A poll of more than 2,800 farmers conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists found that they overwhelmingly support sustainable agriculture policies, including those that expand conservation programs and create alternative pathways to market, like food hubs or farm-to-school programs. The poll, across seven states, also found that farmers would participate more in farm bill-funded USDA programs if they required less paperwork and offered more supports and incentives.
Seventy two percent of the farmers said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who favored sustainable farming methods over “business as usual.” The majority of farmers also said they favored policies that give farmers more power in relationships with supply chain companies, and encourage less use of chemical inputs; they said those policies are important to the future of farming.
Farmers were slightly less enthusiastic about their relationship to the farm bill. Just over 30 percent of respondents said they were closely following debates around the farm bill, and just 47 percent indicated that they feel the farm bill is very important to their personal livelihood.
Respondents to the poll ranged in age and party affiliation, though the majority were over 45 and Republican. The poll was administered in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.