1 p.m. (CST) and the TQA training begins at 3 p.m.
“Pork Quality Assurance® Plus (PQA Plus®) is an educational program addressing food safety, animal well-being, environmental stewardship, worker safety, public health and the community. The original, voluntary PQA® educational program was launched in 1989,” said Ryan Samuel, Assistant Professor & SDSU Extension Swine Specialist.
“Demonstrating the commitment of the pork industry to incorporate the latest scientific knowledge and production methods, the most recent version of the program, PQA Plus® 3.0, was introduced June 8, 2016 at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa.”
Similarly, Samuel explained, Transport Quality Assurance® (TQA®) is an educational program for swine transporters, producers and handlers covering how to handle, move and transport pigs and the potential impacts of those actions on pig well-being and/or pork quality. The program was launched in 2002 and the most recent version of the TQA program, TQA® 6.0, provides science-based information on the humane handling and transport of pigs.
Programming details
The National Pork Board update of the PQA Plus® materials have composed a program that more closely matches the format of the Common Swine Industry Audit. Packers continue to require that swine producers and transporters are up-to-date on their certifications before accepting hogs. Producers with current certifications in PQA Plus® 2.0 or TQA® 5.0 are not expected to re-certify in the new versions (PQA Plus® 3.0 or TQA® 6.0) until their certification is up for expiration. However, producers may choose to attend and receive certification that has a new expiration date.
To register
There is no cost to attend the certification training sessions. However, producers and transporters are strongly encouraged to register for the sessions to ensure enough manuals are available.
To register for a training session or for more information, please contact Heidi Carroll, SDSU Extension Livestock Stewardship Associate at Heidi.Carroll@sdstate.edu or 605.688.6623; or Ryan Samuel, Assistant Professor & SDSU Extension Swine Specialist at ryan.samuel@sdstate.edu or 605.688.5431.
Please let us know which site you’d like to attend (see list of additional trainings below) and how many people are attending from your farm.
For assistance with directions, the Mitchell Regional Center may be reached at 605.995.7378.
Huron Training Date is Oct. 18, 2017
Certification training will be held in Huron Oct 18, 2017 at the Beadle Co. Department of Health meeting room (1110 3rd St., Huron, SD 57350). The PQA Plus training begins at 1 p.m. (CST) and the TQA training begins at 3 p.m.
— SDSU Extension
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