1. BQA Update Ryan Ruppert Director; Beef Quality Assurance NCBA

2. National BQA Manual completed and adopted by state coordinators 22 States have signed agreement and passed test National Manual and Certification

3. BQA Feedyard Self Assessment Completed and reviewed by industry experts Endorsed by Temple Grandin and Janice Swanson Developing a trainers manual to better explain how to perform assessment

4. Consumer Awareness of BQA Cargill/Safeway are sponsoring BQA award Morgan & Meyers will assist in developing modules for SBCs to promote BQA Anne Burkholder will represent BQA at the NGA convention on cattle welfare

5. New Coordinators Orientation Five new coordinators attended new coordinators orientation mid January Program has giving new coordinators to hit the ground running and be better connected to the national program

6. Advisory Board Update Dr. Ran Smith Chair of BQA Advisory Board

7. NAHMS Beef Report First report completed http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ceah/ncahs/nahms/b eefcowcalf/beef0708/Beef2008_DR1.pdf BQA Advisory Board instrumental in developing study and collected data on BQA education and implementation

8. Current Members Ran Smith – Chairman and Feedyard Manager Rep (Region 7) John Maas – P.E. Vice Chair, Nutritionist & Vet., (Region 6) James Floyd – Department Head of NCSU Vet School (Region 2) Dell King – Transportation & Order Buyer Rep (Region 1) Bob Smith – Feedyard Vet & Cattle Care & Handling Rep (Region 4) Dee Griffin – Antibiotic & Biological Vet Rep. (Region 7) Up for Reappoint Bob Bohlender – Cow/Calf Vet (Region 7) Jim Anderson – Cow/Calf Vet (Region 2) Keith Sterner – Dairy Vet (Region 1) Tom Fuhrmann – Dairy Vet (Region 6) Roger West – Chairman of P.E. Committee & Meat Scientist (Region 2) E.B. Harris – Auction Market Rep. (Region 2)

9. Retiring Members Bill Henning – Meat Science (Region 1) Jeff Windett – Cow/Calf Producer (Region 3) Bill Mies – Nutritionist, Allied Industry (Region 4)

10. Proposed New Members Ted McCollum – Nutritionist (Region 4) Travis Hill – Cow/Calf & Stocker Producer (Region 4) Mike Siemens – Meat Science & Cattle Care & Handling, Allied Industry

11. New Business

12. Federation Budget Cut Federation cut BQA budget by 4.1% Reduced State Pilot Projects by $30,000 Reduced State Extension by $3,825 This took pilot projects from 12 to 9 projects and reduced travel money

13. Proposed CBB Budget Cut Proposed cut of BQA by 5.2% Eliminate Order Buyers Summit - $20,000 Reduce Dairy National Manual printing by $22,900

14. Interim Resolutions