Are YOu Interested in Becoming a Beef Quility Assurance Producer?

If we were to have a meeting on this subject 1. Would you attend? 2. Where would be the best place to hold it? a. Hope b. Artesia c. Carlsbad. E mail me back and let me know!!!! Date March 22, 23, or 24. Day meeting or night? E-mail me your answers whoughto@nmsu.edu Procedure Step 1: New Mexico Trained Producer To become a New Mexico BQA Trained Producer, you must complete and pass the BQA Certification Test. This can be accomplished by going to your local County Extension Office where the brief written test will be administered. If you are unfamiliar with Beef Quality Assurance principles, you will need to view the BQA Training Module before taking the test. In fact, all producers are encouraged to do this. You can do this at the local extension office or here on-line by viewing "Training Module." Step 2: New Mexico Certified BQA Producer The second step in the program is to become a New Mexico BQA Certified Producer. This step can only be completed after satisfactorily completing the requirements to become a New Mexico BQA Trained Producer as outlined above. Certified Producers must complete two additional documents, the VCPR document and the Critical Management Plan/Affidavit of Compliance The completion of these two documents are the producer's way of certifying that he/she agrees to follow proper BQA guidelines in cattle production. To view the BQA Training Module, click here. (Note: Viewing the entire BQA Training Module may take from 1 to 2 hours. You may view portions of the module and return later to complete viewing at any time.) The New Mexico Beef Quality Assurance Program (BQA) asks producers, veterinarians, and all others involved in the production of beef to use common sense, reasonable management skills and accepted scientific knowledge to avoid defects in the product we deliver to the consumer. In response to that opportunity, the New Mexico Beef Quality Assurance Program was developed. This program provides guidance in educating beef and dairy producers in the importance of management practices used in beef production. The New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service provides leadership to this program. A Beef Quality Assurance Task Force provides guidance and advice to the program, in conjunction with the New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association, Dairy Producers of New Mexico, the New Mexico Livestock Board, the New Mexico Beef Council, and other related organizations and allied industries. What is BQA? Beef Quality Assurance is a nationally coordinated, state implemented program that provides systematic information to U.S. beef producers and beef consumers of how common sense husbandry techniques can be coupled with accepted scientific knowledge to raise cattle under optimum management and environmental conditions. BQA guidelines are designed to make certain all beef consumers can take pride in what they purchase – and can trust and have confidence in the entire beef industry. BQA programs have evolved to include best practices around good record keeping and protecting herd health, which can result in more profits for producers. When better quality cows leave the farm and reach the market place, the producer, packer, and consumer all benefit. When better quality beef reaches the supermarket, consumers are more confident in the beef they are buying, and this increases beef consumption. The efforts of BQA across the nation have been instrumental in recent successes that continue to re-build and sustain beef demand. Through BQA programs, producers recognize the economic value of committing to quality beef production at every level - not just at the feedlot or packing plant, but within every segment of the cattle industry. The guiding principles of BQA are based on these core beliefs: • WE BELIEVE production practices affect consumer acceptance of beef. • WE BELIEVE the BQA Program has and must continue to empower beef producers to improve the safety and wholesomeness of beef. • WE BELIEVE these fundamental principles are the fabric of the BQA Program. Empowering people…because producers can make a difference. Taking responsibility…because it’s our job, not someone else’s. Working together…because product safety and wholesomeness is everyone’s business.