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James McKean, IPIC associate director and ISU Extension swine veterinarian, is coordinating the training to be held in the Ensminger Room in Kildee Hall on the ISU campus. He said the session will be taught by ISU animal science and veterinary medicine faculty members who are certified PQA Plus® trainers.
McKean said those who qualify and are interested in the program should download, complete and submit the two-page application form available online at http://www.ipic.iastate.edu/PQAPapp100510.docx . The form also is available by fax by calling Jane Runneals at IPIC at 515-294-4103.
“If you’re interested in attending, please let us know by submitting an application as soon as possible," he said. "The application deadline is Sept. 28, with the $75 fee requested from approved applicants by Oct. 1.”
To be eligible to submit an application, people must meet the following qualifications:
1. Be a veterinarian, extension specialist or ag educator (defined for this program as a person who spends full time in adult education or at least half time in production training) AND
2. Have a D.V.M. or B.S. in animal science or an equivalent combination of education and swine production experience as determined by the PQA Plus trainer reviewing the application AND
3. Have two years of recent documentable swine production experience.
PQA Plus® was developed by the Pork Industry Animal Care Coalition, to be a continuous improvement program. The coalition, made up of pork producers, packers/processors, restaurants and food retailers, dedicated itself to finding a food-industry solution that would give confidence to consumers that U.S. pork is produced in a way that respects animal well-being. PQA Plus® merges the food safety and animal well-being concepts of the original PQA program into three steps: individual certification through education, farm site assessment, and the opportunity for process verification that gives customer credibility. For more information on PQA Plus® contact the National Pork Board at 800-456-PORK, or go to http://www.pork.org/certification/.
Iowa Pork Industry Center (IPIC)
