With the 2011 National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA) now published, what's the take-home message for cow-calf producers? Cattlemen showed they can make great strides when the industry tackles important issues, like carcass quality. But the 2011 NBQA identified food safety and flavor as among the important issues. Ranchers are the foundation of the beef production system, and their decisions regarding production practices set the stage for the industry's ability to produce a safe, wholesome and flavorful product to consumers.