The Pork Checkoff is offering two Transport Quality Assurance® (TQASM) advisor training workshops in 2010. The workshops are scheduled for Feb. 23 and May 11, 2010 and will take place at the National Pork Board office in Des Moines, Iowa. The workshops are intended for individuals who want to train and certify producers, transporters and animal handlers in TQA.
TQA certification of transporters delivering hogs is required by major packers in the United States. The program focuses on promoting the well-being of pigs during moving and transport, and on improving the quality of pork and pork products.
The workshops offered will certify individuals as TQA advisors capable of offering TQA training and certification to producers, handlers and transporters of pigs. The workshops include a detailed review of program components, update attendees on issues facing transporters and pork producers in today's industry and provide teaching materials and teaching tools that will facilitate the transfer of information to future TQA certified individuals.
A complete agenda, as well as dates and locations for the 2010 TQA advisor training workshops, is available online at pork.org or by clicking here . Questions regarding TQA or the workshops can be directed to the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-PORK.
The National Pork Board has responsibility for Checkoff-funded research, promotion and consumer information projects and for communicating with pork producers and the public. Through a legislative national Pork Checkoff, pork producers invest $0.40 for each $100 value of hogs sold. The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in advertising, consumer information, retail and foodservice marketing, export market promotion, production improvement, technology, swine health, pork safety and environmental management. For information on Checkoff-funded programs, pork producers can call the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-PORK or check the Internet at www.pork.org.