New initiatives are intended to recruit veterinarians, expand services in rural areas, and modernize USDA operations.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced new measures to address a nationwide shortage of veterinarians for rural food animals, citing the risks it poses to animal health and the U.S. food supply. Secretary Brooke Rollins introduced the Rural Veterinary Action Plan, which includes expanding veterinary loan repayment and grant programs, studying rural veterinary needs, recruiting veterinarians for federal service, and improving access to financing for rural practices.
After a 15 percent decrease in mixed animal and food animal veterinarians over the past decade, the department is working with stakeholders and veterinary schools to identify barriers to entering rural practice and encourage more graduates to serve in these critical roles. As part of the initiative, USDA awarded $125,000 grants to two Mississippi veterinarians to improve services in underserved counties and announced the opening of a consolidated USDA office in partnership with the Mississippi Farm Bureau.
“Rural veterinarians are vital for the agricultural economy in the United States. Our farmers and ranchers rely on these critical services to prevent the transmission of animal disease, protect our food supply, and support America’s rural economy,” said Secretary Rollins. “As the number of rural food animal veterinarians continues to decline, USDA is putting farmers first to ensure we build back our first line of defense in our animal food production system – the rural veterinarian.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Rollins to be led by the Lord as she oversees the effort to support an increase in rural veterinarians across the U.S.
- For USDA officials as they assess the risks to the U.S. food supply due to a veterinary shortage.
Sources: Department of Agriculture, AgWeb
