PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – Those who deliver cattle to processing plants are required to be transportation certified within the Beef Quality Assurance program. South Dakota BQA Coordinator Heidi Carroll says the deadline for that is Jan. 1.

She says there is an in person BQA Transportation Certification training session scheduled for December at Sioux Falls Regional livestock in Worthing.

Carroll says consumers want more assurances that the beef they purchase is safe and the transportation certification requirement is not only required but a good way to give consumers that safety assurance.

Carroll says those from South Dakota, Iowa or Minnesota who need in person training must attend the December 10 meeting as it’s the last one offered. She says after that they’ll have to go online to get certified which they can do at BQA.org.