Beef Quality Assurance workshops planned

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Beef Association is holding Beef Quality Assurance sessions across the state. These sessions serve as the beef industry’s best source of continuing education and will provide producers with up-to-date standards and technologies to improve animal welfare and beef quality.

Dates and locations of meetings, which all begin at 6 p.m., include:

Dec. 6 — Farm Credit Building, Mt. Vernon.

Dec. 7 — Stephenson County Farm Bureau, Freeport.

Dec. 8 — The BlackRidge, Cambridge.

Dec. 9 — Reel Livestock Center, Congerville.

Dec. 13 — Teutopolis American Legion, Teutopolis.

“The Illinois BQA program is a proven education system that teaches sensible management practices that help improve the quality and safety of beef,” said Travis Meteer, University of Illinois Extension beef specialist and state BQA coordinator. “It clearly demonstrates how a producer’s actions on the farm have a huge impact on the final beef product.”

The BQA program aims to build consumer confidence through proper management education and guidelines for the beef industry. Producers must renew their certification every three years. Those interested can attend in-person trainings or renew anytime via an online training session at www.bqa.org.

BQA trainings are free to IBA members and $20 for non-members, which includes the cost of a meal and training materials. Pre-registration is required. Attendees should RSVP to IBA at 217-787-4280 or online at www.illinoisbeef.com.

These are the only scheduled in-person trainings for this winter and spring. If you need to renew, attend one of these trainings or complete the online certification.

If you have questions about when your certificate expires, contact IBA’s Mareah Rauch at 217-787-4280 or mareah@illinoisbeef.com.