Verona, Wisc. — 2024-25 is the 3-year mark for the majority of Wisconsin farmers certified in the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program.  In 2018, certain packers announced they would only purchase cattle from farms selling finished cattle that are BQA Certified.

The UW-Madison’s Division of Extension and the Wisconsin Beef Council will be hosting in-person Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification meetings over the coming months.  A complete list of those meetings can be found below.  To register for an in-person session, go to https://tinyurl.com/2hr5karf, call one of the County Extension offices listed below, or call the Wisconsin Beef Council at 1-800-728-2333.

Farmers needing to get recertified can also achieve that through two additional options:

• Online by going to https://www.bqa.org/beef-quality-assurance-certification/online-certifications. At this site, you will logon and choose either the Cow/Calf, Stocker/Backgrounder or Feedyard 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 educational 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 (3) continuing education credits from the options found on the website, your BQA expiration date will be extended by an additional three years.  Available courses include BQA Transportation (2 credits), Biosecurity (1 credit), Foundations of Herd Health (1 credit), Principles of Stockmanship (1 credit), and Herd Health Management Practices (1 credit.)  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, conducted by the Beef Checkoff, showed that learning about BQA made consumers more confident in beef safety and animal welfare and improved positive consumer perceptions of how cattle are raised for food.

The in-person BQA certification meeting dates below are current as of printing. Registration will start 30 minutes prior to the listed start time.  Please go to https://tinyurl.com/2hr5karf or call one of the County Extension offices listed below to register.  If no phone number is provided, call the Wisconsin Beef Council at 1-800-728-2333 to register.

Sep. 24, 2024 | 6:30 pm: Equity Livestock Sparta, 6089 State Hwy 16, Sparta. 608-637-5276

Sep. 26, 2024 | 5 pm: Grant County Youth & Ag Building, 916 E. Elm St., Lancaster. 608-723-2125

Oct. 15, 2024 | 5:30 pm: Light dinner, Equity Livestock Stratford, 214910 St. Hwy 97, Stratford. 715-748-1413

Oct. 22, 2024 | 12:30pm: Light lunch, 1pm program, Bloomington Livestock Exchange, 9663 County Hwy A, Bloomington, WI 53804. 608-723-2125

Oct. 24, 2024 | 12:30pm: Light lunch, 1pm program, Belmont Sale Barn, 26770 Sales Barn Ln, Belmont, WI 53510. 608-723-2125

Nov. 13, 2024 | 1 pm: Iowa County Extension Office/Health & Human Services Bldg., 303 W. Chapel St., Dodgeville. 608-723-2125

Dec. 06, 2024 | 9 am: Equity Coop Bonduel, 455 N. Cecil Street, Bonduel. 715-748-1413

Dec. 09, 2024 | 5 pm: South Central Livestock Exchange, S4340 County Hwy S, Reedsburg

Dec. 10, 2024 | 1 pm: Equity Coop Monroe, N1365 State Road 69, Monroe. 608-723-2125

Dec. 13, 2024 | 1 pm: Watertown Public Library, 100 S. Water St., Watertown

Jan 7, 2025 | 5 pm: Multi-purpose Building, 11974 Ames Rd, Darlington. 608-723-2125

Jan. 11, 2025 | 9 am: Ice Age Pavilion, 847 Fayette Ave, Rib Lake. 715-748-1413

Jan. 13, 2025 | 6 pm: UW-River Falls Mann Valley Farm, 129 S Glover Rd, River Falls

Jan 16, 2025 | 12 pm: Equity Coop Lomira, N11579 Industrial Dr, Lomira.  920-294-4032

Jan. 16, 2025 | 6 pm: Manchester Rod & Gun Club, W3614 S Gate Rd, Markesan. 920-294-4032

Jan. 29, 2025 | 1 pm: Equity Coop Altoona, 5150 Hwy 53 South, Eau Claire. 715-748-1413

Feb. 10, 2025 | 5 pm: Richland County Extension Office, 1100 US-14, Richland Center.  608-647-6148

Any questions related to BQA certification or upcoming meeting dates may contact the Wisconsin Beef Council at 1-800-728-2333.

Categorized: Agriculture