State/Territory
Idaho
Shortage Location - Must Serve
Twin Falls, Jerome and Gooding County, Idaho
Shortage Location - May Serve
Location Center
Twin Falls, ID (83303), Jerome, ID (83338) or Gooding, ID (83330)
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
Beef Cattle
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
These three counties (2,969 sq miles) are home to nearly 800,000 total cattle with a 50/50 split between dairy and beef and 154 Grade A dairies (2000 head per dairy average). (NASS/ISDA 2023). The south central portion of Idaho that includes these 3 counties contains the greatest concentration of dairies, dairy processors and total cattle in the entire state. Continued expansion of large scale dairies in this region of Idaho (growth of >70,000 dairy head in last 5 years) has overburdened the existing clinics to where many have stopped accepting new clients. There is virtually no emergency support for dairies as the primary large animal clinic in Gooding (4 vets) and handful of solo vets in Gooding and Jerome are very often too busy with routine work to respond, which forces producers to either trailer livestock long distances or go without care. In Twin Falls county, the main large animal clinic have been refusing new clients for over 2 years. In the past 2 years, 5 full-time production vets have either retired or moved away, 3 more are over the age of 60, and at least 2 vets have experienced major illness in the last 2 years and have not yet returned to full practice. Two more vets in the area have already announced their intention to retire/discontinue practice in the next 6 months. The dairy industry in this region is the nerve center for the entire state and desperately needs to recruit more dairy vets.
Veterinarian Medical Activities & Services
Due to the dense population of dairies in this area - an applicant may qualify for this award if their practice is based out of or near either of the 'approximate location centers' in the shortage area. This area requires better access to dairy practitioners to keep up with the growth of the dairies. The practitioner must be proficient in: Routine Dairy Herd Health and veterinary medical/surgical services & Cattle Nutrition Routine Beef (cow/calf and feedlot) Herd Health and veterinary medical/surgical services. Specifically, 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 dairy practitioner can be found providing a variety of different veterinary services to clients, depending upon the size and type of dairy.
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
Idaho's agriculture industry is estimated to generate $20 billion annually. For a state with a population of only 1.8 million people, agriculture is both directly and indirectly the economic backbone for the majority of Idaho citizens and businesses and especially integral to the local economies, comprising 17% of total economic output and 12.5% GDP. Idaho ranks as the #3 dairy state in the nation (NASS 2023) for cheese and milk production, as well as number of dairy cattle. For overall cattle numbers, Idaho ranks 11 (NASS 2023). Due to the state's infrastructure, that includes food animal veterinarians, Idaho enjoys a strong export market for dairy products ($474 million) and beef products ($191 million). Food animal veterinarians are critical to maintain Idaho's safe and wholesome food supply. Their efforts with the livestock industry are integral in preventing disease and early detection in the event of a disease outbreak in the most densely populated area of the entire state for Grade A dairies. The impact of a cattle foreign animal disease in this region cannot be overstated - it would cripple the dairy industry and a significant portion of the beef industry in Idaho. Food animal veterinarians are a trusted resource in rural communities throughout the state. Without the cooperation and assistance of federally accredited food animal veterinarians to conduct disease surveillance, along with the state and federal regulatory agencies, Idaho could not maintain a safe and wholesome food supply for the public and for our domestic and international trading partners. There is also one livestock market located within this shortage area that is 1 of 3 markets in southern Idaho, which are all critical to maintaining livestock commerce in this region of the state.
Community Aspects
South Central Idaho is home to some of the state's deepest canyons, highest bluffs, unusual rock formations and lava flows! South central Idaho is a geologist's dream, but its terrain also delivers big adventure opportunities. At the heart of the region's recreation is the mighty Snake River—and the Perrine Bridge that towers 500 feet over the Snake River Canyon and is a hot spot for thrill-seeking BASE jumpers. Idaho's Snake River Canyon is home to Shoshone Falls, a 212 ft waterfall located near Twin Falls. The canyon spans for dozens of miles, and runs the entire length of town. Waterfalls rush down the canyon walls, and orange colored walls are decorated with moss and ferns; sometimes even huckleberries! The Sawtooth Forest includes Twin Falls, Fairfield, Ketchum and the Sawtooth National Recreation Area near Stanley. The Fores boasts 1,100 lakes and more than 3,000 miles of rivers and streams. The Salmon, South Fork of the Boise, South Fork of the Payette, and the Wood River are some of the major rivers that run through the forest. The congressionally designated 754,000-acre Sawtooth National Recreation Area is a part of the Sawtooth National Forest. In Southern Idaho the South Hills, Albion Mountains and the Fairfield area provide some of the best National Forest landscapes and one of the world's best ski destinations, Sun Valley Ski Resort. For more information on South Idaho, go to: https://visitidaho.org/regions/south-central/