USDA announced funding to help veterinarians repay loans

Apr 07, 2017

$4.2 million will be made available

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced it’s making $4.2 million available to help veterinarians pay down their educational loans.

In exchange, vets have to serve outside of urban centers for three years. These vets would work on farms and ranches to keep livestock and the nation’s food supply healthy.

"This assistance will help veterinarians return to rural America where they can provide needed services to our farmers and ranchers, and continue to keep our food supply secure from diseases of farm animals,” Sonny Ramaswamy, NIFA director, said in an April 6 release.

To be eligible for the payment assistance, veterinarians must meet certain criteria, including:

Have a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, or the equivalent from a college of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association, by July 2, 2017,
Have a minimum qualifying education loan of $15,000,
Secure an offer of employment in a NIFA-designated veterinary shortage area, and
Not owe an obligation for veterinary service to the federal government, state or other entity.

The deadline to apply is May 26, 2017.

NIFA is also providing $2.4 million in funding to relieve the overall shortage of veterinarians across the United States.

The deadline for those applications is May 19, 2017.

Video: Winter Service Inspections for John Deere Equipment - The FarmCast Ep64

The FarmCast, host Troy Randall speaks with Doug Luedke, Vice President of Service, and Davin Peterson, Executive Vice President of Aftermarket at 21st Century Equipment, to discuss the importance of proactive service and how it helps farmers reduce downtime during their busiest seasons. The conversation focuses on the Winter Service Inspection Program, a comprehensive approach designed to keep equipment running at peak performance and limit costly in-season breakdowns through preventative maintenance and expert technician support.

Doug and Devin explain how 21st Century Equipment’s service teams have evolved to meet the needs of today’s connected machines. With more technology and data integrated into modern equipment, technicians now play a vital role in both mechanical repairs and precision ag support. Through advanced diagnostics, machine monitoring, and John Deere’s Expert Alerts, they can identify and address potential issues before they become major problems—saving customers valuable time, money, and frustration.

Throughout the discussion, the team shares real-world success stories demonstrating how proactive inspections and customer-focused service help maximize uptime and efficiency for every operation. Whether it’s a large tractor, combine, or small mower, the goal remains the same: to provide trusted, reliable support that helps farmers and landowners stay productive and confident in their equipment year-round.