Higher local income and farm scale are associated with greater odds of veterinary loan repayment program rural shortage situation placement.

OBJECTIVE

To identify nomination-level and contextual factors associated with whether USDA Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) shortage situation nominations are filled by an awardee veterinarian.

METHODS

Type I (at least 80% food animal practice) and Type II (at least 30% food animal practice in a rural area) VMLRP shortage situation nominations submitted from fiscal year 2010 through fiscal year 2021 (n = 2,163) were analyzed in a retrospective observational study; Type III (public practice) nominations were excluded. Logistic regression models were estimated to predict fill status (filled vs unfilled). Nomination-level predictors included shortage type (Type I vs Type II) and carryover status (unfilled in prior year). County-level agricultural and economic factors were also included.

RESULTS

Annual fill rates ranged from 19.3% to 36.8%. Carryover nominations were less likely to be filled. Higher per capita income, greater number of farms, and larger cow and heifer inventory were positively associated with fill. Type I nominations had modestly higher fill odds than Type II.

CONCLUSIONS

VMLRP nomination areas with higher local per capita income, number of farms, and cow and heifer inventory and that do not have a carryover nomination status are more likely to be filled. Regional differences in fill rates persisted after adjustment for measured covariates.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Loan repayment incentives were most effective where local market conditions support practice viability, suggesting that greater incentives would be needed to recruit veterinarians to low-income or small-scale agricultural areas. These findings can inform how VMLRP shortage situations are designated and prioritized to improve veterinary workforce placement in underserved rural areas.