The Producer Survey of the checkoff-funded 2016 National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA) will collect producer information and opinions, which will be added to the audit’s traditional production research to form an in-depth look at where the industry stands and what its successes and shortcomings are.

“It’s very important that every interested producer weigh in with their information and opinions,” according to Jesse Fulton, NBQA audit manager. “By having substantial participation in the survey across all industry segments, we create the best opportunity for determining where the industry is and where we need to take it.”

The survey will be completely anonymous and include both information about the industry’s cattle operations and the opinions of the people who run them about the strengths and weaknesses of the industry.

Input from every segment of the industry – cow-calf, stocker, feeder, dairy and others – is valued and will become part of the detailed picture of the U.S. cattle industry. The survey can be accessed at the Beef Quality Assurance website. 

Initiated in 1991, NBQA since its inception has provided the industry a meaningful set of guideposts and measurements relative to the quality conformance of the U.S. beef supply. Conducted every five years, it is based on a set of core principles:

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  • Only that which is measured can be effectively managed.

  • An industry-wide scorecard provides direction to individual decision-makers across the beef supply chain to improve the quality and value of the U.S. beef supply.

  • Identifying and correcting quality shortfalls and nonconformance will lead to greater profitability through improved beef demand in both domestic and international markets, the capture of lost opportunities and commitment to the hard work of continuous improvement.

The most recent NBQA, in 2011, concluded the industry has come a long way in terms of improving beef quality and suggested significant changes for further improvement in product integrity and eating satisfaction. Similar information is expected in the 2016 NBQA.

“With broad participation, this survey will help establish a clearer picture of our industry from the producer’s view in 2016,” says Fulton. “We hope every producer will access the survey and take the time to honestly and candidly answer the questions so our final results will be as complete as possible.”

Final results of the 2016 NBQA will be released in July 2017.  end mark

—Beef Checkoff