FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2012

Contact: Melisa Augusto, 202-314-3191
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Tony Jarboe, 202-314-3104
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WASHINGTON (June 25, 2012) – American farmers believe conservation programs and environmental stewardship are key components of the Farm Bill and critical to their bottom line, according to a poll released today by National Farmers Union (NFU).

The bipartisan poll, conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research – a Democratic polling firm -- and Public Opinion Strategies – a Republican polling firm – surveyed 502 American farmers across 13 Midwestern and Great Plains states on their views regarding farm bill conservation programs. The results show that farmers view conservation programs and environmental stewardship as key components to the farm bill and critical to their future and bottom line.

“The findings of this survey demonstrate the deep commitment to conservation that farmers have across the heartland,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “As Congress moves forward crafting the farm bill, we would emphasize the importance conservation programs play for farmers both for environmental stewardship and continued productivity.”

Last week the Senate passed their version of the Farm Bill. The House is expected to begin markup on their bill on the second week of July.

The survey was conducted in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Specific highlights of the survey include: 

• Eighty-six percent of farmers say the level of conservation funding should be maintained or increased. Nearly half would be less likely to support a member of Congress who voted to cut conservation funding more than the $6 billion in the Senate-passed Farm Bill. 

• Conservation programs rank as the second-highest priority for inclusion in the farm bill, and farmers are not swayed by an argument that says conservation funding should be cut in order to prioritize risk management coverage. 

• Farmers view conservation as a priority that is vital to their long-term economic viability with nearly three-quarters of farmers saying that conservation programs help their bottom line. 

• By a nearly two-to-one margin, farmers believe that farmers should be required to meet some environmental standards in order to receive federal benefits such as crop insurance.

NFU worked with Cultivate Impact to produce this poll. Cultivate Impact is a new non-profit project of the Trust for Conservation Innovation specializing in strategic research and program development to help build a future with healthy and profitable farms, plentiful and accessible good food for all, and strong urban and rural communities.

National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.

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Click here to view the poll results