Applications for the 2009 Iowa Beef Quality Assurance Award are now being accepted.

The Beef Quality Assurance is a national programme for beef cattle production that assures the highest standards of animal care and treatment. It was developed with guidance from animal health and well-being experts and outlines essential elements for cattle care.

More than 90 per cent of all US beef is raised under the Beef Quality Assurance programme.

The Iowa award recognizes an outstanding beef producer who best demonstrates Beef Quality Assurance practices, including sound animal husbandry practices.

Nominees should be Beef Quality Assurance-certified and work to improve the system on their operations while operating sustainable cattle businesses. The desire to encourage fellow producers to implement quality assurance and communicate what the industry is doing to en-sure quality cattle care is a plus.

"The Beef Quality Assurance programme's mission is to maximise consumer confidence in beef while exceeding their eating expectations," said Brian Waddingham, Director of Industry Relations for the Iowa Beef Industry Council. "The Beef Quality Assurance Award is a way to recognise the men and women who put great tasting beef on the world's dinner table."

Entries are due 1 December 2009. For further information on the award or to download the application, please visit www.iabeef.org and click on the Beef Quality Assurance tab.