Survey of veterinary extension in the United States

Objective-To assess veterinary extension in the United Stales as perceived by veterinary extension personnel. Design-Cross-sectional survey. Sample Population-Extension veterinarians in the United Stales. Procedure-2 surveys were designed and mailed to extension veterinarians lis ted by the USDA and the American Association of Extension Veterinarians. Results-34 states had greater than or equal to 1 extension veterinarian. Th e majority (> 60%) of extension veterinarians did not commit time to reside nt education and were not involved in research activities. Paradoxically, 2 3% of responding extension veterinarians did not report extension work. Pro grams for food animal producers, horse owners, and companion animal owners were provided by 100, 63, and 37% of states, respectively. Continuing educa tion (CE) programs were provided for food animal veterinarians, equine vete rinarians, and companion animal veterinarians by 96, 63, and 52% of states, respectively. Challenges facing veterinary extension included limited reco gnition of veterinary extension activities by universities, lack of univers ity personnel to support CE programs, and decreased support for companion a nimal extension programs. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Extension veterinarians need to identify and clearly articulate the mission of veterinary extension, develop more c ollaborative programs across regions, and continue to serve as catalysts to bring diverse constituents together, Extension veterinarians must distingu ish their mission not solely as information transfer which can be accomplis hed in a variety of ways outside of extension, but as a coherent and consis tent program of education and policy developed on a national level and dist ributed locally.