FJF Applauds USDA on Effort to Address U.S. Veterinary Shortage
- Whitney McFerron
- Aug 29
- 2 min read
Washington, D.C. (Aug. 29, 2025) – Farm Journal Foundation applauds new efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will work to increase the number of rural food animal veterinarians across the U.S. and support American agricultural livelihoods and global food security.
The new action plan, announced yesterday by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins at Mississippi State University, aims to address the national shortage of rural veterinarians through several initiatives, including by enhancing and streamlining veterinary grant programs, analyzing the shortage issue to better understand community needs and barriers to workforce entry, cataloging federal resources available to veterinarians, and recruiting new veterinarians to USDA.
“We are extremely pleased by this new effort by USDA, as its action plan enacts many of the recommendations that Farm Journal Foundation, our Veterinary and Farmer Ambassadors, and other close partners have made over the past several years,” said Katie Lee, Vice President of Government Affairs at Farm Journal Foundation. “We hope that this new initiative will represent a turning point for this important issue. We stand ready to partner with USDA to address the rural veterinary shortage issue and bolster our American farmers, ranchers, and producers.”
There are approximately 500 rural counties nationwide in need of veterinarians, USDA data shows, creating risks for rural economic growth, farmer profitability, disease control, public health, and more. One of the root causes of the shortage is that fewer students are choosing to specialize in food systems veterinary careers. According to Farm Journal Foundation analysis, high levels of student debt associated with studying veterinary medicine can turn young professionals towards urban and suburban settings where there is the perception of more lucrative opportunities. Young professionals also face various challenges to starting their careers in rural settings, ranging from community integration to business development.
Since 2022, Farm Journal Foundation has been a leading national voice in building awareness and driving solutions to this critical issue. Farm Journal Foundation’s Veterinary Workforce Solutions Program seeks to address the root causes of these challenges and build awareness across the agriculture, academic, and veterinary sectors about solutions to the national veterinary shortage. FJF Veterinary Ambassadors educate and work with federal policymakers, including USDA and members of the Senate Veterinary Medicine Caucus co-chaired by Sens. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Amy Klobuchar, to advance solutions to the rural veterinary shortage issue. For more information, visit www.ruralveterinaryworkforcesolutions.org.
Media Contact
Whitney McFerron, Vice President of Communications
Farm Journal Foundation
About Farm Journal Foundation
Farm Journal Foundation is a farmer-centered nonpartisan organization working to advance agricultural innovation, global food and nutrition security, conservation, and rural economic development. The Foundation believes in a future where agriculture works for everyone – supporting strong farmer livelihoods, business growth, consumer access to nutritious, affordable foods, and the preservation of our country’s natural resources. Achieving this vision starts with conversations – bringing all voices to the table to discuss industry challenges and how innovation can unlock solutions that serve us all. To learn more, visit www.farmjournalfoundation.org.