New Poll: Broad Support for Conservation, Farm Programs, Healthy Food in the Next Farm Bill.
The same poll finds that a large majority of Americans favor government action to reform Industrial Agriculture and Corporate Agribusiness.
Earlier this year, the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (CLF) released results from their National Farm Bill Poll Results 2023. The polling measured voters’ opinions and perceptions about conservation and farmer support programs, as well as understanding of regenerative agriculture, agroecology, and climate-smart agriculture.
The polling found that large majorities of registered voters tend to support farmers and funding for farm policy that delivers conservation benefits and healthier food, while also supporting reforms to industrial agriculture. The federal Farm Bill is currently being revised by Congress. The current Farm Bill expires September 30, 2023.
Key findings include:
94% of respondents said the federal government should support small- and mid-sized agricultural producers.
88% of respondents report that it is a high priority for food to be produced in a way that is sustainable and that ensures a supply of healthy foods today and in the future.
84% of respondents are in favor of incentivizing farmers and ranchers to implement sustainable, resilient agricultural practices.
84% of respondents believe agricultural policies should be aligned to support the production and consumption of healthier foods.
78% of respondents prioritize healthy and sustainable food for Americans over feed for animals.
82% of respondents favor holding corporate integrators responsible for pollution and other harm caused by CAFOs.
88% of respondents favor additional protections for meatpacking workers.
82% of respondents favor prohibiting the use of unfair tournament or ranking systems for paying contract growers.
The poll was conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner (GQR) Research. One nationwide, confidential, online poll conducted by GQR in January 2023 drew responses from 1,000 randomly selected registered American voters. A second round of questions was conducted by GQR in March 2023 with a different set of 1,000 randomly selected American voters.
The Cocklebur will continue to use findings from this polling throughout the Farm Bill Debate. These poll results amplify the opinions and policy positions of many rural voices and organizations regularly featured in this newsletter.
A BRIEF NOTE FROM BRYCE:
The Cocklebur is working from the road this week, doing my regular thing but traveling to Oregon and Montana for some on-site reporting. I’ve got an analysis coming soon (like tomorrow) about how industrial agriculture punches above its weight politically, as well as a feature on local organizing to stop industrial poultry from taking over Oregon. I even brought my camera.
Many good things happening at The Cocklebur. Thanks for your donations to help make it happen. And please share this newsletter far and wide.
—Bryce
The Cocklebur covers rural policy and politics from a progressive point-of-view. Our work focuses on a tangled rural political reality of dishonest debate, economic and racial disparities, corporate power over our democracy, and disinformation peddled by conservative media outlets. We aim to use facts, data, and science to inform our point-of-view. We wear our complicated love/WTF relationship with rural America on our sleeve.