PORK QUALITY ASSURANCE TRAINING SET ON MAY 13

VERNON – Agriculture teachers, county agents and swine project leaders on the Rolling Plains should plan to attend a May 13 training on Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) at the Archer County Activity Building and show grounds in Archer City. The training begins at 9:30 a.m.

“The hog industry faces many dilemmas – including vertical integration that may place production into fewer corporate hands, and increasing regulation by the Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency,” said Galen Chandler, Texas Agricultural Extension Service director for agriculture on the Rolling Plains. “Vertical integration will also affect the packing houses that buy hogs. In fact, many packers now require that their suppliers (producers) be certified in Pork Quality Assurance.

“Certification is a three-step training process focusing on medicated feeds and withdrawal periods for medications. The training also covers FDA and EPA regulations, and how to work with veterinarians to stay in synch with PQA requirements. There is a good chance all hog producers will have to be PQA-certified in order to participate in 4-H and FFA youth swine projects where packers buy these show animals.”

The May 13 training in Archer City will certify ag teachers, county agents and swine project leaders in PQA, and enable them to teach certification courses. Jodie Sterle, Texas Agricultural Extension Service swine specialist in College Station, will conduct the training – which is jointly implemented by the National Pork Producers Council and Texas Pork Producers Council.

“This important training will help us continue our successful 4-H and FFA youth swine projects here on the Rolling Plains,” Chandler said.

More information on the PQA training is available by calling the Vernon center at (940) 552-9941, or from local county Extension offices on the Rolling Plains.

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