NEWS RELEASE: Maryland Department of Agriculture Announces Next Steps to Address Rural Veterinary Shortage

ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 25, 2026) ~ Annapolis, MD - The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) has announced the release of recommendations aimed at addressing the shortage of rural and food-systems veterinarians across the state. Developed in partnership with the Farm Journal Foundation, these recommendations are based on a statewide assessment and outline immediate next steps focused on engagement, data, and long-term workforce development.

The report highlights several key findings, including gaps in data on the current veterinary workforce, underutilization of available federal funding programs, and the need to better understand demand among small and growing farm operations. These findings serve as a call to action for MDA to take immediate steps towards addressing this pressing issue.

To begin tackling this problem, MDA will focus on two near-term priorities. The first is statewide engagement and communication. The department plans to share the assessment findings widely across the veterinary, education, and agricultural communities to ensure that all stakeholders are involved in shaping next steps.

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The second priority is a summit and solutions development. MDA will host a statewide summit that brings together veterinarians, educators, and agricultural leaders to review the findings of the assessment, identify challenges, and begin developing solutions. This summit will serve as a launching point for a coordinated effort to strengthen Maryland's rural veterinary workforce.

According to Secretary Kevin Atticks, "This report gives us a clear path forward. Now it's about bringing the right partners together and turning these recommendations into action to build a stronger, more sustainable veterinary workforce." State Veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Trout also emphasized the importance of rural veterinarians in protecting animal health, supporting farmers, and safeguarding the food supply.

Following the summit, MDA will establish a working group made up of key stakeholders from the veterinary, agricultural, and education sectors. This group will be responsible for developing practical solutions to improve recruitment, retention, and long-term sustainability of rural veterinary services.

The release of these recommendations marks an important step towards addressing the shortage of rural and food-systems veterinarians in Maryland. With the support of key stakeholders and a coordinated effort, MDA hopes to build a stronger and more sustainable veterinary workforce for the state.

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