The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture is taking steps to address veterinary shortages in rural America. The agency says 74 food animal and public health veterinarians will get educational loan assistance in exchange for a three year commitment to practice in a USDA designated veterinary shortage area. South Dakota State Veterinarian Dr. Dustin Oedekoven says he and other state vets come up with nominees for the program.
He says USDA’s incentive program is a good one because it helps new vets pay off those school loans which can be quite hefty.
Oedekoven says having a shortage of vets is becoming even more of a problem given the recent requirements of the Veterinary Food Directive which is designed to enhance food safety.
Since its inception the USDA program to address the veterinary shortage has placed vets in federally designated shortage areas across 45 states however 113 shortage areas remain unfilled this year.
