BQA Certification Offer for Beef and Dairy Producers
Are you doing your part for the beef and dairy industry by earning your BQA certification? Well, if you aren’t certified, have we got a deal for you!
For a second year, your checkoff-funded Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program is giving you the chance to become certified for free thanks to a partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) and the Beef Cattle Institute (BCI) housed at Kansas State University. The cost of BQA certification is normally $25 to $50; however, from Feb. 3, through April 15, 2014, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) will defray the cost of the certification or recertification, making it free. Visit www.bqa.org/team or www.BIVI-BQA.com to get started.
"BQA provides cattlemen with practical management tools they need to produce safe, high-quality beef for our consumers, says Ryan Ruppert, senior director of Beef Quality Assurance. "BQA also helps discover practices which can improve efficiency and ultimately, profitability."
"One of the challenges that beef producers face is having all of their employees become BQA certified," says Dr. Jerry Woodruff, professional services veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. "BIVI’s partnership with BQA helps offset some of those expenses, and we encourage producers and their employees to use the online training programs."
The beef industry has embraced BQA because it is the right thing to do, and certification is the next step to show your commitment to producing the best beef possible. In 2013, more than 3,500 producers took advantage of the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc.’s support of BQA online certification. BIVI sponsorship of the program again in 2014 demonstrates the company’s commitment to improving the industry and telling consumers about the sound production practices most cattlemen use every day.
The BQA online programs are customized for cow/calf, stocker, feedlot and dairy operations. Developed and managed by the independent Beef Cattle Institute, these easy-to-use modules teach sound management techniques that can be applied to their operations. They also help cattle operations tell their story to consumers who might not understand all of the safety measures cattlemen take in producing the food on the table.
"We're proud to continue this opportunity to bring the BQA certification program to even more American cattlemen and dairy producers in 2014," says David Korbelik, director of cattle marketing for Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. "BQA education aligns with Prevention Works, our focus on preventing disease in cattle. We do this because it is the right thing for the animal, for the producer and for the consumer."
Ruppert says it is "clear that Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. is committed to helping beef producers throughout the industry produced a safe, quality product in a humane manner," adding that "this partnership is a win-win for producers and consumers."
Show you care. Start today by visiting www.BQA.org/team or www.BIVI-BQA.com. For more information about your beef checkoff, visit MyBeefCheckoff.com.
Source: Beef Checkoff
