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Veterinarian grants available to address shortages

The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture has announced $2.4 million will be awarded to relieve veterinarian shortages and support rural services.

Animal Systems Division Director Adele Turzillo tells Brownfield veterinarian shortages in food animal medicine span across all 50 states.  “They’re really wide spread and often times they are in remote, rural areas where the human population may be very small but the food animal population is much larger.”

She says the Veterinarian Services Grant Program is designed to provide education and training needed to prepare students to work with food animals in rural areas and enhance rural practices.

USDA also offers a Veterinarian Medicine Loan Repayment Program which offsets student debt for veterinarians that serve three years in shortage areas.

Turzillo says shortage areas are determined by state animal health officials and livestock population needs.

AUDIO: Interview with Adele Turzillo