“It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop.” That famous quote from is actually a pretty compelling ad for hiring a robot, if you’re the kind of person who’d hire a terminator. It also reminds us of a startup’s that suggests companies replace human workers with bots. ... is a San Francisco-based software startup that offers AI-powered business development representatives, which it calls “Artisans.” Many other companies also sell AI chatbots designed to help sales employees with their workflows, but Artisan deployed a marketing campaign across San Francisco with posters of Ava, one of its chatbot avatars, and lines like: “Stop hiring humans” “Artisans won’t complain about work-life balance” “Artisan’s Zoom cameras will never ‘not be working’ today” Many have mocked the billboards, that we could also replace partners and children with bots, while others have expressed anger. But is it working? Artisan CEO Jaspar Carmichael-Jack to that the ads are “somewhat dystopian, but so is AI” and claimed that they have increased brand awareness and sales leads. That doesn’t necessarily imply that more people are “hiring” Ava or that Artisan’s bots have or even could fully replace humans, despite not needing to do things like eat or sleep. What we do know is that people are increasingly worried about layoffs amid economic uncertainty and AI’s rise — and it’s not entirely unfounded: In April, there were ~65k layoffs in the US, of which were attributed to AI. Experts have said we’ll need social safety nets in place for people who lose their jobs due to AI, but we don’t have them yet. So this marketing campaign succeeded in that it sure has people talking, but we’ll see if that’s a good thing for Artisan.
Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutionsNabity Jensen Investment Management Inc acquired a new position in shares of Amazon.com, Inc. ( NASDAQ:AMZN – Free Report ) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 8,769 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock, valued at approximately $1,634,000. Amazon.com accounts for about 1.3% of Nabity Jensen Investment Management Inc’s holdings, making the stock its 17th biggest position. Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Continuum Advisory LLC boosted its position in shares of Amazon.com by 2.1% in the third quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 69,968 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock worth $13,037,000 after buying an additional 1,419 shares during the period. Harvest Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Amazon.com during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $533,000. PYA Waltman Capital LLC lifted its position in Amazon.com by 13.0% during the 3rd quarter. PYA Waltman Capital LLC now owns 61,653 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock worth $11,488,000 after acquiring an additional 7,090 shares in the last quarter. Peloton Wealth Strategists boosted its holdings in Amazon.com by 6.5% in the 3rd quarter. Peloton Wealth Strategists now owns 40,452 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock worth $7,537,000 after acquiring an additional 2,477 shares during the period. Finally, Geller Advisors LLC grew its position in Amazon.com by 3.2% in the third quarter. Geller Advisors LLC now owns 28,644 shares of the e-commerce giant’s stock valued at $5,337,000 after acquiring an additional 879 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.20% of the company’s stock. Insider Activity In related news, Director Jonathan Rubinstein sold 5,004 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $199.85, for a total transaction of $1,000,049.40. Following the transaction, the director now owns 99,396 shares in the company, valued at $19,864,290.60. This trade represents a 4.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . Also, CEO Douglas J. Herrington sold 3,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.00, for a total value of $735,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 524,567 shares in the company, valued at approximately $110,159,070. The trade was a 0.66 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 6,032,344 shares of company stock valued at $1,253,456,822. Company insiders own 10.80% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In View Our Latest Analysis on AMZN Amazon.com Price Performance Shares of NASDAQ:AMZN opened at $223.75 on Friday. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $209.73 and its two-hundred day moving average is $192.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.35 trillion, a P/E ratio of 47.91, a PEG ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. Amazon.com, Inc. has a 52 week low of $144.05 and a 52 week high of $233.00. Amazon.com ( NASDAQ:AMZN – Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The e-commerce giant reported $1.43 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.14 by $0.29. Amazon.com had a return on equity of 22.41% and a net margin of 8.04%. The firm had revenue of $158.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $157.28 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.85 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Amazon.com, Inc. will post 5.29 earnings per share for the current year. About Amazon.com ( Free Report ) Amazon.com, Inc engages in the retail sale of consumer products, advertising, and subscriptions service through online and physical stores in North America and internationally. The company operates through three segments: North America, International, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). It also manufactures and sells electronic devices, including Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TVs, Echo, Ring, Blink, and eero; and develops and produces media content. Read More Five stocks we like better than Amazon.com Biggest Stock Losers – Today’s Biggest Percentage Decliners S&P 500 ETFs: Expense Ratios That Can Boost Your Long-Term Gains Best Stocks Under $5.00 How AI Implementation Could Help MongoDB Roar Back in 2025 What is Insider Trading? What You Can Learn from Insider Trading Hedge Funds Boost Oil Positions: Is a Major Rally on the Horizon? Receive News & Ratings for Amazon.com Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Amazon.com and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Inventus Mining Corp. ( CVE:IVS – Get Free Report )’s stock price was down 21.1% during mid-day trading on Saturday . The stock traded as low as C$0.08 and last traded at C$0.08. Approximately 118,000 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 26% from the average daily volume of 93,681 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.10. Inventus Mining Trading Down 21.1 % The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$0.06 and a 200 day moving average of C$0.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 41.50, a current ratio of 1.44 and a quick ratio of 0.07. The firm has a market cap of C$12.60 million, a P/E ratio of -7.00 and a beta of 0.83. Insider Transactions at Inventus Mining In other Inventus Mining news, Director Glen Alexander Milne bought 577,000 shares of Inventus Mining stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 19th. The shares were bought at an average price of C$0.06 per share, with a total value of C$31,735.00. In the last three months, insiders bought 1,952,000 shares of company stock worth $99,235. 31.70% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Inventus Mining Company Profile Inventus Mining Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Canada. The company explores for gold and base metals. It holds 100% interests in the Pardo Paleoplacer gold project covering an area of 3.8 square kilometers block of mineral leases and 180 square kilometers of mineral claims; and Sudbury 2.0 project totaling an area of 240 square kilometers of mineral claims located in Sudbury Mining Division, Ontario. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Inventus Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Inventus Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Embedded Security Market: $8.23B in 2022 to $20.8B by 2031
XRAY Investors Have Opportunity to Lead Dentsply Sirona Inc. Securities Fraud Lawsuit
Biden says fall of Assad in Syria is “fundamental act of justice”, but also “moment of risk”GOP Armed Services chair criticizes ban on gender-affirming care for minors in NDAAHow a food blogger in Gaza cooks to feed children and stay aliveBOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — 2024 was a brutal year for the Amazon rainforest, with rampant wildfires and extreme drought ravaging large parts of a biome that’s a critical counterweight to climate change. A warming climate fed drought that in turn fed the worst year for fires since 2005. And those fires contributed to deforestation, with authorities suspecting some fires were set to more easily clear land to run cattle. The Amazon is twice the size of India and sprawls across eight countries and one territory, storing vast amounts of carbon dioxide that would otherwise warm the planet. It has about 20% of the world’s fresh water and astounding biodiversity, including 16,000 known tree species. But governments have historically viewed it as an area to be exploited, with little regard for sustainability or the rights of its Indigenous peoples, and experts say exploitation by individuals and organized crime is rising at alarming rates. “The fires and drought experienced in 2024 across the Amazon rainforest could be ominous indicators that we are reaching the long-feared ecological tipping point,” said Andrew Miller, advocacy director at Amazon Watch, an organization that works to protect the rainforest. “Humanity’s window of opportunity to reverse this trend is shrinking, but still open.” There were some bright spots. The level of Amazonian forest loss fell in both Brazil and Colombia. And nations gathered for the annual United Nations conference on biodiversity agreed to give Indigenous peoples more say in nature conservation decisions. “If the Amazon rainforest is to avoid the tipping point, Indigenous people will have been a determinant factor,” Miller said. Wildfires and extreme drought Forest loss in Brazil’s Amazon — home to the largest swath of this rainforest — compared to the previous year, the lowest level of destruction in nine years. The improvement under leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva contrasted with deforestation that hit a 15-year high under Lula’s predecessor, far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro, who prioritized agribusiness expansion over forest protection and weakened environmental agencies. In July, Colombia in deforestation in 2023, driven by a drop in environmental destruction. The country’s environment minister Susana Muhamad warned that 2024’s figures may not be as promising as a significant rise in deforestation had already been recorded by July due to dry weather caused by El Nino, a weather phenomenon that warms the central Pacific. Illegal economies continue to drive deforestation in the Andean nation. “It’s impossible to overlook the threat posed by organized crime and the economies they control to Amazon conservation,” said Bram Ebus, a consultant for Crisis Group in Latin America. “Illegal gold mining is expanding rapidly, driven by soaring global prices, and the revenues of illicit economies often surpass state budgets allocated to combat them.” In Brazil, large swaths of the rainforest were from fires raging across the Amazon, Cerrado savannah, Pantanal wetland and the state of Sao Paulo. Fires are traditionally used for deforestation and for managing pastures, and those man-made blazes were largely responsible for igniting the wildfires. For a second year, the , leading some countries to declare a state of emergency and distribute food and water to struggling residents. The situation was most critical in Brazil, where one of the Amazon River’s main tributaries Cesar Ipenza, an environmental lawyer who lives in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, said he believes people are becoming increasingly aware of the Amazon’s fundamental role “for the survival of society as a whole.” But, like Miller, he worries about a “point of no return of Amazon destruction.” It was the worst year for Amazon fires since 2005, according to nonprofit Rainforest Foundation US. Between January and October, an area larger than the state of Iowa — 37.42 million acres, or about 15.1 million hectares of Brazil’s Amazon — burned. Bolivia had a record number of fires in the first ten months of the year. “Forest fires have become a constant, especially in the summer months and require particular attention from the authorities who don’t how to deal with or respond to them,” Ipenza said. Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Guyana also saw a surge in fires this year. Indigenous voices and rights made headway in 2024 The United Nations conference on biodiversity — this year known as COP16 — was hosted by Colombia. The meetings put the Amazon in the spotlight and a historic agreement was made to give Indigenous groups more of , a development that builds on a growing movement to recognize Indigenous people’s role in protecting land and combating climate change. Both Ebus and Miller saw promise in the appointment of Martin von Hildebrand as the new secretary general for the Amazon Treaty Cooperation Organization, announced during COP16. “As an expert on Amazon communities, he will need to align governments for joint conservation efforts. If the political will is there, international backers will step forward to finance new strategies to protect the world’s largest tropical rainforest,” Ebus said. Ebus said Amazon countries need to cooperate more, whether in law enforcement, deploying joint emergency teams to combat forest fires, or providing health care in remote Amazon borderlands. But they need help from the wider world, he said. “The well-being of the Amazon is a shared global responsibility, as consumer demand worldwide fuels the trade in commodities that finance violence and environmental destruction,” he said. Next year marks a critical moment for the Amazon, as Belém do Pará in northern Brazil hosts the first United Nations COP in the region that will focus on climate. “Leaders from Amazon countries have a chance to showcase strategies and demand tangible support,” Ebus said. ___ The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at . Steven Grattan, The Associated Press
November sees high box office turnout as people are returning to cinemas
On Sunday morning, a lightning offensive by Syrian rebels ended with the dramatic fall of Damascus, marking the collapse of Bashar al-Assad 's regime after 13 years of devastating civil war. One of the most consequential moments in the Middle East's recent history was set in motion by a chain of events that few could have anticipated, least of all Hamas and Israel, whose war inadvertently played a pivotal role. Now comes the tough part, where the Middle East either gets better, or even worse. The fall of Assad is a stark reminder of how unintended consequences shape history. Israel and the West were long ambivalent about Assad's fate. He is a butcher who used chemical weapons against his own people and led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands, yet his control over Syria offered predictability, even tacit stability, in a volatile region. And critically, the coalition arrayed against him seemed dominated by Islamists – and, let's face it, the West has hated political Islam ever since the mullahs of Iran engineered the US hostage crisis 45 years ago. This is, at the end of the day, Samuel Huntington's "Clash of Civilizations." It's real. In the unintended consequences bucket, Assad's ability to cling to power for so long relied heavily on Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia that until recently was one of the most powerful non-state armies in the world. But Hezbollah was thrashed by Israel in the recent fighting in Lebanon—and it is probably not a coincidence that the decisive rebel offensive came immediately thereafter. The unravelling can be traced back to the catastrophic Oct. 7, 2023, assault by Hamas on Israel, in which the Iran-backed Palestinian terrorist group massacred 1,200 people and kidnapped about 250 back into Gaza. That triggered an unprecedented Israeli response that ended up decimating the Iran-led "Axis of Resistance." In Gaza, Israel systematically dismantled Hamas' leadership (while causing horrific damage to Gaza's civilian population). In Lebanon, Hezbollah decided to pile on, launching over a year of rocket attacks the day after the Hamas invasion, and it too has suffered devastating losses. And in Syria, Israeli strikes on Iranian assets further weakened the position of Assad, who had turned his country into a superhighway of Iranian arms delivery to Hezbollah in Lebanon. These strikes targeted weapons depots, Iranian bases, and key logistical routes, severely degrading Tehran's ability to support its proxies. The cumulative effect of these actions left the Axis of Resistance fragmented, demoralized, and weakened. Moreover, Iran, the architect of this regional alliance, has been grievously exposed, and Israeli air strikes have weakened its air defences. Its proxies are fractured, and its credibility as a regional powerbroker is in tatters. The toppling of Assad also weakens Russian influence in the Middle East, as Moscow was a key supporter of his regime. For Israel, all this is a double-edged sword. The dismantling of the Axis of Resistance represents a strategic victory, but the risks are significant. Rebel forces now controlling Syria are dominated by groups with ties to extremist ideologies, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a group with al-Qaeda roots. This raises the specter of Syria becoming a failed state—or worse, a terrorist stronghold. Moreover, Assad's fall may invite new powers into Syria's vacuum. Turkey, Russia, and others could assert influence, potentially destabilizing the region further. For Israel, the stakes are high. The chaos could spill into neighboring Lebanon and Iraq, and no amount of military might can fully insulate Israel from the ripple effects of a fractured Syria. Amid this madness, we should remember something ironic. Originially, the opposition to Assad was liberal rebels who wanted a democratic Syria—the Free Syrian Army. What ultimately sealed Assad's fate was his calculated decision in 2011 to release Islamist prisoners from his jails. His hope was to discredit the opposition by making it unpalatable to the West; he figured he could ride the tiger. That tiger has now devoured him. Global fear and loathing of Islamism is preventing a genuine wave of celebration over the demise of a butcher. Many governments right now are wondering about the intentions of Hayat Tahrin al-Sham, despite the fact they have distanced themselves from al-Qaeda in recent years. That's why Israel has attacked Syrian chemical weapons depots—fearing they may fall into Islamist hands—and seized a strategic section of the Hermon mountaintop. The United States is headed into an isolationist frame of mind. President-elect Donald Trump has argued that this is "not our fight." Think again: Few things today are more important than preventing Syria from becoming a terrorist haven for global jihad. The fall of Assad's regime is a monumental moment, not just for Syria but for the entire Middle East. It underscores the impermanence of even the most entrenched autocracies. Assad's Baathist dictatorship, seemingly unassailable for decades, has crumbled. Many in the region are asking: could the Islamic theocracy in Iran, reviled by its people and a cancer upon the world, be next? Dan Perry is the former Cairo-based Middle East editor and London-based Europe/Africa editor of the Associated Press, the former chairman of the Foreign Press Association in Jerusalem and the author of two books. Follow him at danperry.substack.com . The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.Upheaval. Chaos, confusion. Radical change. The “New World Order.” The “new normal? However we frame it, we are in turbulent times — and are headed for more of the same. Do we need to adjust to it? Or do we make the changes needed to maintain our course, our democratic republic, our ethics and morals? Wherever we turn, we can simply not afford to ignore the red flags and warning signs we read about and see everywhere every day. So many of us care deeply about humanity and being humane. We work toward the preservation of our environment and world. We strive to put into daily actions values such as equality, equity, respect, truth, honesty, and DEIB. Above all, it is my feeling that we have no choice but to remain steadfast in the work we do to create hope and peace. Now is not the time to give up and let negativity fester. Whatever the reasons, the ethnocultural and sociopolitical needles seem to have backslid to what feels like the 1950s. Those of us on the side of positivity must continue to pursue our vision of building a safer and saner society. Our energy and “never-quit” attitude are needed now more than ever. “The fight” is on — a battle, as President Joe Biden has said, for the soul of our country. It is an ongoing struggle to maintain the core and roots of our democracy. These next years will severely test our personal and collective resiliency. It’s been said that the measure of any relationship or life event is not when things are sailing smoothly. Rather, it is when there is conflict, confusion and chaos that we get to know who we are and who our neighbors are. Four score or so years ago, Eleanor Roosevelt said, “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do ... and do one thing every day that scares you.” Acting boldly in the face of fear takes courage. It is of paramount importance that we find this courage while acknowledging and acting on our fears, whatever they are. Beyond the vote count of a month ago, now is the time to stand up (once again) and be counted — using our voices, our collective sense of goodness for all. My hope is that we will continue to develop tactics and strategies to regain kindness. We know that the journey of life is a long and winding road. No matter how embittered one may feel, we cannot step off that road. To the contrary, we must continue to strengthen and reinforce it. No matter what our politicians and leaders say or do, I will continue to serve my communities through my volunteer work, training and consulting on the local and larger levels. Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess Rather than capitulate to food insecurity in one of the poorest counties of our commonwealth, I will continue to cook for and serve on the board of The Stone Soup Café. Rather than give into the wanton and random acts of violence that occur daily on our neighborhood streets, I will continue to conduct trainings and workshops and support the work of Training Active Bystanders. I imagine many of us have similar examples of facing the challenges we experience to better the life circumstances of others. One of the biggest challenges of progressive organizations is that they seem to have to compete with similarly minded groups simply to survive in tough financial times in an era of political strife and turmoil. This “divide and conquer” mentality keeps these groups distant and separate from one another. Since one of the larger goals of human rights organizations is to support those with fewer opportunities, we should acknowledge that those doing this work are headed in a similar direction. As has been said innumerable times by others, “We’re all in this together.” One key word to emerge from all of this is critical: collaboration. To “co-labor” is to work peaceably and respectfully with others for the betterment of all. This is not only the road map to survival, but the path toward enabling those who struggle to thrive. The myths of the “survival of the fittest,” “to each their own,” and “the rugged individual” are no longer helpful — if indeed they ever were. Enter John Donne’s oft-quoted words: “No one (man) is an island.” Research and life experience have shown us that we are better and stronger together than apart. I believe we are at our best and strongest when we can hold the big picture of things. No one wants to have our world rocked by the inevitability and certainty of change. Change is an inherent and inherited condition of all humanity. Learning to move forward in the face of it is about grace, love, and unyielding hope. I urge that we do our best to maintain ourselves, using our skills of emotional regulation, social and emotional intelligence, and the perspective of “I = We” in pursuing healthy and healing visions of a future that is anything but knowable. We need each other to create meaningful community. Steadiness and a sense of calm will be one of the many balms that propel us forward into this future. Engaging in active collaboration and listening are high among the skill sets that we’ll need to rebuild a safer and saner society. Daniel Cantor Yalowitz writes a regular column in the Recorder. A developmental and intercultural psychologist, he has facilitated change in many organizations and communities around the world. His two most recent books are “Journeying with Your Archetypes” and “Reflections on the Nature of Friendship.” Reach out to him at danielcyalowitz@gmail.com.Hundreds of trans patients admitted to hospital as women despite having conditions only suffered by MENIs Pam Bondi Married? About Trump’s AG Nominee’s Relationships & Ex-Husbands
Anoto announces outcome of rights issue
WEST FARGO — When Happy, a sweet but oblivious-to-danger 9-year-old mare scraped up her back leg once again, owner Alicia Severson was able to call on Casselton Veterinary Service to visit her Gandin, N.D., farm and patch up Happy. But when it comes to a recurring ligament injury Happy sustained while competing in a barrel competition, Severson and many other horse and farm animal owners are finding it more difficult every year to find big animal veterinarians, and especially ones that specialize in certain care. ADVERTISEMENT "There is absolutely a shortage," Severson said. For decades, ranchers have been sounding the alarm about a shortage of rural veterinarians and new big animal vets, and especially those who specialize in caring for horses, cows, pigs and sheep. The problem persists despite land grant universities such as North Dakota State University, who often send undergraduates interested in the profession to far-away schools for continuing education. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture , 500 counties across 46 states reported critical shortages of big animal vets. And while large animal veterinarians have long been a challenge to find in rural areas, where they are most needed, veterinarians who specialize in horses are also waning. That's despite the increasing popularity and availability in North Dakota and Minnesota for younger generations to compete in equine activities. According to an online database, about 43,200 horses call North Dakota home, which is about one horse per 18 people in the state. Leon Glasser, president of the North Dakota Quarter Horse Racing Association, has been breeding, raising and racing horses for more than 40 years, working to improve the quality of racehorses born in North Dakota. Over the years, he's watched the number of veterinarians willing to work with horses dwindle quickly. "Are we short of equine vets in this area? Absolutely, we are," Glasser said. He said a veterinary clinic in New Salem, N.D., will now only provide simple paperwork needed for owners to transport horses across state lines for care and Missouri Valley Vet Clinic in Bismarck has also limited equine services in the same way. Most newer veterinarians prefer to work on dogs and cats exclusively, he said. ADVERTISEMENT Severson agreed, noting it is also difficult to find a veterinarian who has experience treating goats, as the Seversons have two goats at their farm along with the horses and a cat. For Happy's ligament issue, of which she's had recurring surgeries and needs sporadic treatment, Severson worked with an equine sports medicine specialist based in the Twin Cities but would travel into western Minnesota. However, that veterinarian recently retired, leaving Severson on the hunt to find another specialist within a few hundred miles of the Red River Valley. "Nothing takes the place of a seasoned veterinarian," Severson said. "Thankfully, Casselton [Veterinary Service] is fabulous when it comes to when my horse is injured. But when it comes to long-term stuff that she's dealing with, it's difficult." Dr. Alexa Weyer at Casselton Veterinary grew up in Snohomish, Wash., a farm town north of Seattle, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of North Dakota before finishing her doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University in Alabama. Following graduation, she began working at Casselton Veterinary in early 2021. "There is definitely a shortage of people interested in large animal practice, and we would love to see more interest," Weyer said. To be a veterinarian requires a doctorate degree from a veterinary school or program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association and passing the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam, which is an extensive 360-question exam on all species (dogs, cats, horses, cows, goats, pigs, birds, reptiles, rabbits, fish and more) and all aspects of veterinary medicine. ADVERTISEMENT Veterinarians can choose to either go straight into general practice after graduation or they can seek further education to become a specialist. To be a veterinarian technician requires a two- or four-year veterinary technology degree, depending on the program. Derine Winning, a veterinarian at Valley Veterinary Hospital in Fargo and public policy adviser for the North Dakota Veterinary Medical Association, said the vast majority — about 70% — of new graduate veterinarians became companion animal practitioners in 2023. Almost 10% became mixed animal practitioners and only 6% became equine practitioners. The data comes from the American Veterinary Medical Association's 2024 Economic State of the Profession Report. "There are a lot of different areas in which veterinarians can become board certified through advanced education and training," Winning said. Animal specialists of any kind can be difficult to find locally, although Winning said the Red River Animal and Emergency Hospital and Referral Center in Fargo does have some specialists in oncology, surgery, internal medicine and emergency and critical care. Casselton Veterinary provides many large animal services from emergency on-call care to posting a doctor and technician for nights and weekends. In addition to their vets traveling to farms, the clinic has a large treatment area with two stocks and stalls for hospitalization and breeding care. The clinic also has several portable imaging tools. Weyer said the trend of vets moving away from rural areas can be seen in the growing need for referrals. "Unfortunately, most referral facilities across the country for large and small animals are in areas of high population density. For large animals, there are even fewer facilities and they tend to be at universities with veterinary schools or in areas of high equine concentration," she said. ADVERTISEMENT While the Casselton doctors work with a variety of places for specialty referrals, Sturgis Equine in western South Dakota and the University of Minnesota are probably most used by the clinic. Still, the closest drive is about four hours. Weyer said referrals are typically needed for colic surgery, arthroscopic surgery, advanced imaging or advanced hospitalizations. "In general practice like we are, there are always times to refer. For our clients, it would be nice to have a closer option, but a lot of areas in the country are even farther from referral than we are," Weyer said. Beth Carlson, deputy veterinarian with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, said rural areas most in need of large animal veterinarians may not attract college graduates with those abilities. "The ratio of large animal veterinarians has shifted quite a bit," Carlson said. "Certainly there are areas of the state where it is difficult to hire veterinarians for a variety of reasons. In some cases it's challenging to hire veterinarians even in urban areas as well." One challenge is the cost of becoming a veterinarian. The USDA offers a program that provides up to $75,000 in veterinary school loan repayment to graduates who agree to work in underserved rural communities a minimum of three years. While some in Congress have recently proposed increasing that amount, it can still be daunting as new veterinarians, on average, face about $190,000 in school debt over the eight years needed to become a veterinarian. ADVERTISEMENT According to the American Veterinary Medicine Association, the mean starting salary for a veterinarian working predominantly in the treatment of food animals is about $85,000, but it was more than $100,000 for those who specialize in pet care. The North Dakota Department of Agriculture does work with residents interested in attending veterinary school. Carlson said her office assists with applications for veterinary loan repayment programs. "There are a few different ways that the state and federal government has approached that issue," Carlson said. While NDSU has a veterinarian technician program, there are currently no veterinary schools in North Dakota. In fact, there are only about 30 veterinary schools nationwide. The closest to North Dakota and some of the most renowned veterinary medicine schools are the University of Minnesota, University of Iowa and Kansas State. "NDSU is a great agricultural school and has a great veterinary technician program," Weyer said. "It might be nice to have a veterinary doctorate program at NDSU, but I am not sure that the population is there yet to support one."
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