An Overview of the Beef Quality Assurance Program, funded by the Beef Checkoff By Jesse Fulton M.S., Associate Director of Producer Education; National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff With the beef industry continuously looking to improve everyday practices on the farm or ranch, it is important producers have the most up to date information and resources. This is where the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the beef checkoff, Producer Education team comes into play. The Producer Education team oversees two beef checkoff-funded programs, the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program and the National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA) research project. So what are these programs and how can they help producers succeed?

20 | SPRING 2019

BEEF QUALITY ASSURANCE

The beef checkoff-funded national Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program, started in 1991, has worked to improve and enhance the desirability of beef by educating producers on best management practices that improve beef quality and provide consumers with a safe, wholesome, and healthy beef supply. The nationally coordinated, state implemented program partners with BQA state coordinators across the country who organize and execute BQA training opportunities in their state. Since the program was initiated,

it has grown and reached hundreds of thousands of beef producers through education and certification programs. In the spring of 2017, the BQA program launched an all new, fully interactive, online learning system for cattle producers. The new online BQA training provides 24/7 access to the program through a series of videos and animation. While in-person training is still available through numerous sessions conducted by instate BQA coordinators throughout the country, online certification provides a chance for certification at any time. Three courses are available (cow/calf, stocker/backgrounder