National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) has announced that 45 percent of the nation’s milk supply now comes from farmers, cooperatives, and proprietary processors implementing the FARM program.
Voluntary and open to all producers, FARM is a national dairy animal care, third-party verified program designed to demonstrate dairy farmers’ commitment to outstanding animal care and a quality milk supply. Independent dairy producers, proprietary processors, and cooperatives are quickly coming on board.
FARM was created by the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), along with support from Dairy Management, Inc. FARM provides thorough animal care education for producers, on-farm evaluations, and objective third-party verification, giving customers and consumers the assurances they deserve.
Developed in partnership with producers, veterinarians, and animal care experts, FARM is a comprehensive program that incorporates the latest innovations in animal care from birth to marketing.
Participating producers are provided comprehensive training materials and undergo an on-farm evaluation conducted by a trained veterinarian, extension educator, co-op field staff member, or other FARM-trained professional. Evaluators then provide a status report and, if necessary, recommendations for improvement.
To protect the integrity and credibility of the program, a certain number of participating dairy farms will be randomly selected for objective third-party verification. Validus, an Iowa-based certified auditing company with more than 10 years of experience verifying on-farm animal care, has been selected to conduct all third-party evaluations and will begin that process this summer.
In addition to Land O’Lakes, participating cooperatives and proprietary producers include Agri-Mark, Inc., Hilmar Cheese Company, Foremost Farms USA, and Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers (MDVA) Cooperative.
Another reason for our dairy farmers to take 10 minutes each day to tell your story – there are many ways to accomplish this, whether it be social media, farm tours, talking to neighbors or giving presentations. Protect your right to farm!
Last month PETA took aim at the dairy industry. On the heels of Mercy for Animals’ footage of animal abuse on a Texas calf ranch, the activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) released its own set of standards of care for animals raised on dairy farms.
In an interview with Progressive Dairyman, PETA’s Corporate Liaison Amber Driscoll said the standards are aimed at the dairy industry from farms to processors to end users.
The organization has already developed similar standards for poultry and pork; and it has been successful in finding well-known companies and restaurants to adopt the standards and call for their suppliers to adhere to them.
PETA’s new standards of care for dairy animals include:
• Keeping facilities clean and providing adequate flooring, hoof care, and bedding.
• Immediately euthanizing “downed” cows.
• Ending the practice of de-horning and tail-docking.
• Banning the use of bovine growth hormone, which contributes to lameness and a painful inflammation.
• Providing group housing for female calves, without tethering.
According to Driscoll, these standards were developed with input from animal welfare experts and the dairy industry itself, namely the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP). PD
Look for the “3 open minutes” interview with Driscoll in the May 21 issue of Progressive Dairyman.
Good reminder for all of those involved in agriculture, and all those who care about agriculture.
The newly launched Missouri Farmers Care Web site encourages people to find out more about farmers and how food gets from field to plate, and offers stories from farmers around the state who farm because they care. The group recently released a YouTube video, “HSUS Revealed!” which has already garnered 34,000 hits.
“This video provides a great snapshot into HSUS’ true intentions by revealing significant cracks in the image the organization chooses to portray,” says Alan Wessler, DVM, Columbia, Mo.
Farmers and ranchers are still looked upon favorably by the consuming public, Wessler adds. “We are at a point where livestock and companion raisers must tell their story — how they care for their animals, how that compassion comes through as evidenced by the extra efforts they put forth in the dead of winter, the heat of summer, etc. — before the story told by animal rights groups takes center stage in the public’s mind.”
HSUS has had ballot initiatives in 13 states, designed to hinder the production of animal agriculture (poultry, swine, veal and dogs) and to restrict/shut down sport hunting. “One of the things we realized in Missouri was just because the election was over did not mean that PETA and HSUS were going to go away,” Wessler says. “The battle to protect the livelihood of today’s animal agriculture producers is a long-term issue, and farmers, ranchers, veterinarians, and agribusiness of all sizes need to share the good things animal agriculture is doing.”
HSUS actions and comments clearly show their intent to discredit animal agriculture and press toward a vegan lifestyle, at a time when the world will need twice the current protein production in the next 40 years, notes Wessler. “And, all the while, they’ll be using emotional ads and crises to collect money from a sympathetic, but unsuspecting public.”
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) has selected Validus as the third-party verifier for the National Dairy FARM Animal Care program. Validus is an ISO 9001: 2008 certified auditing and verifying company, with over 10 years of experience verifying on-farm animal care.
Validus documents and verifies socially-responsible animal welfare, environmental, on-farm security, and worker care production practices through audits and assessments, environmental planning, and consulting services. All Validus staff and verifiers conducting third-party verification for the National Dairy FARM Program have an extensive background and experience in the dairy industry.
“After an exhaustive request for proposals and review process, NMPF selected Validus for their outstanding capabilities demonstrated through years of experience in completing on-farm verifications for animal care. Third-party verification demonstrates the integrity of our program, and provides assurances to our customers and consumers that dairy producers are committed to the well-being of their animals,” said Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of NMPF.
Third-party verification of the FARM Animal Care Program is expected to begin this summer, and be completed by the end of the year.
The National Dairy FARM Program was created by NMPF to demonstrate and verify that U.S. milk producers are committed to providing the highest levels of quality assurance including animal care, residue prevention, and other on-farm practices.
Posted: February 7, 2011 at 6:42 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
Dr. Temple Grandin will give the keynote address at the I-29 Dairy Conference in Sioux Falls, SD this week.
Grandin is a doctor of animal science and professor at Colorado State University, bestselling author, and consultant to the livestock industry on animal behavior and was the topic of an Emmy-award winning HBO movie. She will speak at the conference on Wednesday evening, followed by a full slate of industry speakers focused on animal well-being and sustainability on Thursday.
The theme of the 6th annual I-29 Dairy Conference is “Sustaining our Dairy Families, Farms, and Rural Communities: A Focus on Animal Well-being.”
Do you have Spanish speaking employees on your dairy farm? You can now help them with animal care with Spanish resources from National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM).
Created by National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), with support from Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), the National Dairy FARM Program is a voluntary, nationwide program designed to bring consistency and uniformity to animal care through education, on-farm evaluations and objective third-party verification.
“Since U.S. dairy production involves a number of native Spanish speakers who are responsible for animal care on a day-to-day-basis, the National Dairy FARM Program recognized the need for animal care materials to be available in Spanish,” said Betsy Flores, NMPF Director of Regulatory Affairs.
The materials now available in Spanish are the Animal Care Manual (Manual de Cuidado Animal) and Animal Care Quick Reference User Guide (Cuidado Animal Guía de Referencia Rápida para el Usuario).
The National Dairy FARM Program Animal Care Manual details best management practices for a variety of issues, including animal health, environment and facilities, animal nutrition, and transportation and handling. The content of the manual is consistent with the principles and guidelines of the National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative, which was introduced in 2008.
The companion Animal Care Quick Reference User Guide is a condensed version of the manual for on-farm use and implementation. These materials will be supplemented with an animal care video and other educational resources. An on-farm instructor may be available from a producer’s cooperative or other source.
The members of California’s Dairy Cares coalition,made up of dairy farmers and dairy processors, have adopted the National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management as a statewide program to promote and verify responsible animal care.
“Responsible care and treatment of animals is a core value for our dairy families, and we know it’s important to dairy consumers,” said William C. Van Dam, chairman of the statewide Dairy Cares coalition. “This new program is a major step forward for our state, in that it provides a credible, verifiable way for dairy farmers to demonstrate to consumers that these core values are carried out in our daily management practices.”
Developed by the nation’s leading animal scientists, veterinarians and dairy industry experts, the National Dairy FARM Program contains a comprehensive set of animal care best management practices. As the nation’s leader in milk production, California dairy farmers are among the first in the nation to adopt the effort. Because California’s dairy products are marketed nationally and internationally, California dairy farmers recognize the importance of participating in a nationwide program to ensure national uniformity for customers and consumers.
“Actions, not words, are the only way to maintain and build trust with our consumers,” said Jamie Bledsoe, a dairy farmer from Riverdale and co-chair of the Dairy Cares Animal Well-Being Committee. “We’ve always cared for our animals, and now we have a program in place to validate that we care. And in those rare instances when animal care doesn’t measure up, we have a program to identify issues and address them.”
Dairy Cares will promote Dairy FARM throughout California using a five-point strategy, which includes:
1 – Adoption of the National Dairy FARM animal care best practice standards;
2 – Orientation of dairy farmers to National Dairy FARM standards through workshops and educational materials from the University of California and California Dairy Quality Assurance Program;
3 – On-farm evaluation of each dairy farm to assess compliance and provide a benchmark to measure improvement;
4 – Producer support and assistance to continuously improve animal care practices; and
5 – Independent third-party verification to demonstrate program integrity and credibility.
Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.’s (DFA) Board of Directors and management are taking a series of proactive steps to emphasize its commitment to proper treatment of animals.
“Animal welfare is a critical issue for our members and is vitally important to producing high-quality milk,” said David Darr, vice president of sustainability and public affairs. “We have a responsibility to clearly articulate our expectations regarding animal well-being and, equally important, to help educate consumers about those standards.”
A key initiative is the second round of DFA’s Gold Standard Dairy quality assurance program. DFA introduced the program in 2007 to proactively address the concerns of consumers, retailers and processors who are interested in how food is produced. The on-farm review includes animal well-being, environmental stewardship, employee training, and milk safety and quality. More than 90 percent of DFA member farms have participated in the Gold Standard process.
When the second round of the Gold Standard Dairy process begins in 2010, the program will incorporate measurement criteria from the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) program, a nationwide, verifiable animal well-being program that demonstrates U.S. milk producers are committed to producing high-quality milk in a high-quality environment.
Further demonstrating its commitment to animal welfare, at its March meeting, the Board approved a resolution affirming that the public image of dairy, including animal housing and care, is of utmost importance to DFA and its dairy farmer members. The resolution states that DFA will continue to emphasize an expectation of proper and caring treatment of animals through individual dairy farm quality programs, the Gold Standard Dairy program, and participation with other dairy industry organizations to establish animal well-being standards for the U.S. dairy industry.
In addition, the Board welcomed special guest Charlie Arnot to its March meeting to discuss the growing consumer interest in animal welfare issues, and how consumer perceptions influence demand and consumption. Arnot is chief executive officer of the Center for Food Integrity and president of CMA, a consulting company that works with companies across the food chain on issues management, communications and public relations.
Posted: October 26, 2009 at 4:55 am
By News Editor
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), with support from Dairy Management, Inc. (DMI), formally launched the National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management at a news conference during the 2009 World Dairy Expo, unveiling key components of the voluntary, nationwide program designed to bring consistency and uniformity to animal care through education, on-farm evaluations and objective third-party verification.
“Dairy farmers are passionate about the care they provide to their animals. The National Dairy FARM Program takes that producer passion and quantifies it to tell the story of dairy animal care to our customers and consumers,” said Jamie Jonker, vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at NMPF. “This is a very thorough program that was created with input from all sectors of the dairy industry, including producers, veterinarians and other animal care experts. It includes current best practices, innovations and advances in technology.”
The dairy industry has an excellent track record of responsible management practices, said Jonker. “This program simply offers producers an avenue to demonstrate and validate their commitment to doing what’s right,” he said.
After all the classroom presentations today we got to tour the Pioneer Livestock Nutrition Center. We couldn’t take photos inside but afterward I interviewed our tour guide, Scott Dennis, Pioneer Technical Services Manager, Forage Additives. Cindy took the photo of me interviewing Scott who is pictured on the left.
Scott says the facility was originally built in 1993 to measure differences in what makes silage more digestible. They do swine digestibility studies, sheep and beef cattle feeding. One of the things they do that you won’t find in a commercial lab is that they grind samples down to a 6 millimeter size instead of 1 millimeter. The grind they use is more closely tied to the size of what the animal is actually chewing and therefore creates more accurate results. They also do 16 tests for every sample instead of 1 and use multiple animals and take an average to get a much more meaningful result. He says you won’t find this in any other University or commercial lab.
The man who got us started here at the Pioneer Hi-Bred Forage Media Day is Robin Newell. Cindy spoke to him about the “long look.” He says the Pioneer long look has four components that include: “We strive to create the best products;” “We deal honestly and fairly with our constituents;” “We represent our products vigorously;” “We help our customers get the most from our products.”
He says the focus today is on the development of corn silage and alfalfa and inoculants like their new 11GFT. He also mentioned their focus on animal welfare since they keep many animals here at the Livestock Nurition Center. He says they have an animal welfare committee that even includes “local clergy.” He says that person helps provide a good moral and ethical backbone to the committee.
The program, which will become available in the fall of 2009, is voluntary and available to all producers. NMPF is managing the production and dissemination of technical animal care manuals, producer education and training, on-farm evaluation, and third-party verification. DMI is assisting with producer and industry outreach, and market chain and consumer relations.
At the heart of the program is NMPF’s revised “Caring for Dairy Animals” manual, which details best management practices for a variety of animal care issues, including animal health, facilities and housing, animal nutrition, equipment and milking procedures, and transportation and handling. The content of the manual is consistent with the principles and guidelines of the National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative, which was introduced in 2008. NMPF is working with dairy animal care experts to assure that the document reflects current practices, animal health concerns, innovations and advances in technology.
Training and informational DVDs will be made available to producers, co-ops and others interested in dairy animal care. A National Dairy FARM Program Web site will include producer education and training. Once producers have completed the educational component, the next step is an on-farm evaluation by a trained veterinarian, extension agent or co-op field staff member, Kozak said. The producer then receives a status report and, if necessary, an action plan for improvement.
“To protect the integrity of Dairy FARM, we are also developing a third-party verification program,” said Jerry Kozak, president and chief executive officer of NMPF. “We want quantifiable, objective verification that the dairy industry is providing appropriate care for animals. It’s important to remember that the goal of verification is to validate the program, not judge individual producers.”
On-farm evaluations will begin in 2010 and third-party verification will start in 2011. Co-ops and processors may choose to participate in the program to bring consistency to dairy animal care nationwide. Additional Dairy FARM modules designed to assure the quality, safety and wholesomeness of dairy products will be introduced in the future.
NMPF has assembled an advisory panel to provide guidance on Dairy FARM. The panel is comprised of dairy experts and industry professionals representing many facets of the industry. Members include Stan Andre, California Milk Advisory Board; Marguerite Copel, Dean Foods; John Frey, Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence; Virginia Littlefield, Safeway Inc.; John Kennedy, Kraft Foods; Shelly Mayer, Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin; Dr. M. Gatz Riddell, American Association of Bovine Practitioners; Allen Sayler, International Dairy Foods Association; and Lynne Schmoe, Washington Dairy Products Commission.
At the AgWeb Blog, Rick Lundquist summarizes a recent study conducted by the University of Alberta of maximizing milk without acidosis, especially taking consideration that the key to maintaining rumen health is adaptation and stability by avoiding rapid dietary changes. Below is a clip from that article… To read the entire story, link here.
Nutritionists are often asked to walk the fine line of maximizing milk production per cow without compromising animal health.
Preventing subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) can be a real challenge. Some level of SARA is inevitable even in the best managed high producing herds because of high intakes. Subacute acidosis is caused by the rapid accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFA) in the rumen (acetate, propionate, and butyrate) which results in periods of low pH and this situation is exacerbated by high dry matter intake.
Researchers from the University of Alberta presented a paper at the 2009 Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference that discussed the latest developments in our understanding of ruminal acidosis. They found that there is a great deal of variability in the susceptibility of individual cows to SARA. Some cows are much more likely to exhibit symptoms of SARA than others, presumably due to differences in intake level, eating rate, salivation, feed sorting and inherent rumen physiological variation. For these reasons, it’s almost impossible to totally eliminate SARA in a high producing herd when rations are balanced for the average cow.
Adam Anson, from TheDairySite, recently wrote an interesting article on use of antibiotics in animals, antibiotic resistance and how it relates to human health. This thorough report deals with both sides of the issue in an educational platform that reminds all of us just how far the agriculture industry has come.
Antibiotics are a vital component to rearing healthy livestock, but many researchers argue that mismanaged use is having a detrimental effect on the industry. When antibiotics were first introduced back in the 1930′s they had an instant and momentous impact on life. Nowadays, it is easy to take the use of these drugs for granted and their importance can be overlooked. They haven’t only helped humans live longer, healthier lives, but they have also been used for the same effect on livestock. Consequently, the meat and animal products which we consume are safer as well.
Farmers have benefited from the advantages of higher outputs as healthier animals put on more weight. Inputs have also been reduced, not only through feed, but also space. Whether it is deemed for better or for once, antibiotics have enabled farmers to restrict the space and movement of livestock whilst keeping their health at an optimum. Without antibiotics intensive livestock systems may never have become a lucrative form of trade.
Link to TheDairySite to read about the long debate and who to believe. Come to your own conclusions, and don’t forget to leave your thoughts for discussions on World Dairy Diary!
I was happy to spend this past week-end at home after many weeks of travel (and week-ends traveling or preparing for travel) for Brownfield Ag News. Last week was spent on a Bayer CropScience-sponsored trip to Germany to tour the company’s global facilities and participate in the 2009 Herbicide Innovation Tour.
I was hoping I would make it home in time for what was left of calving season at Rocking P Ranch, and I did. Although breeding season has begun (through artificial insemination) we have two cows that for one reason or another were scheduled to calve later than the others. One of the cows was due to calve Monday, so my husband vigilantly watched for signs that the cow was nearing parturition.
As her time drew near Sunday morning, Jim knew by the cow’s behavior that something wasn’t quite right. He called our veterinarian with a “head’s up” that we might need his help if there were indeed complications with the birth. A friend who is also a cattleman came by to see if he could be of assistance. By 9:30am, it was time to stick an arm in to determine the position of the calf. When a tail was felt instead of front legs, it was obvious the calf was breech and we would need more help.
Doc got the message on his cell phone as he left church. He arrived at our place minutes later with wife and kids along. Leaving a basketball game to make a farm call or making a farm call on the way home from church is not an unusual occurrence for this dedicated animal doctor and his family.
When you’re loading the trailer full of cows or calves, do you ever think about how it could impact the quality of the end product, beef? Overloading a trailer can cause internal and external injuries, the most common being muscle bruising. The Beef Quality Assurance Program passes out friendly reminders for proper trailer protocol when moving livestock, and I was given a bumper sticker recently that serves as an excellent guide for knowing how many animals belong in the trailer. This is a photo of my sisters and I outside of our stock trailer minutes before we headed down the road with a load of cattle. I know it’s more convenient to load the trailer plumb full, but BQA reminds us that best animal handling practices ensure a quality end product and a more pleasant ride for the animal.
The recommended maximum number of cattle for trailers of different lengths in relation to the weight of the cattle is recorded. For example, for a trailer size of 16ft x 16ft, 12 600 lb. calves can fit into the trailer or five 1400 lb. cows could fit into the trailer. If you own a 24ft x 6ft trailer, 18 600 lb. calves could fit easily into the trailer or 7 1400 lb. females could be hauled. In general, these examples represent the maximum number of polled/dehorned cattle for trailers of different lengths; when hauling horned/tipped cattle reduce the number of cattle by 5%.
In addition, BQA states that the number of cattle loaded during hot conditions should be reduced. Of course, do not exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating for your truck and stock trailer. For more information on the Beef Quality Assurance Program, head to their website today.
While at the Central Plains Dairy Expo last week, I was walking around the trade show and ran across a booth that was reminding producers about the Dairy Beef Quality Assurance Program. Sponsored by the Midwest Dairy Beef Quality Assurance Center and the Minnesota Beef Council and funded by America’s beef producer checkoff dollars, this booth reminded dairy producers that they, too, are beef producers. It’s all about bridging the gap and embracing that as dairy producers, you carry a one-two punch as you put the milk in the glass and the steak on the dinner plate.
The 1999 National Market Cow and Bull Quality Audit showed that producers lost about $70 on every dairy cow they sold because of product defects like injection site blemishes. By following the 10 steps listed below, you will assure beef quality, prevent costly product losses, build public confidence, and enhance the effectiveness of the products you use to maintain the health of your herd.
1. Always choose the correct injection site.
2. Know the product and follow the label.
3. Stay away from the muscle.
4. Use the proper technique.
5. Use multiple sites.
6. Choose the correct needle.
7. Keep equipment clean.
8. NEVER combine products.
9. Mix and handle products correctly.
10. Keep detailed records.
Yesterday, I posted a call to action on AgWired, and the blog post was titled, “A Special Cause: Vote for ACMA Entertainer of the Year.” The HSUS is trying to slip one past country music fans by getting its members to secretly head on over and vote Carrie Underwood in as Entertainer of the Year. Underwood is a fan of the HSUS, and as we all know, that organization wants to eliminate animal agriculture and put us all out of business. Anyway, the blog post must have struck a cord with Carrie fans, and we already have 29 comments on this one blog entry! I need all dairy producers to head on over and weigh in on this discussion.
In the meantime, here is the link to vote for a different entertainer. (I voted for George Strait because he is a great performer, a member of PRCA, a competitive team roper and a supporter of agriculture.) Want to learn more about the sins of the Humane Society of the United States? Head to Activist Cash, where you can learn about the dirty laundry of all kinds of organizations. If you need a little more information on this situation, watch my YouTube video of my peaceful walkout of a Carrie Underwood concert at the National FFA Convention in 2006. Oh, and don’t forget to head on over to AgWired and add your comments in this heated discussion!
Christopher Peake interviews a conventional and organic dairy farmer to debate the differences between the two dairy production methods. His article is titled, “Communicate Green: Conventional vs organic dairy.”
In an article aiming to address consumer questions about dairy, Peake writes, As the debate between conventional and organic milk consumers gets louder, we spoke with two local dairy farmers and gave each the same questions. Two producers were asked questions like: What do you feed your herd? What grasses do they eat when they’re outside? Which medicines do vets give your cows? How does conventional milk differ from organic milk? How do you respond to those who say, “Conventional milk is less healthy than organic milk?”
To read their responses, link to the article at Seacoast Online. As producers, do you get asked these questions often? Are you aware that your customers are wondering about these basic production practices? Are you a transparent resource that is willing to answer these questions? What are your responses to some of these questions?
National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) has announced that 45 percent of the nation’s milk supply now comes from farmers, cooperatives, and proprietary processors implementing the FARM program.
Dr. Temple Grandin will give the keynote address at the 
After all the classroom presentations today we got to tour the 
Scott says the facility was originally built in 1993 to measure differences in what makes silage more digestible. They do swine digestibility studies, sheep and beef cattle feeding. One of the things they do that you won’t find in a commercial lab is that they grind samples down to a 6 millimeter size instead of 1 millimeter. The grind they use is more closely tied to the size of what the animal is actually chewing and therefore creates more accurate results. They also do 16 tests for every sample instead of 1 and use multiple animals and take an average to get a much more meaningful result. He says you won’t find this in any other University or commercial lab.
The man who got us started here at the Pioneer Hi-Bred Forage Media Day is Robin Newell. Cindy spoke to him about the “long look.” He says the Pioneer long look has four components that include: “We strive to create the best products;” “We deal honestly and fairly with our constituents;” “We represent our products vigorously;” “We help our customers get the most from our products.”
Dairy producers take pride in providing high-quality care to their animals, and 
When you’re loading the trailer full of cows or calves, do you ever think about how it could impact the quality of the end product, beef? Overloading a trailer can cause internal and external injuries, the most common being muscle bruising. The Beef Quality Assurance Program passes out friendly reminders for proper trailer protocol when moving livestock, and I was given a bumper sticker recently that serves as an excellent guide for knowing how many animals belong in the trailer. This is a photo of my sisters and I outside of our stock trailer minutes before we headed down the road with a load of cattle. I know it’s more convenient to load the trailer plumb full, but BQA reminds us that best animal handling practices ensure a quality end product and a more pleasant ride for the animal.
While at the Central Plains Dairy Expo last week, I was walking around the trade show and ran across a booth that was reminding producers about the Dairy Beef Quality Assurance Program. Sponsored by the