SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — New Beef Quality Assurance sessions have been scheduled throughout Illinois in July. 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 the meetings, which all begin at 6 p.m., include:
• July 14 — Carthage Livestock Inc., Carthage.
• July 15 — United Producers Inc., Shelbyville.
• July 21 — Sparta Community Building at City Park, Sparta.
“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 at www.bqa.org.
BQA trainings are free to Illinois Beef Association members and a $20 fee for non-IBA members 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. More certifications will be offered later in 2021.