South Iowa News

Iowa lawmakers are looking to address a shortage of veterinarians in the state.

In a state heavily reliant on animal agriculture, there are not enough rural veterinarians to care for the Hawkeye State’s ill and injured fowl and livestock.

The Iowa Legislature proposed a bill that would assist veterinarians with their student loan payments if they put in four years of work in an underserved area.

House File 2615 seeks to pay as little as $15,000 a year for five vets annually who practice in the state’s rural areas including vets who care for “food supply” animals or have an emphasis on food safety, epidemiology, public health or animal health.

State Rep. Norlin Mommsen told The Gazette that $300,000 will be needed if the bill is approved. State Rep. David Kerr believes HF2615 will pass without a problem, The Gazette reported.

Carroll, Cedar, Cherokee, Humboldt, Jasper, Jefferson and Union counties are in dire need of vets, and the legislation could serve as a supplement to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program.

Dr. Randy Wheeler, executive director of the Iowa Veterinary Medicine Association, told The Gazette that it is “very important we have veterinarians and farmers to take care of these animals.”

Since prospective vets are needed in places in the state with more animals than people, the rural lifestyle presents some pros and cons. A job is guaranteed for the candidate, but their spouse could have a more difficult time finding work.

Rural veterinarian Dr. Alana McNutt and her husband, Dr. John Pickett, own their own practice, yet have not been able to fill two veterinary slots.

Wheeler said vets can do more with farm animals than laypeople hence the importance of solving Iowa’s shortage.