Rome, NY (November 2023) – The New York Beef Council (NYBC) is happy to announce the successful culmination of October BQA Month in the Empire State. Throughout the month, cattle producers and enthusiasts gathered at six different locations across New York State for in-person Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) trainings, promoting best practices and ensuring the well-being of our livestock.
The NYBC, in partnership with several Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Educators, hosted a series of interactive and educational events to celebrate October BQA Month, a statewide initiative aimed at enhancing cattle production and carcass quality. These events brought together cattle producers, veterinarians, and industry experts to share knowledge, insights, and best practices.
The six locations for in-person BQA trainings were strategically chosen to ensure accessibility for cattle producers throughout the state, fostering a sense of community and cooperation among New York's cattle industry. The BQA trainings covered a wide range of topics, including animal welfare, bio-security, environmental stewardship, and safe handling techniques. Participants had the opportunity to engage in hands-on activities, demonstrations, and discussions, ensuring that they left with practical skills and knowledge to apply to their farms.
"We just concluded a very successful October BQA Month in New York State. Our in-person trainings drew participants from various backgrounds within the cattle industry and they all learned a lot, continually improving their farms," said Nancy Glazier, Livestock Specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension. "These events were a testament to the dedication of our cattle industry in ensuring the highest standards of quality and care for their livestock."
To further the reach and educational component of the NY BQA program Nancy Glazier and Chrissy Claudio, who serve as co-coordinators of the NY BQA program, recently visited Cornell University to work with upcoming veterinary science graduates to introduce them to the BQA program and the benefits of it to the local Beef industry through a two-day hands-on experience. In addition, they also trained and networked with CCE Ag-Educators during Cornell University’s recent agriculture educators’ annual personal development event dubbed Ag In-Service.
Dr. Julia Hermann, Beef Cattle Specialist Veterinarian at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association visited NY during the October BQA Month celebration and connected with the vet students about the value of the Beef checkoff-funded BQA program. The NYBC and its partners are committed to continuing their efforts to promote BQA principles and practices throughout the year. They encourage all cattle producers in New York State to participate in BQA training and certification to uphold the highest standards of quality, safety, and sustainability in the industry.
For more information about upcoming events and how to get involved with the New York Beef Council and BQA initiatives, please visit our website at www.nybeef.org
About the New York Beef Council: The New York Beef Council is funded by the $1-per-head National Beef Checkoff Program and is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting beef and supporting the state's beef industry. NYBC works to ensure the growth and sustainability of beef production through advocacy, education, and industry engagement. Checkoff dollars are invested in beef promotion, consumer information, research, industry information, and foreign market development, all with the purpose of strengthening beef demand.
About the Beef Checkoff: The Beef Checkoff was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The Checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle and a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States may retain up to 50 cents of the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval.