Survey: Public thinks highly of US farmers
The American public generally has a high opinion of farmers and ranchers, according to the results of a recent survey partially funded by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).
Conclusions and recommendations from the survey were presented last week at the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s Stakeholder Summit on Animal Welfare.
Along with farmers and ranchers, the groups viewed most favorably by the public are teachers, veterinarians and physicians. According to the survey, the public strongly believes farmers and ranchers are concerned about food safety and the well-being of their animals.
The survey polled more than 1,000 US adults on their opinions on issues including food safety, animal welfare practices and genetically engineered feed products.
Other key survey findings include:
• It is believed that farmers impact and have a strong role in healthy and cost-effective food production.
• A significant number of respondents are willing to pay premium prices for food certified and labeled as “humanely raised.”
•?The influence of animal rights activist groups on respondents’ decisions about buying certain products is minimal. Only 7 percent of those surveyed said animal rights groups are “extremely” or “very” influential in these decisions.