S6 E12: Sorting through Beef Quality Assurance: Its Evolution, Impact and Future

Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast

Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast
S6 E12: Sorting through Beef Quality Assurance: Its Evolution, Impact and Future
Jun 15, 2026 Season 6 Episode 12

Consumer trust doesn't happen by accident. It’s built through the everyday decisions cattle producers make to care for their animals and produce high-quality beef. In this episode, we sit down with Josh White, Senior Executive Director of Producer Education & Sustainability for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, to discuss the evolution of the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program, how it helps communicate producers’ commitment to doing things the right way, and how its impact is measured among consumers. We also dive into the areas where producers have excelled, opportunities for continued improvement, and how BQA may adapt in the years ahead.

Episode Resource: 

Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!

Episode Artwork S6 E12: Sorting through Beef Quality Assurance: Its Evolution, Impact and Future 34:23 Episode Artwork S6 E11: Sorting through the market and cattle supply with Overland Stock Yards' Jason Glenn 20:49 Episode Artwork S6 E10: Sorting through the California Wolf Project: Research findings, what’s ahead, and tough conversations 44:38 Episode Artwork S6 E9: Sorting through the California Wolf Project: What it is and why it started 36:36 Episode Artwork S6 E8: Sorting through the Madigan Squeeze method for saving newborn calves 31:35 Episode Artwork S6 E7: Sorting through California agriculture and what's ahead with Assemblymember James Gallagher 39:32 Episode Artwork S6 E6: Sorting through these warm days and a potential El Niño with meteorologist Brian Bledsoe 21:08 Episode Artwork S6 E5: Sorting through a new Central Coast food safety study and ranchers' roles in the research 23:55 Episode Artwork S6 E4: Sorting through getting to know NCBA President Gene Copenhaver and President-Elect Kim Brackett 18:26 Episode Artwork S6 E3: Sorting through top priorities at CattleCon 2026 (New World screwworm, dietary guidelines and more) 20:05 Episode Artwork S6 E2: Sorting through CCA’s early 2026 legislative efforts 30:31 Episode Artwork S6 E1: Sorting through the news of the new year 29:30 Episode Artwork S5 E25: Sorting through the journey to legalize livestock composting in California | PART TWO 26:42 Episode Artwork S5 E24: Sorting through life at D Bar M with owner Jack Bassett 16:01 Episode Artwork S5 E23: Sorting through the journey to legalize livestock composting in California | PART ONE 26:35 Episode Artwork S5 E22: Sorting through 30 bull sales in 40 days with WLJ’s Jared Patterson 29:51 Episode Artwork S5 E21: Sorting through agriculture's stories, the work of the UC Davis CLEAR Center, learning Gen-Z slang and more with Tracy Sellers 33:00 Episode Artwork S5 E20: Sorting through the latest on the threat of New World screwworm to the U.S. cattle industry 20:25 Episode Artwork S5 E19: Sorting through the Bear Fire’s destruction five years later with Dave Daley 29:07 Episode Artwork S5 E18: Sorting through California's progress so far on conserving 30% of lands and coastal waters by 2030 25:50 Episode Artwork S5 E17: Sorting through California insurance updates with WSR's Josh Morris 20:08 Episode Artwork S5 E16: Sorting through commercials, billboards, research, and more funded by the Cattle Council 25:46 Episode Artwork S5 E15: Sorting through hot topics of the summer and more with CCA President Rick Roberti 30:51 Episode Artwork S5 E14: Sorting through the Big Beautiful Bill's tax relief for ranchers, unsuccessful proposals to sell public lands, and payments for depredations by federally protected predators—plus a visit to the White House 31:17 Episode Artwork S5 E13: Sorting through legislation in Sacramento and the two bills CCA's sponsoring this session 35:04