Food animal veterinarians are critical to maintaining a healthy, secure, and safe food supply. Today, there is a critical shortage of food animal veterinarians in both private and public practice, particularly in rural communities in the U.S. and insular areas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) provides approximately $9 million per year in funding to help eligible veterinarians offset a significant portion of debt incurred in pursuit of their veterinary medical degrees in return for their service in certain high-priority veterinary shortage situations.
On April 25, 2023, NIFA published the VMLRP Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 annual report which provides a detailed review of the program, applicant, and awardee statistics, DVM programs with funded alumni and shortage areas awarded. The FY22 annual report is available at the following link: FY22 VMLRP Annual Report (usda.gov ).
