University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources

July 7, 2006

Poll shows strong appreciation for ag's role

Also see:
Poll: Rural Nebraskans using multiple jobs to get by
An overwhelming majority of rural Nebraskans consider agriculture to be important to the state and their communities and well over half see it as important to their own families' finances, according to the 2006 Nebraska Rural Poll.

Such a conclusion might be considered a "no-brainer," University of Nebraska-Lincoln agricultural economist Bruce Johnson said. But at a time when even many rural residents are a generation or more removed from farming, it's encouraging to find that agriculture is still "more highly valued than Nebraska football."

"It's just built into the gestalt out there," added UNL rural sociologist Randy Cantrell, who with Johnson conducts the Rural Poll for the university's Center for Applied Rural Innovation.

Ninety percent of those surveyed said agriculture is important to the state's economy; 88% said it's important to the state's quality of life; and 85% said it's important to their own community's economy.

Percentages were lower when respondents were asked about ag's influence on their own families. Seventy-two percent said it's important to their family's quality of life, while 57% said ag is important to their family's personal finances.

Rural Nebraskans' appreciation for agriculture crosses all age groups, though respondents in the 19- to 39-year-old group were less likely than older respondents to see agriculture as important to their family's finances; only 47% said that was so, compared to 61% of 50- to 64-year-olds.

A similar difference exists between Nebraskans who live in or near communities with less than 500 people and those who live in or new communities with populations of 5,000 or more. Sixty-six percent of the former group see agriculture as important to their family's personal finances, while 52% of the latter group felt that way.

Survey results are based on 2,482 responses from 84 rural counties.

Dan Moser
IANR News

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Copyright 2006 by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. All rights reserved.
Published by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Cooperating with the counties and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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