Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen announced a new grant program Monday aimed at drawing more veterinarians to rural parts of the state to care for livestock.

The Nebraska Rural Veterinary Grant Program will offer up to $150,000 each to 13 recent veterinary graduates who commit to working in rural Nebraska, where at least 80 percent of their practice is dedicated to “production animals” like cattle and other livestock.

In exchange, recipients must agree to remain in rural Nebraska for eight years.

“We’re running into an extraordinary shortage of food-animal practitioners across the state,” Pillen said at a news conference, reported by Nebraska Public Media. “This program addresses the demand and the extraordinary shortfall that we have.”

Applicants will be evaluated based on their passion for production animal health, hands-on experience, academic performance, and commitment to rural communities. The grant can support vets starting their own clinics or joining established practices.

Pillen, a veterinarian himself, has made addressing the shortage of livestock vets a priority.

Last year, he launched the Elite 11 Program, a scholarship program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which covers 50 percent of tuition for two years of undergraduate study in veterinary or animal science and 100 percent of tuition for the last two years.

Eleven students selected for the program must practice as production animal veterinarians in Nebraska for eight years or repay the tuition.

Unlike the Elite 11 Program, which is limited to Nebraska residents, the new grant is open to graduates nationwide.

Pillen noted that rural veterinary clinics across Nebraska are struggling to bring in new graduates, especially as many long-time veterinarians in smaller counties near retirement. He hopes the new grant, combined with the existing scholarship program, will help draw the 10 to 12 vets needed to maintain essential animal care services in these communities.

»Related: A growing crisis: America’s shortage of large-animal veterinarians

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Monday that it has officially canceled the $3 billion Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program, a signature Biden-era initiative aimed at promoting environmentally friendly farming practices.

The decision follows what the agency called a “comprehensive review,” which concluded that the program’s structure did not align with the priorities of the Trump administration and provided too little direct benefit to farmers.

Originally launched to support projects that encouraged soil health, carbon sequestration, methane reduction, and other recognized sustainable practices, the PCSC program had awarded funding to 135 projects across all 50 states. Recipients included nonprofits like the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, major agribusinesses such as Archer-Daniels-Midland, and commodity trade groups for crops like soybeans and rice.

But the USDA said that its review revealed that much of the funding was absorbed by administrative and overhead costs rather than reaching producers on the ground. In a news release, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said, “The majority of these projects had sky-high administration fees which in many instances provided less than half of the federal funding directly to farmers.”

Some projects may still continue under new conditions. The USDA will allow existing recipients to reapply under a restructured version of the program, provided they can demonstrate that at least 65 percent of the federal funding will go directly to producers, and that they’ve enrolled and paid at least one farmer by December 31, 2024.

Rollins emphasized that the agency’s focus is shifting toward what it calls the Advancing Markets for Producers initiative, which is intended to replace the PCSC program and better reflect Trump administration priorities. She was critical of the previous administration’s goals, calling the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities “largely built to advance the green new scam at the benefit of NGOs, not American farmers.”

She added, “The concerns of farmers took a backseat during the Biden Administration. During my short time as Secretary, I have heard directly from our farmers that many of the USDA partnerships are overburdened by red tape, have ambiguous goals, and require complex reporting that push farmers onto the sidelines. We are correcting these mistakes and redirecting our efforts to set our farmers up for an unprecedented era of prosperity.”

The USDA stated that it will honor all eligible expenses incurred by program partners before April 13, 2025. No new funds will be made available for these projects, but the department has pledged to contact each grantee individually to discuss future participation under the revised guidelines.

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The National 4-H Council has named its 2025 class of 4-H Luminaries — a group of leaders from agriculture, business, technology, and education who will help support the organization’s goal of preparing young people for success in life and work.

These individuals will work with 4-H to raise awareness of the program’s efforts to equip youth with practical skills and experiences. They’ll also help expand access to programs aimed at reaching 10 million young people across the country.

Dr. Monique Chism, Under Secretary for Education at the Smithsonian Institution

Chism oversees the Smithsonian’s education programs and works to bring the institution’s learning resources into classrooms nationwide. She has experience as a teacher, state education administrator, and federal policymaker.

P.J. Haynie, Founder of Haynie Farms and Haynie Family Foods

Haynie is a fifth-generation farmer who manages grain operations in Virginia and Arkansas, growing crops such as rice, corn, wheat, soybeans, and canola. He also chairs the National Black Growers Council, which focuses on improving the productivity and sustainability of Black row crop farmers.

Haynie was featured in an AGDAILY article last month, which you can read here. 

Danielle Tiedt, Chief Marketing Officer at YouTube

Tiedt leads marketing for YouTube and has played a role in the platform’s growth across streaming, music, podcasts, and children’s content. Outside of work, she enjoys the arts, family time, and the outdoors.

Kirt Walker, CEO of Nationwide

Walker, who grew up on a Century Farm in Iowa, leads one of the country’s largest insurance and financial services companies. His rural upbringing shaped his interest in community and business leadership.

“This class of Luminaries shows the power of 4-H in giving young people the tools and skills to be Beyond Ready, paving their path to success,” said Jill Bramble, President & CEO of National 4-H Council. “We’re honored to recognize their visionary leadership in education, farming and technology which has transformed their field.”

The 2025 honorees join past 4-H Luminaries such as singer-songwriter Jennifer Nettles, journalist Craig Melvin, chef Carla Hall, and actor and producer Aubrey Plaza.