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Thank you to the BDN for the article regarding the veterinarian shortage for livestock. We need solutions to this crisis.
Maine does not have a veterinarian medical school. A graduate of an out-of-state school may have close to $200,000 in debt. A long-standing federal program provides loan repayment of $75,000 which is not sufficient.
It takes four years to complete veterinarian school and there aren’t enough seats for all qualified applicants so the pipeline doesn’t begin to meet national need.
Teaching us farmers clinical skills is a good idea. But, we need more. Could we expand the vet tech scope of practice? This new specialist would be based in a clinic with a veterinarian providing virtual supervision when she/he is providing on farm services. The Maine
Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) could assess the feasibility of this approach. Currently, the MVMA provides a scholarship and a new graduate outreach program.
And, the Farm Bill in Congress must include a line of funding specifically for small farm states like ours to be used to address vet shortages. Our congressional delegation can get this underway. Targeted funding is essential otherwise large farm states often get priority in funding. The state can help by promoting careers in veterinary medicine.
We are killing our livestock and we are also burning out our large animal veterinarians.
Jo Ann Myers
Beau Chemin Preservation Farm
Waldoboro