Where have all the vets gone?

Welcome to the Modern Farmer newsletter.

This week, we’re looking into a troubling trend. Where have all the food animal veterinarians gone? The decline of food animal veterinarians isn’t just an issue for farmers looking after the health of their herds and flocks. It’s a dilemma for our food system. Writer Jennifer Cole looks into the problem, and some ways to help solve the problem.

We also learned about the Kalo Challenge, involving Hawai’i’s young farmers and students. The program teaches young Hawai’ians about an important cultural crop, as well as preserves it for future generations. We spoke with Native farmers about pairing their cultural knowledge with climate expertise to reduce the impacts of climate change. And, we have a collection of our most popular stories looking at the fascinating world of farm tech. From weeding robots to self-driving tractors, the modern farm is full of innovation.

Plus, what we’re reading from other outlets: Our friends at Grist did a deep dive into the growing trend of farm workers working at night, to escape the rising temperatures and unsafe conditions during the day. It’s a long read, and well worth the time.

Where Have all the Vets Gone?