Virginia Beef Quality Assurance

📢 NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN for the Virginia BQA Awards! 🏆🐂

Do you know a hardworking cattle producer or educator who goes above and beyond for beef quality assurance? Now’s the time to recognize their dedication!

🏅 Award Categories:
✅ BQA Youth Producer of the Year
✅ BQA Youth Educator of the Year
✅ BQA Producer of the Year
✅ BQA Extension Educator of the Year

This is your chance to shine a spotlight on those who are making a real difference in Virginia’s beef industry! 🌟 Nominate someone today and help us celebrate excellence in beef quality assurance.

📲 Scan the QR code on the flier or visit https://tinyurl.com/2025VABQAAWARDS to submit your nomination!

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Lisa McCormick at [email protected] or at 540-231-2792.

Tag someone who deserves recognition in the comments! 👇👇

Join us in Blacksburg, Virginia for the 2024 Virginia Cattlemen's Bootcamp on October 18-19!

This program is mirrored off the Master Cattlemen's program, but with a twist. This educational program is the hands-on component to the online study. This will help increase the knowledge from the online section while giving you the chance to meet fellow producers, eat, and have educational materials provided to you at a low cost (may also include a one of a kind BQA kit)! You do not need to have participated in the online program to join us for this program.

The dates are October 18-19. The program will start on Friday, October 18 at 3:00 pm with an optional BQA class or start officially at 6:00 pm. We will begin at 8:00 am and conclude at 4:00 pm on October 19. All meals will be included. I have attached the flyer to this annoucement if you would like to know more information. If you have an additional questions, please reach out to me at 540-231-2792 or at [email protected].

JOIN US TONIGHT AT 6:00 PM ON ZOOM!! Tonight, we will share what we currently know about HPAI Transmission in Cattle and the proactive steps we can take to limit the spread. Please let me know at [email protected] or by phone at 540-231-2792 if you have any technical difficulties or questions!

Hello Beef Producers!

Join us for a special webinar on "Bovine Influenza A (BVIA)- Also Known as HPAI in Cattle". This webinar will be hosted on April 25, 2024 at 6:00 pm. The Zoom link is https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/84505492650.

Hello Beef Producers!

Join us for a special webinar on "Bovine Influenza A (BVIA)- Also Known as HPAI in Cattle". This webinar will be hosted on April 25, 2024 at 6:00 pm. The Zoom link is https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/84505492650.

ALL BEEF PRODUCERS! Please note this special opportunity coming up! Hosted at The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center! This is the beef program that will meet all your educational needs no matter what background you are from. We have breakout sessions for stocker operators, cow-calf operators, backgrounders, youth, and producers who have been operating for 45 years or beginners to those in between.

This 2.5-day event will not only have opportunities that meet your educational needs, but also networking opportunities with fellow beef producers, state and national officials, allied industry and association groups, and so many more.

For youth, we have an array of opportunities to learn more about beef production through reproduction, meat sciences, and veterinary science, and to learn more about Virginia Tech!

Thanks to the Virginia Cattle Industry Board, registration costs have been prorated due to their gracious contribution!

Beef Producers! You do not want to miss the experience that we have for you on July 14-16, 2024. The Virginia Beef Cattle University will be filled with opportunities to network, and expand your knowledge, networking opportunities, youth activities, and delicious meals! Registration includes all of these wonderful experiences at a low cost of:

$175.00 for adults
$100.00 for college students
$75.00 for youth (8-18 years old)
$25.00 for kids (potty trained- 7 years old)

Coming up-

1. The conference schedule will be posted on our website: www.vabeefcattleu.com

2. Keynote speakers announcement! (and boy are they worth listening to!)

If you have any questions, please reach out to Lisa McCormick at [email protected] or (540)231-2792.

Goodmorning Virginia Beef Producers! We have an exciting opportunity for you all! John Benner, Augusta County Extension Agent, has put together a Beef Cattle Implant School and Chute-side BQA program. This program is on Friday, March 15, 2024, from 8am - 2:30pm. The program will be held at Maple Springs Farm/ Cattlemen's Supply at 752 Burketown Road, Weyers Cave, VA 24486. If you would like to participate in this great opportunity, please contact the Augusta County Extension Office at (540)245-5750.

Hello,

I hope this letter finds you well. My name is Trinity Vidlund, and I am a second-year master's student at Virginia Tech, School of Animal Sciences, working under the guidance of Dr. Vitor Mercadante.

Every seven years, the USDA conducts a comprehensive survey, collecting insights from producers about their beef cow-calf operations. While this invaluable research categorizes responses by region, it unfortunately doesn't always provide a clear picture on a state-by-state basis.

To enhance our understanding specifically within Virginia, I have designed a short survey focusing on the reproductive technologies employed by beef cow-calf producers. Your insights and experiences are invaluable to this research, and I would be grateful if you could spare 5-10 minutes of your time to contribute to our study.

Participation in this survey is voluntary, and all responses will be kept confidential. The findings from this research aim to offer a clearer view of current practices in Virginia, which could further aid in developing and refining best practices and future educational programs for our producers.
If you have any questions, require further information, or would like to discuss the survey in detail, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or 865-279-1770. Your feedback, knowledge, and time are highly appreciated.
Thank you for considering participating in this endeavor. Your input will undoubtedly make a significant difference in our collective understanding and the future of beef cow-calf operations in Virginia.

Link: https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/t/AYPs6Zy8tw

I formally invite you to the 2024 Beef Cattle Health Conference on January 27, 2024, from 8am-4pm. This conference will have educational lectures and labs that ensure a healthy beef herd. The conference will include a delicious lunch and educational materials! Registration is only $15. Topics include nutritional forages and supplementation, pre-conditioning calves and VQA marketing, bull selection, reasons your cows may be open, herd emergencies, and smart farming. The labs will include BQATransportation, BBSE, pinkeye, and hay loss.

I've attached the flyer with additional information. If you have issues using the attachment, I have the link to the flyer for you. You may also register using this link: https://tinyurl.com/2024BeefHealth to an external site.



If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know at [email protected] or by (540) 231-2792.

I hope to see you there!

Are you in or around Botetourt County and interested in becoming BQA certified? We have the perfect solution for you! This BQA training will be on July 11 from 6:30-8:30 pm at Willow Tree Farms. The training will consist of BQA lectures and BQA chute-side training. If you would like to participate, please contact Matt Peyton at (434)841-8738 or by email at [email protected].

Are you looking to become Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certified or re-certified? Patrick County Extension office is hosting a BQA program training on July 14, 2023, from 9am- 3pm EST. The class details are listed in more detail below, as well as the agenda for the day!