WASHINGTON, D.C. – On August 28, 2025, Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the Rural Veterinary Action Plan, a bold strategy to increase the number of rural food animal veterinarians across the U.S. and to bolster the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s veterinary workforce in its role to protect American ranchers, animals, and our food supply. The strategy includes the following actions:
Enhance and Streamline Veterinary Grant Programs
Analyze Rural Veterinary Shortages to Better Understand the Need
Recruit and Retain USDA Veterinarians
Catalog Federal Resources Available to Veterinarians for Starting a Practice
Work with and Listen to Stakeholders, including Vet Schools, to Understand the Barriers to Entry and Increase Recruitment from Rural Areas.
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