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Cattlemen concerns about transparency

The director of the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association says producers have concerns about the amount of transparency some consumers are asking for.

Ashley Kohls says there’s ongoing discussion about identifying appropriate access to individual cattle farms and ranches.

“How much information is too much information?  And it is a very scary thing to open up your farm and have people come in and basically look at all of your records and all of your practices and tell you to maybe change a practice or update a practice.”

She tells Brownfield the topic will garner a lot of attention moving into 2017.

“Our convention is actually going to be a kickoff to a series of six meetings going into next year, focusing on BQA (Beef Quality Assurance) self-assessments and third party audits that we’re going to work with the University of Minnesota Beef Team and Minnesota Beef Council collaboratively to get more folks on board because we think it’s important.”

Kohls says experts at the convention are covering third-party audits and evaluations for feedlots and cow/calf operations.

A National Cattlemen’s Beef Association director will also be on-hand with Beef Quality Assurance program resources.