State/Territory
Idaho
Shortage Location - Must Serve
Payette, Washington and Adams County, Idaho
Shortage Location - May Serve
Location Center
Payette, ID 83661 or Weiser, ID 83672
VSGP Status
Open
VMLRP Status
(Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program)
Open
Priority of shortage
High
Fiscal year
Percent FTE
(Full Time Equivalent, based on a 40hr work week.)
30
Type of Shortage
(Veterinary Practice Area / Discipline / Specialty)
Type II Shortage: Private Practice – Rural Area Food Animal Medicine
Must serve
Dairy Cattle
Other Must Serve
May serve
Poultry
Small Ruminant
Other May Serve
Employer
Position Title
Other disciplinary area
Carry Over
Nominator Name
Scott Leibsle
Nominator Title
State Veterinarian
Nominator Org
Idaho State Dept. of Agriculture
Nominator Email
Nominator Phone
208.332.8540
Importance/Objectives of Veterinarian
This 3-county area (3,254 sq miles) is home to 108,000 total cattle with the vast majority of those being beef (NASS/ISDA 2023). The recent expansion of dairies in western Idaho has drawn nearly all area large animal vets to become solely dedicated to dairy. As a result, all manner of beef operations and small backyard farms are struggling to find veterinary care without having to trailer livestock long distances or go out-of-state. This area is also home to nearly 12,000 head of sheep and goats. (NASS 2023). Currently, there are two clinics with six(6) mixed/large animal vets between these 3 counties that offer care for production animals. Vacancies created by recent retirements have yet to be replaced and two of the current resident vets are over the age of 60. The primary clinic in this area has had continuous opening for 1-2 associates for 10+ years….and have never filled/retained both positions at once. In the two years, a mixed animal clinic in the area has been forced to stop accepting new clients. With a variety of clientele in the area ranging from large beef and dairy herds to the "backyard" sheep or goat flock of only a few head, vets must be willing and able to adapt to the needs of a unique and varied clientele. As this area is predominantly an agriculture based economy, it is vitally important that veterinary services (routine and emergency) remain readily available to all types of livestock producers.
Veterinarian Medical Activities & Services
This area requires a mixed animal practitioner. On the food animal side, the practitioner would need to be proficient in: Routine Beef (cow/calf and feedlot) Herd Health and veterinary medical/surgical services. Routine Dairy Herd Health and veterinary medical/surgical services. Routine Sheep/Goat Herd Health, veterinary medical/surgical services The activities of a veterinarian in this area would include but not be limited to consultation with producers on basic management techniques, animal handling and herd health work including pregnancy testing, bull soundness examinations, brucellosis vaccination, setting up vaccination protocols, and emergency treatment of individual animals (sickness, dystocia, etc.) While an important aspect of the veterinarian's life is built around one's day-to-day practice, it is equally important to be involved in the community. During the "business" part of the day, a rural mixed animal practitioner can be found providing a variety of veterinary services expected with a rural lifestyle. One may be pregnancy checking a cow one minute, providing birthing assistance to a ewe the next, and examining a sick alpaca the next, all the while diligently keeping watch for epidemiological veterinary health concerns.
Historical Efforts of Recruiting/Retaining a Veterinarian
Advertisements in professional magazines such as JAVMA and Bovine Practitioner • Advertisements in State VMA newsletter and website • Postings on job boards at veterinary meetings & veterinary colleges • Networking within veterinary community, allied (pharmaceutical) and animal industry personnel • Contacting veterinary colleges • Offering externships to veterinary students
Consequences of Not Securing/Retaining a Veterinarian
The following are potential risks to this agricultural community: • Economic/Public safety Rural communities are made up of local farmers of whom many raise cattle and lack veterinary services to perform routine herd management to grow their business. Many residents are hobby farmers which raise small numbers of cattle, sheep and goats for home consumption. Providing adequate veterinary care for these animals is fundamental to the economy and health of a rural Idaho family. Currently, these communities are being forced to make due with self-treating their production animals or trailering them long distances to get the care they need. Current practices are having to turn away new clientele as well as many routine and emergency cases as they have an over abundance of work with existing clientele. New clients are being redirected to practices in larger areas which are 1-2 hours away. • Control of regulated diseases such as Brucellosis, Tuberculosis and Trichomoniasis. The necessity of vigilant surveillance and active prevention of such diseases is inherently obvious. Given the recent reappearance of these diseases in Idaho (Bruc - 2023; Trich - 2021-22); the need to protect from zoonotic disease and avert the economically devastating consequences of such diseases must remain a priority. • Minimizing Disease Transmission Beef management practices in Idaho necessitate release of cattle on public range lands. Although this practice is fundamental to the producer's viability it allows for commingling of cattle and potential for disease transmission. Providing access to qualified veterinary care and diligent surveillance programs will minimize this risk. Numerous equine events are also held throughout the area that require veterinary support.
Community Aspects
Home to the state's capital, Boise, southwest Idaho offers the best of both worlds for visitors. From hiking and biking trails, rushing rivers and sand dunes to historical sites, top-notch wineries, local craft breweries and entertainment, this region showcases a variety of easily accessible adventures. Boise's lively, clean, artistic, vibrant, tree-lined city is just steps from mountains, a river and hundreds of trails. In the middle of vibrant, walkable downtown Boise is Idaho's largest convention center, Boise Centre that boasts beautiful views of the Boise Foothills, with modern amenities, 31 versatile meeting and event spaces to suit groups of up to 2,000 attendees. Boise has 210 days of sunshine and over 100 unique restaurants downtown and is home to some of the best outdoor recreation in the Northwest, with more than 90 parks, the 25-mile Greenbelt, 200+ miles of trails and endless miles of open space. Located at the confluence of the Payette River and great Snake River near the Idaho-Oregon border, Payette is another charming small town in SW Idaho where you can spend a morning browsing the Payette County Museum, covering the history of agriculture, military and even hall of famer Harmon Killebrew, then head outdoors for an afternoon of hiking, fishing or ATVing. Another notable destination in SW Idaho is Weiser, which is the last city upriver from Hells Canyon, known for the Weiser River Trail (a former railroad freight line turned riverside path) and also home to the National Old time Fiddlers' Contest, where fiddlers from around the country come to show off their skills. For more information on SW Idaho, go to: https://visitidaho.org/regions/southwest/