Accessibility menu
State Representative Paul Anderson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4317
For more information contact: House GOP Communications 651-296-5520
NEWS COLUMN
STEARNS THE VETERINARIAN LEADER
By State Rep. Paul Anderson
According to numbers compiled by the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Stearns County has more “food-animal” veterinarians than any other county in the state. No fewer than 31 vets hail from Stearns County, which works out to a ratio of one veterinarian to approximately 8,900 animals.
Nicollet and Winona counties are next with 18 veterinarians each, while Fillmore and Goodhue counties have 17. Brown County is also in double figures with 14, with three other counties, Otter Tail, Pipestone, and Wright, each having 10.
Pope County has two veterinarians and just over 79,000 food animals, which works out to a ratio of nearly 40,000-to-1. Kandiyohi has nine vets and a ratio of about 13,500-to-1.
Several of Minnesota’s counties have no veterinarians, with the largest shortage appearing to be in the western and northern parts of the state. Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Traverse, and Wilken are among the 18 counties statewide with no veterinarians.
The ratios are interesting, but can be a bit misleading. For example, Stearns is the leading dairy county in the state, so many of its animals are cattle. With dairy cows needing lots of tender, loving care, the ratio in Stearns County is lower.
Counties with lots of hogs have a much higher ratio of animals to vets. In Renville County the ratio is 145,000-to-1, while in Blue Earth County it’s 140,000-to1.
Martin County has the highest number of food animals in the state with 667,000. Its ratio is 74,000-to-1. Blue Earth is next at 421,000 animals, followed by Nobles County with 354,000.
One of the frustrating aspects of working in St. Paul is the realization that not everyone understands the economic importance of agriculture to this state. Nationally, Minnesota ranks first in the production of turkeys. We are also in the Top Ten for swine, dairy, cow-calf, eggs and horses.
Agriculture is the second largest employer in the state and accounts for $55 billion in economic activity. Twenty percent of all Minnesota exports are agricultural.
Early this past session, legislators attended an economic conference at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute. One of the speakers discussed Minnesota exports, and he didn’t even mention ag products. Needless to say, during a break in the day’s activities his omission was pointed out.
I was able to get away for a few days last week for a combination fishing trip/tractor factory tour to Racine, Wis., and Lake Michigan. Never one to have much luck while fishing, I didn’t land any salmon, but our group did pretty well. The largest fish caught by our party was a 19-pounder.
Reading the newspapers out there, it appears that Wisconsin is struggling with many of the same economic woes we face here in Minnesota. Highway construction is in high gear, however, as I counted three major bridge-interchange projects right around the Milwaukee-Racine area.
--30--
Rep. Anderson encourages constituents to contact his new office with input regarding any state legislative issue. He can be reached on the web at www.house.mn/13A and via email at rep.paul.anderson@house.mn. To contact Anderson by phone, call (651) 296-4317. Mail can be sent to Rep. Paul Anderson, 239 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, Minnesota 55155.
News Items
- Still no budget as session winds down - (Posted: May 10 2013 12:00AM)
- MUCH WORK REMAINS IN SESSION’S WANING WEEKS - (Posted: May 6 2013 12:00AM)
- Results of online survey are telling - (Posted: May 3 2013 12:00AM)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.