New USDA Push Targets Rural Vet Shortage with Five-Step Plan

We’ve heard this before: there’s a shortage of large animal veterinarians in rural America. A lot of effort and a lot of dollars have gone into fixing it over the years, and now USDA is rolling out the latest plan to try and make a difference.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins just announced the Rural Veterinary Action Plan. The goal is to get more vets to rural America where they’re needed most, and here’s how USDA says they’ll do it:

1. Enhance and Streamline Veterinary Grant Programs.

2. Analyze Rural Veterinary Shortages to Better Understand the Need.

3. Recruit and Retain USDA Veterinarians.

4. Catalog Federal Resources Available to Veterinarians for Starting a Practice.

5. Work with and Listen to Stakeholders.

USDA says these steps are all about protecting animal health, supporting farmers and ranchers, and keeping America’s food supply safe and strong.