CHEROKEE, Iowa -- The Iowa Pork Industry Center (IPIC) and Iowa State University (ISU) Extension are teaming up to provide training for pork producers and others who need certification in the Pork Quality Assurance Plus™ (PQAPlus™) and Transport Quality Assurance (TQA) programs. Certification sessions for each program have been set for June 9 in Sheldon and June 18 in Castana.

ISU Extension swine field specialist Dave Stender will teach all four classes, with TQA beginning at 10 a.m. in both locations and PQAPlus™ beginning at 1 p.m. at both locations.

“The June 9 session in Sheldon will be at Northwest Iowa Community College, Building A in room 118,” Stender said. “The June 18 sessions in Castana will be at the ISU Western Research and Demonstration Farm, at 36515 Highway E34.”

Cost for these certification programs is $25 per person per session and is payable at the door. However, to ensure there are adequate materials for all attendees, preregistration is necessary. People can choose to attend one or both sessions at either location. To preregister, contact Stender by e-mail at dstender@iastate.edu or by phone at (712) 225-6196 or (712) 261-0225.

Both programs were created by the National Pork Board. To learn more about PQAPlus™ see http://www.pork.org/Producers/PQAP.aspx To learn more about TQA, see http://www.pork.org/Producers/TQA/TQA.aspx

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