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New report highlights growing shortage of rural veterinarians in Ohio

A new report from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Farm Journal Foundation is helping the industry identify factors driving the nationwide shortage of rural veterinarians. 

Brian Baldridge with ODA says more than one-third of the state’s licensed veterinarians are within 10 years of retirement.

“This is critical as we think about making sure we have licensed vets in place for our future,” he says. “We need to be prioritizing those Ohio youngsters that are interested in it and also prioritizing the large animal aspect.”

Dr. Allison Gardner says Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine is working to strengthen the workforce pipeline with a new student mentorship program.

“The practice model was spending a lot of time in the truck and a lot of time on the road,” she says. “Mentorship is important, because it shows them how to treat cases, how to treat herds, how to manage finances, and how to work with your medical team members.”

Baldridge says the state has committed $9.6 million to OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine through the FY 26-27 operating budget to create the Protect Ohio initiative.

The Ohio Rural & Food Systems Veterinary Shortage Solutions is the fifth report developed by the Farm Journal Foundation, following Indiana, Maryland, Kansas, and Oklahoma.

AUDIO: Brian Baldridge, Ohio Department of Agriculture

AUDIO: Dr. Allison Gardner, Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine