News
Livestock vets decreasing while animal disease concerns increase
The number of food animal veterinarians is shrinking as farmers and public health officials become increasingly concerned about livestock disease outbreaks.
Retired Iowa State University professor Dr. John Thomson says Rural America is struggling to attract the next generation of vets, and he’s fighting for legislation to help change that.
“On average, students are graduating with $141,000 dollars-worth of debt, and they’re looking for ways to reduce that as painlessly as they can. A lot of times they’ll take what they feel is the most lucrative opportunity for them, and that isn’t always in the most remote areas of the state.”
He says the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program provides selected food animal and public health vets up to $75,000 dollars in loan repayment in exchange for serving at least three years in designated shortage areas.
“There’s a Veterinary Enhancement Act that has been put forward to remove the tax on the award so that more people can be provided that assistance.”
He says the program is working, and eliminating the 39 percent tax withholding would help meet growing demand.
Thomson is a member of American Veterinary Medical Association and served as Dean of the ISU College of Veterinary Medicine from 2004 to 2011.
*Audio courtesy of Radio Iowa*
Maybe instead we should look at the College racket that is taking in the money overcharging students and putting them in such high debt.