01/13/06 Eight beef quality assurance workshops

The University of Idaho has a series of winter beef schools where producers can learn about beef quality assurance and the National Animal Identification System. The half-day schools will begin next week, January 18th at the University of Idaho Caldwell Research Center, January 19th in Cambridge and the 20th at Jordan Valley, Oregon. Sessions in Bruneau, St Maries and Sandpoint will follow that, and there will be two schools in Salmon January 24th and February 7th. U of I extension beef specialist Jason Ahola says university faculty and animal health experts will be there. AHOLA "Veterinarians talking about proper injection site locations and needle choice and those kinds of things. Small groups to be able to visit directly with people who have answers to a lot of their questions." BQA is designed to help cattle producers improve production practices that influence the safety and quality of their product. The Idaho State Department of Agriculture plans to have a representative at most of the workshops so that producers can register their premises. If you need information about any of the workshops you can call Ahola in Caldwell at 459-6365. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott