Consultants with The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation's Agricultural Division will host a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Field Day for a limited number of agricultural producers.

The Oklahoma Beef Council, along with Oklahoma State University, recently released the requirements of the State of Oklahoma's BQA program.

The Noble Foundation's upcoming field day is designed to highlight each of the primary requirements for inclusion in the BQA program and prepare farmers and ranchers for the certification test. At the conclusion of the field day, producers will have the opportunity to take the BQA certification test.

The field day will begin at 9 a.m., Thursday, June 12, at the Hunter Aldridge's Wild Horse Hay farm. The farm is located between Velma and Ratliff City. Participates can reach the farm by traveling 1 mile north of Highway 7 on County Road NS302, and then turning left at the first intersecting road (heading west) for ¾ of a mile. Event signage will mark the route.

The Beef Quality Assurance Field Day offers quality, up-to-date information for new and veteran cow-calf operators," said Robert Wells, Ph.D., livestock consultant with the Noble Foundation. This is an excellent opportunity for all farmers and ranchers to learn the requirements for the BQA program and become certified."

The event will begin at Hunter Aldridge's Wildhorse Hay Farm, where consultants and participants will have hands-on demonstrations, including low stress cattle handling, and cattle processing, during the morning.

The field day will then shift locations to Velma-Alma High School's Department of Vocational/Agricultural Education for lunch and educational presentations. During the presentations, Noble Foundation consultants will provide insight into cattle handling, vaccinations (types, administration, timing), recordkeeping, dehorning and castration. The BQA test will be administered at the end of the day.

The BQA Field Day is open to the public, but it is limited to 25 participants. Cost to attend is $10. To register for the event or for additional information, please call Tracy Cumbie at 580.224.6411.

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News Release Issued: May 27, 2008

For media inquiries concerning the Noble Foundation, please contact J. Adam Calaway, Director of Public Relations, at 580.224.6209 or by email at jacalaway@noble.org.

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. (www.noble.org), headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a nonprofit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement and plant biology research; assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs; and providing grants to nonprofit charitable, educational and health organizations.