BLACKSBURG—As demand for beef grows, cattle farmers want consumers to share in their expectation of quality, with confidence in product safety, humane practices and sustainability.

Through the Virginia Beef Quality Assurance program, those farmers have support in providing the best beef possible, expanding their production knowledge, increasing consumer confidence and strengthening farm profitability.

A state division of the nationally coordinated Beef Quality Assurance program, the Virginia BQA is funded by checkoffs. The state’s BQA certification is earned at no cost to farmers, through a live or online training and test, followed by chute-side instruction.

“Getting certified better ensures that beef will always be one of the main protein sources on the table,” said Lisa McCormick, Virginia Beef Center of Excellence coordinator at Virginia Tech, who works with Virginia Cooperative Extension agents statewide to administer the Virginia BQA program on the local level.

More than 85% of U.S. beef comes from BQA-certified farmers. In Virginia, it’s estimated more than 50% of cattle is produced by certified farmers.

Level 1 Certification is earned in a classroom or online, with an overview of the BQA manual and guidelines. It focuses on the best management practices certified producers follow—from feedstuffs and preventive health programs to proper injection site locations and documentation.

Level 2 Certification requires a hands-on, chute-side training and cattle-handling session. During these classes, participants learn proper vaccine administration, antibiotic use and drug safety.

Certification is renewed every three years.

Visit virginiabqa.org to learn more. Call your local Extension office to get started.

Trucking prices are a major disadvantage for smaller-scale producers. Another perk for farmers—certification allows participation in the Virginia Quality Assurance cattle transportation program. Feeder cattle are graded and grouped into tractor-trailer-size lots from several farms to maximize trailer space, which results in improved trucking rates and a lower carbon footprint, while minimizing cattle stress and injury.

“Those without enough cattle to market a load lot can sell groups at the same time in load lots of similar size,” said Brandon Reeves of the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association. “And that brings a premium.”

To learn more about the VQA feeder cattle market program, visit vacattlemen.org.

McCormick invites those who want to learn more about the sector to Virginia Beef Cattle University July 14-16 at the Virginia Tech Inn.

The event, sponsored in part by the Virginia Cattle Industry Board, will feature trade show vendors, entertainment and education for youth and adults. Topics include herd health, marketing, nutrition and forages, business management, reproduction and meat science.

Visit vabeefcattleu.com/registration to learn more and register.

Read the full story in April’s Virginia Farm Bureau News magazine.

Media: Contact McCormick at 540-231-2792 or Reeves at 540-992-1009.