NEBRASKA -- Veterinarians do much more than care for your dogs, especially in Nebraska.

"When you're spring calving, there's always an issue....and we're not exempt from it, either," Russell Luebbe said.

These kinds of issues are to be expected on a ranch like Luebbe's. 

But they're compounded when there's aren't enough vets trained to care for their cattle and swine.

Right now, there are seven shortages in 17 counties across Nebraska, according to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

To address the issue: last month, Gov. Jim Pillen introduced a new scholarship program called the Nebraska Elite 11 Veterinarian Program.

The scholarship will pay half of 25 incoming freshmen for their first two years of study.

Dr. Tiffany Heng-Moss is the UNL dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences.

“It’s really about that student loan debt," Heng-Moss said. "It’s also about the professional development side of things and helping students as they’re working their way through this eight year education program to make connections.”

Heng-Moss said companion animal veterinarians have increased over the past few years due to the earning potential. She hopes this program incentivizes students to go into the production animal side.

After the second year, up to 13 of those chosen will receive another scholarship covering 100% of their third and fourth years at UNL and further veterinary schooling at UNL and at Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine.

The program’s goal is to help ranchers in rural areas in the state struggling with a lack of veterinarians able to take care of livestock. But it's not an immediate solution, as it can take a student up to eight years to finish their education and become a veterinarian.

“It sure can't hurt anything," Luebbe said. "These programs, hopefully that helps out. I would hope to shout we can get these filled [and] this situation handled or over time.”

Both Heng-Moss and Luebbe said patience is necessary as it can take up to eight years for a student to go through veterinarian school. 

They hope that this will lead to an ease of access for ranchers and farmers who need veterinarians in their counties.