The USDA has awarded $4.3 million in grants to 48 veterinarians serving rural communities. The funding is aimed at helping the vets repay a portion of their school loans in return for serving in areas lacking sufficient veterinary resources. Dr. Phil Reemstma President of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association works as a veterinarian in eastern Iowa. He says helping young vets with their school loans is an important step in getting them out into rural America.
On average, students becoming vets have an average loan debt of more than $135,000. Reemtsma has experience with the USDA program and says it has worked well in the past in helping young veterinarians.
He says the focus for many veterinarians today is disease prevention and there’s a demand for vets with those kinds of skills.
The latest USDA grant is going to help fill the veterinary shortage in 27 states.
