“Consumers are concerned for animal health, and the sustainability of the production systems their food’s raised in.”
That statement is just one of several discussed during the 2018 Ohio Beef School presentations that have caused teaching and certifying Ohio’s cattlemen in Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) to become a priority. Adding even more meaning to that statement is the fact that Tyson Foods, who harvest and process 25% of the US beef market share, and also Wendy’s, now the second largest fast food hamburger chain in the U.S., have both announced beginning in 2019 cattle they purchase must originate from producers and feedyards who are Beef Quality Assurance certified. Not only are today’s consumers sharing their concerns, but now the businesses who are supplying the public’s demand for a quality beef product raised in a humane and sustainable fashion also want some guarantees that it’s happening throughout the production chain.
In response, Ohio State University Extension is working in cooperation with the Ohio Beef Council, the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association and Ohio’s cattle auction markets and collection points to offer Ohio’s cattlemen several opportunities to become Beef Quality Assurance Certified.
If interested in attending a ‘live’ BQA training and gaining BQA certification, visit EVENTS/PROGRAMS for a list of presently scheduled BQA programs.
If interested in securing a BQA certification on-line, visit the “CERTIFICATION” link at BQA.org.
For more information about BQA in Ohio, see these Frequently Asked Questions.
If interested in scheduling a BQA training and certification session, contact any of Ohio’s Beef Quality Assurance trainers listed below:
Steve Boyles
OSU Extension Beef Specialist
(614) 292-7669
Trevor Corboy
OSU Extension Educator, Greene County
(937) 372-9971 ext.114
Sam Custer
OSU Extension Educator, Darke County
(937) 548-5215
David Dugan
OSU Extension Educator, Adams County
(937) 544-2339
Allen Gahler
OSU Extension Educator, Sandusky county
(419) 334-6340
Lyda Garcia
Ohio State University Animal Science
(614) 292-3642
Christine Gelley
OSU Extension Educator, Noble County
(740) 732-5681
Jason Hartschuh
OSU Extension Educator, Crawford County
(419) 562-8731
Carri Jagger
OSU Extension Educator, Morrow County
(419) 947-1070
Justin Kieffer
Ohio State University Clinical Veterinarian
(614) 292-4523
Dean Kreager
OSU Extension Educator, Licking County
(740) 670-5315
Mark Landefeld
OSU Extension Educator, Monroe County
(740) 472-0810
Rory Lewandowski
OSU Extension Educator, Wayne County
(330) 264-8722
Clif Little
OSU Extension Educator, Guernsey County
(740) 489-5300
Clifton Martin
OSU Extension Educator, Muskingum County
(740) 454-0144
Marcus McCartney
OSU Extension Educator, Washington County
(740) 376-7431
Gregory Meyer
OSU Extension Educator, Warren County
(513) 695-1311
Steven Moeller
Ohio State University Animal Science
(614) 688-3686
Jeffrey Moore
OSU Extension Educator, Gallia County
(740) 446-7007
Gigi Neal
OSU Extension Educator, Clermont County
(513) 732-7070
Christopher Penrose
OSU Extension Educator, Morgan County
(740)962-1334
Garth Ruff
OSU Extension Educator, Henry County
(419) 592-0806
Haley Shoemaker
OSU Extension Program Coordinator, Mahoning County
(330) 533-5538
Stephanie Sindel
Ohio Beef Council
(614) 873-6736
Sandra Smith
OSU Extension Educator, Carroll County
(330) 627-4310
Stan Smith
OSU Extension PA, Fairfield County
(740)652-7265
Ted Wiseman
OSU Extension Educator, Perry County
(740) 743-1602