USDA Rolls Out Plan To Address Veterinary Shortages

It’s a challenge that’s impacted rural America for years, a shortage of veterinarians.  On Thursday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a new effort to address issue.

“USDA is issuing the Rural Veterinary Shortage Action Plan.” 

The Secretary made that announcement at Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

“Plan first, we are enhancing and streamlining USDA's Veterinary Grant Programs. We are making an additional $15 million available for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program and streamlining the application process to collect less information and allow submission via an online portal.”

Rollins added the new Action Plan calls for Economic Research to analyze rural veterinarian shortages, strategies to create a direct public service pipeline for veterinarians.

“We will work with veterinarian schools across the country to increase recruitment from rural America.”

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