University of Kentucky Extension and Kentucky Beef Network Extend Free Kentucky BQCA Certifications Becky Thompson Director, Kentucky Beef Network The Kentucky Beef Network and University of Kentucky Extension are pleased to announce that they will be extending the free Beef Quality and Care Assurance (BQCA) certifications through February 28, 2022.
After February 28, 2022 the cost of BQCA enrollment will be $5 for in person training through local county extension offices with online training increasing to $10. The National BQA online training program at www.bqa.org also offers free enrollment.
The Kentucky BQCA program takes national BQA practices one step further to provide a holistic program for Kentucky producers, by adding cattle handling and animal care component to the training models. Educational modules provide the best management practices for handling cattle and providing for their well-being, in addition to training on the core principles of BQA.
Producers interested in taking advantage of this opportunity can visit www. kybeefnetwork.com before February 28, 2022 and access the online training platform or contact their county extension office for training opportunities. “We are very excited for this partnership for our Kentucky cattlemen to continue to tell their story to consumers through sound management practices,” says Kevin Laurent University of Kentucky Co-BQCA
Coordinator. The Kentucky Beef Network and University of Kentucky merged their Cattle Handling and Care Program with the National BQA program to create a new program, aptly named the Beef Quality and Care Assurance (BQCA) program. This program was implemented to raise awareness of practices that ensure the proper handling and welfare of cattle while keeping farmers safe and continuing to supply healthy beef to consumers. In turn, this program enables beef and dairy producers to enhance their product, maximize marketability and strengthen consumer confidence.
Mid-South Stocker Conference Online in 2022 Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler Extension Professor, University of Kentucky Due to continued high infection rates of COVID, the 2022 Mid-South Stocker Conference will once again be offered free of charge as an online program. Last year the conference was held online with good attendance and the decision was made due to uncertainties in meeting restrictions to hold the program online again this year.
baleage production, grazing management, new research on respiratory disease, and a 2022 market outlook. The Mid-South Stocker Conference is a joint effort between University of Tennessee, University of Kentucky, and industry to offer an educational program for the stocker and backgrounding sector of the industry.
The conference will be held on February 23, 2022 beginning at 12:00 pm EST. Topics to be covered this year include
To register for the conference, the following online link will be available during the week of January 11th. The
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link is https://tiny.utk.edu/22MSSC for registering. Once registered, an email will be sent to participants to join the Zoom program prior to the event. For additional information go to https:// midsouthstockerconference.utk.edu/ or contact your local county Extension office or email jeff.lehmkuhler@uky.edu . We hope you will join us on February 23 to hear from a great line-up of speakers.
