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Enhanced Oklahoma BQA program to launchOklahoma There will be a series of six regional meetings across Oklahoma beginning this August to kickoff new, fresh Beef Quality Assurance training and certification for state cattle producers. BQA is a national program that provides guidelines for beef cattle production. "The program raises consumer confidence by promoting proper management techniques and a commitment to quality within every segment of the beef industry," said Kent Barnes, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension area livestock specialist. The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service's Northeast District will host the initial set of regional meetings. The first will take place from 7 to approximately 9 p.m., Aug. 7, at the Payne County Expo Center in Stillwater. The second meeting will take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Aug. 19, at the Civic Center in Wagoner. "It's a great opportunity for area beef producers," said Alan Parnell, Wagoner County Extension director. "Meeting sessions will feature the latest science-based information on improving quality, wholesomeness and animal care, plus beef producers will have the opportunity to become BQA certified." To register for the Wagoner meeting, contact Parnell by e-mail at l.a.parnell@okstate.edu or by phone at 918-486-4589. To register for the Payne County meeting, phone the Payne County Extension Office at 405-747-8320. The Oklahoma Beef Council will be providing a beef meal free-of-charge to participants of both meetings. "Oklahoma is one of the largest beef-producing states in the United States, with more than 5 million head of cattle; therefore, it's critically important that we provide Oklahoma's beef producers with the best possible producer education," said Heather Buckmaster, Oklahoma Beef Council executive director. Buckmaster said every Oklahoma beef producer ultimately has an effect on the quality and wholesomeness of beef served to U.S. and international consumers. On May 6, more than 60 producer educators from the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service and Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation attended a BQA "Train the Trainer" workshop at OSU. "OBC has been thrilled with the enthusiastic response of the producer educators," Buckmaster said. "We cannot build a sustainable and cost-effective BQA program in Oklahoma without their assistance. The goal of this training was to empower them with flexibility, resources and knowledge to conduct training throughout the state." Barnes said the importance of offering new training and certification through BQA was set forth by the Oklahoma Beef Quality Assurance advisory committee, comprised of many organizations that serve beef producers. Representative organizations include OBC, American Farmers and Ranchers, Association of Bovine Practitioners, Dairy Farmers of America, Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association, Oklahoma Livestock Marketing Association, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation and OSU's Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. The division is comprised of the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and two statewide agencies: the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station system and Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. Listings of additional times and dates for BQA training will be available this summer through the division website at www2.dasnr.okstate.edu and the OBC website at www.oklabeef.org on the Internet. 5/19/08 Date: 5/15/08
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