Public and Farmer Attitudes on Food, Farming and

Biofuels

Jen Lamson and Kristin Hyde

Agenda

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OverviewResults of Farmer Interviews

Q & A

Results of National PollQ & A

Key Takeaways and Discussion

50 Interviews conducted

March – April 2010

by Nicole Yakatan

Farmers’ Opinions on Agriculture & the Environment

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MethodologyTotal 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 alliesExcited about technologyEmbrace thoughtful change in operationsAverage age 55Internet-savvyOften 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 sentimentNOT 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 4xSmaller operators forced out economicallyAgriculture 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 ComingMost 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

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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”

Growers Supportive of Biofuels

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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

Weak Connection to Political ProcessMost 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 PolarizeEnviro 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 InterviewsQ & A

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Americans' Views on the Connections among Farming,

Food, Fuel and the Environment

By Belden Russonello & Stewart

Agriculture and the Environment

BELDEN RUSSONELLO & STEWARTRESEARCH AND COMMUNICATIONS

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Objectives of Research

Expand on 2008-09 public opinion research on the environmental footprint of agriculture, including:1. Farmers and farming big and small2. Climate change3. Animal treatment4. Biofuels, particularly ethanol5. Possible ag policies6. Connecting food to farm/enviro issues

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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 & STEWARTRESEARCH 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

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 environment21

2. Climate Change

On the radar but dismissed87% 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?23

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

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 farm25

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

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?

29%

17%

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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 fertilizerto 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 PollQ & A

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AudiencesFarmers 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/RecommendationsWider 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/RecommendationsDraw 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 ThoughtHelp the public connect the dots between farm policy, health, and environmental impacts

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CAFOsSize MattersAntibioticsFood SafetyWater PollutionAnimal Welfare

Health FoodChild Obesity, DiabetesFood SafetyIncentives for Farmers

Food for Thought

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Reward StewardshipFarmer SupportPublic Support

Educate and Activate our BaseStill Supportive of EthanolDon’t See Ag’s Footprint

Food for Thought

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Focus on farmers who embrace or are open to changeCultivate new alliesTell stories about farmers making change

Ripening Opportunities

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CAFOs

Incentivize Healthy Foods

Identify and Work with Conservation Adopters

Reward stewardship/conservation

Thank You!Research posted at:

www.farmsfoodandfuel.org

Contact us:Kristin Hyde 206.491.0773

kristin@goodfoodstrategies.comJen Lamson 206.369.3122 jen@goodfoodstrategies.com

www.goodfoodstrategies.com

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