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Public and Farmer Attitudes on Food,
Farming and Biofuels
Jen Lamson and Kristin Hyde
Agenda
 Overview
 Results of Farmer Interviews
 Q &A
 Results of National Poll
 Q &A
 Key Takeaways and Discussion
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Farmers’ Opinions on Agriculture &
the Environment
50 Interviews conducted
March – April 2010
by Nicole Yakatan
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Methodology
 Total of 50 phone interviews; Ten each in 5 states (AR, IA,
MN, ND, OH)
 Crops include: corn, soybeans, wheat, rice – production-
scale commodity growers
 Participate at high levels in both federal subsidy programs &
federal conservation programs
 Farm size varied; average size is 2400 acres; most classify as
“Large Family Farms”
 Under age 65
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“Conservation Adopters”
 “Conservation Adopters” are producers with progressive
conservation values
 Possible to ID as potential allies
 Excited about technology
 Embrace thoughtful change in operations
 Average age 55
 Internet-savvy
 Often use smartphones
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“Conservation Adopters”
 May have ‘conservation-positive’ off-farm perspective from
academics, career, family
 Have adopted no-till practices or plan to move in that
direction
 Knowledgeable about ag issues with multiple info sources
 Open-minded about possible restructuring of government
payments
 Only mild anti-government sentiment
 NOT strongly connected to Farm Bureau
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Farm Consolidation
 Occurring over last 10 years; more focus this year now that
prices have stabilized
 Talk about “large corporate farms”
 “Large” typically means larger than their operations by 4x
 Smaller operators forced out economically
 Agriculture is being “WalMartized”
 Minimum acreage to “make it” has increased
 “Growing is form of gambling”
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Fed Still Has Role, but Changes Coming
 Most farmers still believe direct payments are necessary,
despite small % of revenue
 Keep food abundant and cheap
 Some feel limits are a slippery slope toward end of direct
payments
 Many feel cuts are inevitable, due to deficit & farmers’
declining numbers
 Some wish for end of direct payments
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Conservation Options Are Best Gov’t Programs
 Growers assert conservation programs should be promoted,
expanded and funded
 Most would choose conservation programs over direct
subsidies
 More politically palatable outside ag community
 Reinforce their role as “stewards of the land”
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Climate Change Is Major Sticking Point
 Very few farmers believe climate change
is a serious issue caused by human
behavior
 Most feel it is “political ploy” by Al Gore
 Even if global warming is acknowledged,
it is rationalized as “natural cycles”
 “Recent cool summers & frigid
winters?”
 Even believers warn against “being
fanatical”
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Growers Supportive of Biofuels
 Biofuels will not lead to complete
energy independence, but significant
contribution
 Support market for corn & soybeans
 Promote mandates & tax breaks to
ensure viability
 Interest in next generation of
biofuels; some investigating
cellulosic options
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Weak Connection to Political Process
 Most farmers do not feel they have a significant voice on
federal policy
 Many believe FB, commodity orgs, some elected officials try
to influence policy
 Efforts are inadequate given strength of corporate interests &
environmental forces
 Most dislike current Administration
 Not sure what Admin has done for ag
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Language Can Polarize
 Enviro references may mean different things to farmers
 For some producers, “sustainable” means they can keep their
business running for another year.
 Not sure enviro view of sustainable can translate to
production ag
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Farmers Want Public Understanding
 Believe most people do not understand agriculture –
“chocolate cow”
 Farmers are stewards of the land
 Strive to raise livestock humanely
 Hard work – capital & labor intensive
 Financial risk; little ROI
 Dedicated to abundant, safe, affordable food for everyone
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Farmer Interviews
Q&A
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Agriculture and the Environment
Americans' Views on the Connections among
Farming, Food, Fuel and the Environment
By Belden Russonello & Stewart
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BELDEN RUSSONELLO &
STEWART
RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATIONS
Objectives of Research
 Expand on 2008-09 public opinion research on the
environmental footprint of agriculture, including:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
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Farmers and farming big and small
Climate change
Animal treatment
Biofuels, particularly ethanol
Possible ag policies
Connecting food to farm/enviro issues
Methods
Telephone Survey:
 Conducted March 9 – 28, 2010
 With 1,400 adults nationwide, including
an oversample of 451 rural residents
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Overview of Findings
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BELDEN RUSSONELLO &
STEWART
RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATIONS
1. Farming
The public believes ag has a positive or
neutral environmental impact
Q3. Thinking about agriculture, would you say that agriculture in the U.S. overall has a positive,
negative or neutral impact on the environment?
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The public says farmers do a good job
protecting the environment
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Please tell me if you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about
agriculture in this country: (READ ITEM) Do you agree or disagree? (WAIT FOR RESPONSE) Is
that strongly or somewhat [agree/disagree]? Q17. Generally small family farmers do a good
job protecting the environment; Q18a. [SPLIT SAMPLE A, n=724] Generally large corporate
farmers do a good job protecting the environment; Q18b. [SPLIT SAMPLE B, n=676]
Generally corporate agriculture does a good job protecting the environment
2. Climate Change
On the radar but dismissed
 87% have heard a lot or some about climate change.
 But people are just as likely to blame nature or say it isn’t
even happening, as they are to blame human activity.
 Decline in belief in human causes since 2008.
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Cause of Global Warming
Q2. Which of these comes closer to your view about global warming: (ROTATE ORDER) The
earth is getting warmer due mainly to human activity; the earth may be warming but it is due
mainly to natural cycles; or global warming is not happening?
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3. Treatment of Animals
 CAFO issues are not well known or understood – but
can sound scary
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Heard About Animal Confinement Issues
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Here is a list of issues. Please tell me how much you have heard about each of the following.
Have you heard a lot about this, some, not very much, or nothing at all about Q13. The
connection between human health problems, such as e coli, and raising thousands of
livestock in confined conditions Q10. The release of greenhouse gases such as methane
caused by confining thousands of cattle on one farm
Problems Related to Animal Confinement
% rating as serious problem (8, 9, or 10)
Now I’d like you to tell me how big a problem you think each of the following is. Please use a
scale of one to ten, where one means not a problem at all and ten means an extremely big
problem. You may use any number between one and ten. [RANDOMIZE]
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4. The Jury Is Still Out On Ethanol
29%
17%
Q15. On balance do you think the increasing production and use of ethanol is a good thing or
bad thing for the country, or do you not have an opinion on this? (WAIT FOR RESPONSE) Do
you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
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Favor Ethanol Subsidies for Corn Farmers
Q16. Would you say that you favor or oppose the government subsidizing farmers who
produce corn for making the alternative fuel ethanol? (WAIT FOR RESPONSE) Do you feel that
way strongly or somewhat?
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The Case Can Be Made To Oppose Ethanol Subsidies
I am going to read you a few reasons why some people oppose subsidizing the production of
ethanol. Please tell me if you find each of these statements to be very convincing, somewhat,
not very or not at all convincing as a reason to reduce subsidies for ethanol production.
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5. Ag Policy Changes
 Would be especially welcomed if they give incentives or
subsidies to farmers
 to reduce pollution
 to reduce use of chemical fertilizer
 to grow fruits and veggies
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Agricultural Policy Proposals
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Food and health provide entre to the
ag/enviro issues
 Childhood obesity is top concern
 Ditto diet-related diabetes
 People change eating habits for health reasons, not
environmental
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Motivations for Changing Food Habits
% saying “a great deal”
Would you say that over the last few years, you have changed the types of food you eat a great
deal, somewhat, not very much or not at all, because of each of the following. Q62. Concern for
improving your health Q64. Price concerns Q63. Concern for protecting the environment
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Results of National Poll
Q&A
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Audiences
 Farmers and rural residents are more aware of some of the
issues but most resistant to changing policies.
 The usual suspects (libs, D’s, women, higher SES, sustainable
food habits) more likely to be on board, but they too are
most interested in food and health.
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Conclusions/Recommendations
 Wider distinction between family farmers and corporate
agriculture than a year ago. Also slightly higher concern for
CAFO-caused problems.
 Trying to raise concern for agriculture’s enviro footprint by
connecting it to climate change continues to be ineffective.
 However, there is strong potential to use food and health as
entry points to raising awareness and concern.
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Conclusions/Recommendations
 Americans inclined to support subsidizing ethanol
production, although they are uncertain. Education needed.
 And they are open to shifting resources – especially because
of demand for other renewable energy.
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Conclusions/Recommendations
 Draw the public into conversation by starting with issues that
already concern them: health, food, energy alternatives. You’ve got
lots of openers.
 Bring new ag and enviro policies into the conversation as ways to
achieve good outcomes in these personal, immediate concerns
(not as ways to stop GW).
 Remember that while the lib/D usual suspects are more likely to
recognize the ag/enviro relationships, they too are energized by
health, food, and alternative energy.
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There’s an appetite for change in our
food system, but will advocates be able
to leverage the simmering interest to
bring about real reform?
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Food for Thought
Help the public connect the dots between farm policy, health,
and environmental impacts
 CAFOs





Size Matters
Antibiotics
Food Safety
Water Pollution
Animal Welfare
 Health Food
 Child Obesity, Diabetes
 Food Safety
 Incentives for Farmers
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Food for Thought
 Reward Stewardship
 Farmer Support
 Public Suppor
t
 Educate and Activate our Base
 Still Supportive of Ethanol
 Don’t See Ag’s Footprint
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Food for Thought
 Focus on farmers who embrace or are open to change
 Cultivate new allies
 Tell stories about farmers making change
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Ripening Opportunities
 CAFOs
 Incentivize Healthy Foods
 Identify and Work with Conservation
Adopters
 Reward stewardship/conservation
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Thank You!
Research posted at:
www.farmsfoodandfuel.org
Contact us:
Kristin Hyde 206.491.0773 [email protected]
Jen Lamson 206.369.3122 [email protected]
www.goodfoodstrategies.com
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