Verona, Wisc. — The UW-Madison’s Division of Extension and the Wisconsin Beef Council will be hosting in-person Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification meetings in January and February. A complete list of those meetings can be found below. Please go to https://tinyurl.com/2hr5karf or call one of the County Extension offices listed below to register. If no phone number is provided, call Wisconsin Beef Council at 1-800-728-2333. Check-in will start 30 minutes prior to the listed start time.
Jan 7, 2025 | 5 pm: Multi-purpose Building, 11974 Ames Rd, Darlington. 608-723-2125
Jan. 11, 2025 | 9 am: Ice Age Pavilion, 847 Fayette Ave, Rib Lake. 715-748-1413
Jan. 13, 2025 | 6 pm: UW-River Falls Mann Valley Farm, 129 S Glover Rd, River Falls
Jan 16, 2025 | 12 pm: Equity Coop Lomira, N11579 Industrial Dr, Lomira. 920-294-4032
Jan. 16, 2025 | 6 pm: Manchester Rod & Gun Club, W3614 S Gate Rd, Markesan. 920-294-4032
Jan. 29, 2025 | 1 pm: Equity Coop Altoona, 5150 Hwy 53 South, Eau Claire. 715-748-1413
Feb. 10, 2025 | 5 pm: Richland County Extension Office, 1100 US-14, Richland Center. 608-647-6148
Farmers needing to get recertified can also achieve that through two additional options:
- Online by going to https://bqa.beeflearningcenter.org/login/index.php. At this site, you will logon to an existing account or create a new account, click on the ‘Course Catalog’ and choose either the Cow/Calf, Stocker/Backgrounder or Feedyard courses under the BQA Foundational Courses. Once you’ve selected a course, you can work through each lesson at your own pace. The website will keep track of your progress, so you don’t need to complete the entire course at one time.
- Continuing Education (CE) Credits: The BQA program is also offering new courses that will provide you with credit towards renewing your certification – this option is only available to farmers who hold a current BQA certification. By completing three (3) continuing education credits from the options found on the website, your BQA expiration date will be extended by an additional three years. Available courses include BQA Transportation (2 credits), Biosecurity (1 credit), Foundations of Herd Health (1 credit), Principles of Stockmanship (1 credit), and Herd Health Management Practices (1 credit.) Again, you will logon to an existing account, click on the ‘Course Catalog’ and choose the BQA Continuing Education Courses to compile 3 credits. The Division of Extension also offers meetings throughout the year which offer CE credits.
- If you need help with getting logged into the system, contact tvaassen@beeftips.com or call 608-833-7177.
BQA does more than just help beef producers capture more value from their cattle: BQA also reflects a positive public image and instills consumer confidence in the beef industry. When producers implement the best management practices of a BQA program, they assure the cattle they sell are the best they can be. Consumer research, conducted by the Beef Checkoff, showed that learning about BQA made consumers more confident in beef safety and animal welfare and improved positive consumer perceptions of how cattle are raised for food.
Any questions related to BQA certification or upcoming meeting dates may contact the Wisconsin Beef Council.
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