CONTACT:   Melissa Slagle    303-867-6306  mslagle@beefboard.org

                    Profit Seminars Making Quality Job #1
                                Beef Checkoff Sponsors Dairy Profit Seminars

(CENTENNIAL, Colo.) – The beef checkoff, through the Dairy Beef Quality Assurance (DBQA) program, is proud to be one of the Platinum Level sponsors of the upcoming Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) profit seminars that highlight the latest industry developments. The seminars bring together managers, producers, owners and leading experts in the dairy calf and heifer industry to present the latest dairy calf and heifer production developments, and enables producers to meet fellow growers and share knowledge. A local DQBA speaker will be on the program at each location.

The 2008 fall/winter seminar schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, Jan. 29, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Thursday, Jan. 31, Lansing, Mich.
Monday, Feb. 4, Modesto, Calif.
Wednesday, Feb. 6, Phoenix, Ariz.
Friday, Feb. 8, Tillamook, Ore.
Tuesday, March 4, Gainesville, Fla.
Thursday, March 6, Hagerstown, Md. 

In the past, DCHA has held educational endeavors at its annual conference, typically attended by owners and large operators. After listening to and acting upon member feedback, DCHA made the decision to host smaller meetings on a regional basis in areas of heavy dairy calf and heifer concentration – areas where interest and desire to obtain industry information was evident. 

In the first year, seminars averaged 25 to 30 attendees; last year, attendance exceeded 50 to 60. Eight additional summer/fall sessions will be held in 2008. 

“Ongoing learning, from experts and from peers, is vital to the future success of our industry. Seminars such as these give producers an opportunity to not only be involved, but to learn new practices that can translate into success on their own operation,” said Alan Krob, DCHA director of corporate relations. “For DCHA leadership, this partnership is a dream come true. We’ve always wanted to strike an alliance and work as partners with the beef industry to bring to the forefront the return on investment from checkoff dollars and communicate the DBQA message.” 

DCHA, through support from the beef checkoff, is also partnering with Dairy Herd Management magazine on the Calf & Heifer Resource Center, a Web site containing information on dairy calf and heifer management and coming soon, DBQA messages. 

“DBQA is a solid return on the producer’s checkoff investment and these seminars further exemplify the beef checkoff’s commitment to quality for dairy producers and beef producers alike,” said Ron Gill, Ph.D., BQA coordinator at Texas Cooperative Extension in Stephenville, Texas. “DBQA links producers with livestock production specialists, veterinarians, nutritionists, marketers and food purveyors interested in maintaining and improving the quality of cattle and the beef they produce.” 

For more information on how to become BQA certified in your state, visit www.bqa.org. For more information and to register for a profit seminar, visit www.calfandheifer.org. 

The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval.

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