Nebraska offering $150,000 grant to large animal veterinarians
The rural veterinarian shortage continues to plague the agricultural industry, but states like Nebraska have developed programs to incentivize veterinarians to settle and practice in underpopulated and often agriculturally focused locations.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, in 2023 there were 68,400 veterinarians working in companion animal medicine, but only 8,100 were working in a food animal or mixed animal practice.
On April 14, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen announced a new program through the state department of labor, called the Nebraska Production Animal Rural Veterinarian Grant Program. Through this program, recent vet school graduates or newly practicing veterinarians who wish to move to Nebraska, will be eligible for a $150,000 grant. Up to 13 grant recipients will be selected for the program.
“We’re running into an extraordinary shortage of food-animal practitioners across the state,” Pillen said. “This program addresses the demand and the extraordinary shortfall that we have. Cattle is king in Nebraska. Livestock’s a big deal. We’re responding to a really, really important issue.”
Pillen, also a veterinarian, has made the rural veterinary shortage one of his focuses during his first term.
“As I say, we feed the world and save the planet. We need to provide maximum efficiency and resources to help our producers be successful,” Pillen said in a statement. “Additionally, if a foreign animal disease were to come, we need veterinarians who are ready to respond, and enough of them, to implement the programs that would help mitigate the spread of any disease.”
To be eligible, candidates must have a doctorate in veterinary medicine from any vet school and be licensed to practice in Nebraska; commit to residing and practicing in Nebraska for eight years; and work in a veterinary clinic where at least 80% of its hours are devoted to production animals in a county with a population of less than 40,000 people. Upon conclusion of the agreement, the grant amount will be paid in full to the veterinarian.
Katie Thurber, Nebraska’s labor commissioner, said the award selection process will focus on the applicant’s “passion for production animal health, relevant experience, academic success, and commitment to rural Nebraska.”
“Nebraska has a talented and educated workforce, and this program is well designed to continue growing that workforce to boost the state’s animal production industry,” Thurber said.
This new grant program comes one year after Pillen launched the Elite 11 Program in partnership with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It is also aimed at improving the rural veterinarian shortage but is limited to Nebraska residents. The Elite 11 Program includes 11 veterinary students attending UNL School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
The program covered 50% of their tuition for the first two years of undergraduate study in veterinary or animal science and 100% coverage for the last two years of their education. The Elite 11 are required to stay in Nebraska and practice as a production-animal veterinarian for eight years or payback his or her school expenses. The program is still in operation and students can apply at www.casnr.unl.edu/nebraska-elite-11-veterinarian-program/.
More information about the Nebraska Production Animal Rural Veterinarian Grant Program, is at www.dol.nebraska.gov/ruralvetgrant.
Lacey Vilhauer can be reached at 620-227-1871 or [email protected].
