PRESTON and CALEDONIA, Minn. — University of Minnesota Extension will host Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) trainings in the winter and spring of 2025. Producers attending any of the free workshops will receive a three-year BQA certification.
In the past, beef producers have been asked to complete the BQA program to market cattle to certain processors. However, BQA certification is still voluntary. Specific companies have chosen to extend their own quality assurance protocol requirements to cattle producers who are a part of their supply chain. BQA certification is now being required by many major industry buyers and processors.
Online Zoom BQA trainings that will be offered in 2025 include:
- January Zoom training: Tuesday, January 7, 2025, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
- Link to register: https://z.umn.edu/BQAJan7
- February Zoom training: Thursday, February 13, 2025, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
- Link to register: https://z.umn.edu/BQAFeb13
- March Zoom training: Thursday, March 20, 2025, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
- Link to register: https://z.umn.edu/BQAMarch20
BQA trainings are free to attend, but attendees must pre-register online at the correct link, or by calling the Pipestone County Extension Office at 507-825-1190. Only one person from each operation is required to be certified to ensure the entire operation follows the BQA standards. However, everyone who handles and manages fed cattle is encouraged to become BQA certified. You only need to attend one of the training options to complete BQA certification.
About the ONLINE Zoom trainings: Pre-registration is required for this training. You will not be able to access the Zoom meeting room without first pre-registering and receiving the secure Zoom link.
Note: Online BQA training at www.bqa.org is available to anyone, at any time. These online, self-paced modules that are free to complete. There will be in-person BQA trainings scheduled; please check the UMN BQA website at https://extension.umn.edu/courses-and-events/beef-quality-assurance for more information, as meeting location details will be added here once events are scheduled. All available BQA training options can be found at the Minnesota Beef Council website: https://mnbeef.org/about-us/upcoming-events.
If you have any questions about accessing the in-person or online BQA trainings or have questions regarding your BQA status expiration, please contact the Extension Office. Residents in Fillmore and Houston counties can call 507-765-3896 or 507-725-5807.
—Katie Drewitz, University of Minnesota Extension
