Some 49 veterinarians will receive $4.5 million from the USDA toward their school loans in exchange for their working for three years in parts of rural America that are short of veterinary coverage. “The awards … will help fill shortages in 26 states,” said the USDA. It was the third year of awards through the department’s loan-repayment program. The maximum award is $75,000, half the debt faced by many graduates after four years of veterinary study. Some recipients of the repayment money are required to dedicate at least 80 percent of their time on food-bearing animals.