Many Midwestern communities suffer from veterinary clinic shortages
Veterinary experts say Midwestern states are suffering from shortages of veterinary professionals in their rural communities.
On a national level, according to the US Department of Agriculture, over 500 counties in 44 states had vet shortages in 2019, many of them rural areas. And beyond that, independent clinics are starting to go away, instead turning into corporate clinics with satellite offices. Many rural vets report having to drive multiple hours one way just to get to a client.
While Waupun Veterinary Service is not considered a small practice, the clinic s staff of 10 veterinarians often travel an hour or more to service clients in outlying areas.
President Trump signed the coronavirus relief and government funding bill Dec. 27.
Late into the night on Dec. 21, just before their return home for the holiday, Congress passed its version of an early Christmas present to many in America who have been affected by COVID-19.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Senate Amendment to H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of Fiscal Year 2021, which not only offered up $900 billion in COVID-19 relief to Americans, but also appropriated $1.4 trillion for fiscal year 2021. Rep. Frank Lucas, R-OK, said in a statement, âThe package passed today provides Paycheck Protection Program loans helping the hardest hit businesses, delivers additional federal unemployment aid, and gives individuals and families ore direct stimulusâall a bridge through the next few months until mass immunization occurs.
Congress approved the Fiscal Year 2021 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations bill in action late Monday night in the omnibus package that included all 12 appropriation measures. The bill contains a total of $23.395 billion in total base discretionary funding for agriculture.
Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D. says as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, his top priority is supporting producers and providing them with the necessary tools to overcome challenges from weather to low commodity prices to the uncertainty caused by the pandemic. Click for full bill summary.
“We worked hard to pass an agriculture funding bill that funds the farm safety net, provides access to capital and invests in our rural communities,” Hoeven says. “This funding, which is in addition to our work on disaster and COVID assistance, will provide farm country with important tools to help them succeed.”