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Wisconsin farmers, veterinarians push for loan repayment bill

Legislation is moving through Wisconsin’s capitol that would help new veterinarians pay off school loans if they treat large and small animals in rural parts of the state. 

Jo-Ell Carson with the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association tells Brownfield it’s hard to attract new veterinarians to underserved areas because the business model for traveling vets is far less profitable and more strenuous than having an urban small animal practice. “They’re coming out of school with more than 150-thousand dollars worth of debt and that’s on the average. There’s some that are much higher. So, we’re working on this rural loan repayment program. We’ve seen it in other states. In others states, it’s worked really well.”

Carson says Wisconsin’s bill, if passed, would pay up to 25-thousand dollars a year towards tuition debt.  She says this program could also help because older veterinarians are approaching retirement age. “We do have a large number of veterinarians who are looking to retire, looking for somebody who wants to buy their practice, looking to bring in those young veteranarians and help them get a lay of the land.”

The Assembly bill, AB505, has received unanimous bipartisan approval in three Assembly committees but has not had a floor vote in the Assembly. The Senate version of the bill, SB501 is awaiting a vote by the full Senate.

Carson spoke to Brownfield ruring Ag Day at the Capitol In Madison, Wisconsin Wednesday.

AUDIO: Jo-Ell Carson and Brownfield’s Larry Lee discuss the veterinarian shortage and legislation that, if passed, would help reduce college debt for new veterinarians serving in rural areas during Wednesday’s Ag Day at the Capitol.