Sunflower State News

Concerns about a shortage of rural veterinarians have been a topic of discussion in agriculture for many years. A recent assessment report by the Farm Journal Foundation for the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) has analyzed data to identify the root causes of this shortage. The report examines veterinary licensing and practices, workforce and education, federal assistance programs, and Kansas farm and livestock data.

Kansas participated in this pilot program alongside Oklahoma and Indiana to assess veterinary readiness. "The Kansas livestock sector relies upon skilled veterinarians to protect the health of animals on Kansas farms and ranches," said Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam. He emphasized the importance of understanding these challenges to address the veterinarian shortage effectively.

The assessment will aid the Kansas Rural Veterinarian Task Force, which includes several agricultural industry and educational organizations focused on addressing rural veterinary needs. Dr. Brad White, director of the Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University, said, "We understand there’s a need for rural veterinary clinics and rural vet support, and we’ve been working for several years to continue to try to define that need and come up with potential solutions."

The task force plans to use this information to enhance its efforts, including expanding the Veterinary Training Program for rural Kansas and creating a Food Animal Veterinary Certificate at K-State College of Veterinary Medicine. The report aims to enhance knowledge about the veterinary shortage and contribute to developing solutions by identifying gaps and possible assistance opportunities.

For more details or to view the assessment report, visit agriculture.ks.gov/SpecialReports or contact KDA Deputy Secretary Kelsey Olson at 785-564-6700 or Kelsey.Olson@ks.gov.

Information from this article can be found here.