USDA Announces Plan to Address Rural, Federal Veterinary Shortages

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched the Rural Veterinary Action Plan (RVAP) to address severe veterinarian shortages in rural and livestock-producing areas, where nearly every state faces service gaps. Veterinarians are critical for livestock health, food safety, and public health, but fewer graduates enter food animal or mixed practices, and federal agencies like APHIS and FSIS struggle to recruit due to uncompetitive pay compared to private practice.

The RVAP outlines five key actions: streamlining Veterinary grant programs, analyzing shortage areas, recruiting and retaining USDA veterinarians, cataloging resources to support rural practices, and working with stakeholders to improve recruitment from rural backgrounds. Programs like the Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP) and the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) will expand, with up to $15 million in new funding. With 243 shortage areas declared in 2025—the highest ever—the USDA is pursuing new pay incentives, loans, and partnerships to sustain animal health, strengthen the agricultural economy, and secure the U.S. food supply.