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KLA : Program Introduced To Address Veterinary Care Shortage In Food Animal Industry

USDA has taken the first step toward implementing a plan to address veterinary shortages in rural America . U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack recently introduced a program that will repay the student loans of qualified veterinarians in return for practicing in areas lacking professional veterinary care services.

“This program will help reduce veterinary shortages, especially in the area of food animal medicine, which will reduce stress on producers and improve the health of the livestock industry,” said Vilsack.

The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NFIA) administers the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program, which was established through the National Veterinary Medical Services Act of 2003. Implementation of the program began last month when NFIA issued a Federal Register notice seeking comments and nominations for veterinary shortage situations from the chief animal health official in each state. NFIA will convene a panel of federal and state animal health experts to recommend submitted nomination packages for official designation as a veterinary shortage situation

NFIA is expected to begin accepting applications from veterinarians wishing to participate in the program April 30, 2010. In return for a commitment of three years of veterinary services in a designated veterinary shortage area, NFIA may repay up to $25,000 of student loan debt per year.


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