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BQA Transportation Certification by 2020
March, 2019
Bridget Stice,
UF/IFAS Extension Polk, Bartow
Pressure from consumers and customers that want to know
more about the beef they buy and be confident that producers do what’s right
for the beef cattle they raise has driven major packers to require BQA (Beef
Quality Assurance) Transportation Certification of all cattle transporters
and suppliers by 2020.
So what does that mean for Florida beef cattle
producers? Probably not
much…..yet. But cow-calf producers are not immune to the demands of the
consumer. This is just a
trickle down the beef industry food chain.
In 2020, the major packers require BQA Transportation Certification
of their haulers. In 20??
feeders require BQA Transportation Certification of their haulers and down
the line the requirement will move, possibly.
The good news? These companies are turning to an
industry-accepted certification program created by cattlemen for cattlemen.
The BQA Program provides education to beef producers and consumers of
how common sense husbandry techniques can be coupled with accepted
scientific knowledge to raise cattle under optimum management and
environmental conditions. In
addition to helping beef producers capture more value from their cattle, BQA
reflects a positive public image and instills consumer confidence in the
beef industry.
The BQA Program has five certifications; Cow-Calf,
Stocker, Feedyard, Dairy and Transportation.
The certification in question, transportation, is just one of these
five. Hopefully most, if not
all, Florida cow-calf operators are already BQA Cow-Calf Certified.
Those that transport cattle may consider adding the Transportation
Certification, not because it is required, but it is a good management
practice.
How does one become certified?
There are two ways to get certified.
Online certification at www.BQA.org
is free. After registering,
participants will complete a training module that can be done online.
Participants can start and stop training at their leisure without
losing progress.
Producers can also attend in-person BQA trainings
through UF/IFAS Extension. Look
for trainings near you or contact your local County Extension Agent to learn
more about upcoming programs.