Rural Veterinary Workforce Task Force
Objective:
Promote development and retention of excellent veterinarians to insure a long-term adequate supply of rural practitioners to serve the needs of agricultural communities.
Task Force Members:
Comprised of representatives from stakeholder groups including:
- Kansas Veterinary Medical Association
- Kansas Livestock Association
- Kansas Farm Bureau
- Livestock Marketing Association
- Kansas Department of Agriculture
- Kansas State University (Colleges of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture)
Data‑Driven Insights Reveal Workforce Needs Across Kansas
From 2020 to 2025, the task force conducted the most comprehensive assessment to date of Kansas’ rural veterinary workforce:
- Mapped 446 large‑ and mixed‑animal veterinarians statewide and identified service gaps using 30-mile practice-coverage radiuses
- Surveyed 202 livestock producers across the state
- Found 59% of producers perceive a veterinary shortage
These findings underscore the complexity of veterinary service distribution and the need for targeted retention and support strategies.
Strengthening Rural Veterinary Incentive Programs
The task force led several major enhancements to the Veterinary Training Program for Rural Kansas (VTPRK), including:
- Established a VTPRK Advisory Committee to guide student selection and program oversight
- Increased loan repayment support to $25,000 per year
- Expanded program capacity to support more future rural practitioners
These improvements help attract new veterinarians while supporting long‑term retention in rural communities.
Introducing the Developing Veterinary Medicine in Rural Kansas (DVM‑RK) Program
Building on the success of VTPRK, the task force supported the development of the Developing Veterinary Medicine in Rural Kansas (DVM‑RK) program – a proposed, expanded initiative designed to address persistent gaps in food‑animal veterinary care. The program supports early-career large animal veterinarians in rural Kansas, regardless of where they attained their degree in veterinary medicine.
A Shared Commitment to Kansas Agriculture
The Rural Veterinary Workforce Task Force’s work supports a wide range of audiences—from producers and practitioners to state legislators, university leadership, and future veterinarians. Its findings and program improvements will guide ongoing efforts to strengthen veterinary capacity in rural Kansas and ensure long‑term support for the state’s agricultural communities.
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