WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 15, 2023) – Farm Journal Foundation applauds the creation of the inaugural Senate Veterinary Medicine Caucus, which will raise awareness of the importance of veterinarians and address policy challenges including the shortage of practitioners working in rural areas.
The Foundation is grateful to U.S. Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) for spearheading this bipartisan effort to address challenges in the veterinary sector. In 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that at least 500 counties across 46 states had critical shortages of veterinary services that are vital to ensuring livestock and poultry are healthy and productive. Only 3-4% of new veterinary school graduates pursue livestock or other food-animal practice areas, a stark decline from 40 years ago when about 40% of graduates specialized in this area, according to a recent Farm Journal Foundation report.
“Veterinarians are on the front lines of treating and stopping the spread of animal diseases, protecting human and animal health, food safety, and economic growth in rural areas,” said Kelsey Barnes, Director of Government Affairs at Farm Journal Foundation. “We are grateful to Senator Hyde-Smith, Senator Klobuchar, and all the members of the caucus for championing this important issue and working to protect the long-term vitality of our food and agricultural industries.”
In addition to co-chairs Hyde-Smith and Klobuchar, the bipartisan caucus includes Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Ark.), and U.S. Senators Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).
To read Farm Journal Foundation's report on rural veterinary shortages and their impact on U.S. agriculture, click the link below.
Media Contact
Whitney McFerron, Vice President of Communications
Farm Journal Foundation
About Farm Journal Foundation
Farm Journal Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to achieving global food security by sustaining modern agriculture’s leadership role and ability to meet the vital needs of a growing population. The organization works to advance this mission through key issue areas, including global food and nutrition security, agricultural research and innovation, rural development, and conservation and sustainability. To learn more, visit www.farmjournalfoundation.org.
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