Agriculture & Horticulture
Upcoming Events
Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP)
Coming Soon!
Beef Quality Assurance
The New Mexico Beef Quality Assurance Program (BQA) is patterned after national guidelines developed and adopted by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. The New Mexico program is conducted by the New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service. The Cooperative Extension Service provides the training, conducts the testing and houses the database to provide renewal notification to NM producers
BQA Training and Certification
Individuals who attend a Beef Quality Assurance training workshop conducted by the NM Cooperative Extension Service and pass a test administered at the workshop, can become NM BQA Certified producers. This can and should include anyone involved in beef or dairy cattle production, and may include individuals who do not own or market animals, such as ranch hands or dairy workers.
NM BQA Certification training and testing opportunities are currently delivered online via Zoom. At the conclusion of the 2-hour training, an online test will be distributed and must be passed to complete the certification process.
Individuals who prefer to take the Certification Training online may do so by contacting the National BQA Program then registering and setting up an account. You will still need to contact your local county agent to complete testing requirements for New Mexico.
BQA Renewal
BQA Certification is valid for three years (renewal January 1, expiration December 31). Certification will automatically renew if the requirements are satisfied.
NM Beef Programs
Integrated Pest Management
Home Gardening Information
Coming Soon!
Gardening Webinars
- Ready, Set, GROW!
Registration links and previous recordings of the Ready, Set, GROW! webinar series.
Prior Events
Livestock and Range Management Series
Dates:
February 8: BQA Certification - Dr. Marcy Ward, Extension Livestock Specialist
February 15: Nutrition for calving - Dr. Craig Gifford, Extension Beef Specialist
February 22: Range Management - Dr. Casey Spackman, Extension Range Specialist
Time: 8 - 10 AM
Location: Harding County Community Building, Roy, NM
Get warmed up this winter and ready for spring with Harding County CES and NMSU Extension Specialists. Join us on Wednesday mornings in February for coffee and donuts. Three programs centered around livestock and range management will be offered. For producers currently certified in Beef Quality Assurance (BQA), up to 6 CEUs can be earned towards maintaining certification. Those wishing to earn BQA Certification may do so at the first workshop on February 8, and then earn 4 CEUs toward maintaining certification.
Our county's agriculture must remain competitive within local, national and even international markets. This requires a continuous flow of appropriate technology addressing local needs within New Mexico. Our Extension program works to maintain and strengthen programs that address these needs. Water is one of the most important limiting resources for our county's agriculture. All aspects of water use affect agricultural efficiency and profitability. Water management will become more critical as water demands for urbanization and industrialization increase.
Most of the land in Harding County is used for cattle ranching and many of the citizens are at least in part dependent on this for their living. There are many needs that producers and their families have and some of their educational needs can be met through the efforts of the Extension Service.
Quick Links
Contact Info
Courtney Mitchell
Phone: 575-673-2341
Email: courtmit@nmsu.edu