Legislative Issues

By Pete McClymont

 

The Unicameral won’t convene until Jan. 9, but that doesn’t mean little is happening in regards to potential legislation. In fact, successful legislation often is rooted in the months preceding a session. Nebraska Cattlemen is an active participant in many different issues leading up to the second session of the 100^th Legislature.

For example, NC is heavily involved with potential legislation on the shortage of food-animal veterinarians. This is not just a state issue, but a national one. Some of Nebraska’s surrounding neighbors – Kansas, Missouri and North Dakota – have already addressed the problem by enacting legislation. On the national level, the Senate and the House of Representatives are debating their respective bills on this issue. Nebraska leaders are working to address this growing problem.

Here’s some background on this issue. The demographics of veterinary school graduates has been evolving over the last two decades. More and more women have entered the veterinary field and companion-animal owners have placed a greater importance on their pets’ health and well being. Veterinary colleges have adapted to these needs by hiring more professors to teach companion-animal curriculums for the growing student demand in this field, resulting in fewer professors for the shrinking body of food-animal veterinary students.

Keep in mind that the cost of education is the same for graduates, regardless of their specialty, but companion animal veterinarians typically make more money and usually live in well-populated areas, which are more attractive to students. Rural students have a higher likelihood of returning to rural areas. The opposite is true in that students from cities are more likely to practice in populated areas. This demographic shift has resulted in a shortage of food-animal veterinarians.

Many are working to resolve this shortage in Nebraska. Sen. Cap Dierks, DVM, of Ewing recognizes the importance and severity of this issue to Nebraska and the livestock industry from his own experience as a veterinarian. Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Greg Ibach has coordinated other affected parties to be involved and voice their respective opinions. Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) President Kenneth Mertens of Bloomfield has been a strong voice of challenges and solutions for the food-animal veterinary shortage. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Associate Dean David Hardin has given great leadership with the role UNL can play in solving this challenge. Nebraska State Veterinarian Dennis Hughes, NVMA Director Lee Jones, NVMA Legislative Committee chairman Larry Williams, the Governor’s office, representatives from Farm Bureau, Nebraska Pork Producers, Farmers Union and Nebraska Cattlemen all have been and continue to be at the table to produce successful legislation that will benefit communities and rural economic development in the form of more food-animal veterinarians.

In order to address the different viewpoints surrounding the food-animal veterinary shortage, a broad spectrum of individuals need to be consulted and involved in identifying a solution. At times, efforts leading up to passage of final legislation on an issue can be a bit like herding cats, but including many from different viewpoints usually allows for an optimum outcome.

One might think bills are usually drafted in offices buried somewhere in the Capitol. Truth be told, vested parties work diligently for bills that benefit not only their interests, but ultimately Nebraska citizens. This is just one issue Nebraska Cattlemen is actively involved with leading up to the start of the second session of the 100^th Legislature. As always, NC member input on this issue and any other is welcomed and desired. Please contact NC with your concerns. Y Pete McClymont is NC’s vice president of Legislative Affairs