CANTON -- The Beef Quality Assurance program (BQA) will be offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties.

BQA is a program to certify beef producers in good management practices to help them grow the best quality beef for consumers.

Farmers attend a lecture and also hands-on chute-side training with a veterinarian and cattle. Certification is good for three years. Farmers needing re-certification can attend just the chute-side to fulfill their requirements.

The lecture portion will be offered Thursday evening Dec. 7 in the back classroom at the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Canton at 7 p.m.

The chute-side training will be held Saturday, Dec. 9 in Fort Covington at the Tony and Tonia LeRoux Farm at 11 a.m. Participants are advised to dress for the weather.

Those wanting to attend the BQA program must register by Wednesday, Dec. 6 with Betsy Hodge at 315-379-9192 ext 227, or bmf9@cornell.edu for the lecture; and with Jessica Prosper at CCE Franklin 518-483-7403 or JLR15@cornell.edu for directions to the chute-side training.

There is a $12 charge for the booklet that goes with the lecture portion that can be paid at the door.