Cattle production is one of Oregon’s leading agricultural commodities. To maintain market access and consumer confidence, beef producers must meet evolving standards for animal health, handling and traceability.
The Beef Quality Assurance program, developed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, helps producers adopt best practices that support food safety, animal welfare and product quality.
By expanding access to training and certification, OSU Extension is helping Oregon beef producers maintain market access, improve animal care and strengthen disease preparedness.
Major beef packers now require BQA certification for feedyards and cattle transporters. However, many producers in Oregon — especially small-scale and Spanish-speaking operations — have had limited access to training. The need has been especially strong in Eastern Oregon, where large operations and a significant Spanish-speaking workforce are central to the industry.
The Oregon State University Extension Service leads the BQA program in Oregon. To expand access, Extension faculty formed the Oregon BQA Team and shifted the state’s training model from a centralized approach to a regional network.
In 2025, Extension livestock and rangeland field faculty Sergio Arispe led a strategic expansion of that network by organizing three train-the-trainer sessions in Roseburg, Ontario and online. These sessions prepared new instructors using national BQA guidelines and Oregon-specific training frameworks.
As a result, the statewide network now includes 24 certified BQA trainers, creating a more sustainable system for delivering training locally across Oregon.
Extension also continued offering certification workshops and continuing education opportunities tailored to regional needs. A 2025 training in Pendleton focused on herd health, transportation certification and practical skills for producers and workers.
Building workforce and industry readiness
OSU Extension has worked to ensure training reaches a broader audience, including Spanish-speaking workers who play a critical role in Oregon’s beef industry. Extension partnered with Beef Northwest to deliver Spanish-language curriculum and contributed to national efforts to translate BQA materials.
Since 2023, OSU Extension has certified more than 500 producers in Oregon, including Spanish-speaking feedlot workers. Hands-on workshops, such as low-stress cattle handling trainings in Ontario, have helped producers apply new practices. In one workshop, all evaluation respondents reported they planned to use the techniques they learned.
Strengthening disease preparedness
In addition to certification, Extension has expanded education on biosecurity and disease prevention. Through a two grants totaling $150,000 from the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, OSU Extension leads a multi-state effort to help producers prepare for foreign animal disease risks.
Training topics include Secure Beef Supply protocols and foot-and-mouth disease mitigation. More than 600 producers have received information on disease preparedness, and 175 producers across the region have earned BQA certification through this effort.
These efforts help producers reduce risk and respond more effectively to potential disease outbreaks that could disrupt markets and supply chains.
Public value
By expanding access to training and certification, OSU Extension is helping Oregon beef producers maintain market access, improve animal care and strengthen disease preparedness.
A growing network of trained instructors ensures long-term support for the industry. These efforts help protect rural economies, support a critical workforce and provide consumers with safe, high-quality beef.