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Becoming a SOUTH DAKOTA CERTIFIED™ ENROLLED CATTLE Producer
Step 1: Education and Training
All producers interested in participating in the SOUTH DAKOTA CERTIFIED™ ENROLLED CATTLE Program (SDCEC) must successfully complete a South Dakota Beef Quality Assurance/Critical Management Plan Program (BQA/CMP) training session and become BQA/CMP certified.
BQA/CMP training is often offered as a part of the SDCEC education and training sessions or can be arranged through the South Dakota Animal Industry Board, or by contacting your local SDSU Cooperative Extension.
Step 2: Register a Premises
Producers must have an official USDA premises number that uniquely identifies the geographic location of their operation. Official USDA premises numbers are issued by the South Dakota Animal Industry Board
Step 3: Application
Producers must submit the following items to the South Dakota Department of Agriculture:
1. An official application form, which can be obtained by contacting the SD Department of Ag at 1-800-228-5254 or by electronically completing the form below that should be printed, signed.
2. A copy of their BQA certification documentation
Producer Application PDF
(If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can download it for free by clicking the link at the bottom of this page.)
Step 4: On-Site Consultation
If the application is approved, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture will conduct an on-site consultation. Staff will evaluate the applicant's ability to comply with program participation requirements and review the requirements of the license agreement.
Step 5: Licensing
Producers issued approval for program participation must sign a SOUTH DAKOTA CERTIFIED™ ENROLLED CATTLE Program License Agreement in order to represent cattle as being officially enrolled in the program. A license agreement will be offered to the participant following the pre-license evaluation.
Step 6: Enrollment of Animals
To officially enroll cattle in the program, required compliance data must be submitted electronically to the South Dakota Department of Agriculture in an approved format. Instructions, example enrollment and an enrollment spreadsheet can be downloaded here, or by clicking on the Enrolling Cattle/Managing Transfers link above. Licensed producers are then issued a user name and password in order to access the SOUTH DAKOTA CERTIFIED™ Data Management System.
Step 7: Management of Enrolled Animals
As enrolled cattle move across subsequent premises, licensed producers are able to track movements and manage data for individual animals via the SOUTH DAKOTA CERTIFIED™ Data Management System. Conducting move-outs off of a participants premises and move-ins onto subsequent premises can be completed by clicking on the Enrolling Cattle/Managing Transfers link above.
On-Going Requirements
Annual Audits
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture randomly audits at least 10 percent of participating producers annually to ensure compliance with program requirements. Producers must adequately correct non-conformances in order to continue participation.
Program Fees
Effective October 1, 2005 an annual producer licensing fee of $100 will be charged, as well as a $.50/hd animal enrollment fee.
