According to a Des Moines Register poll, Iowans have an overwhelmingly positive view of farmers despite the criticism aimed at commercial-scale agriculture over issues such as its impact on the environment.
Sixty-two percent of Iowans said they have a mostly positive view of farmers and 30 percent viewed them very positively, according to the poll conducted in September. Seven percent said they have a negative view.
More than half of the respondents felt that food is safer than a generation ago. A plurality thought that the nutritional value of food is improving, soil erosion is less of a problem and livestock are being treated more humanely.
More than 30 percent felt that air quality is getting better, while nearly 40 percent believed that water quality was getting better.
The poll of 803 Iowa adults was conducted by Selzer & Co. of Des Moines.
(Source: DesMoinesRegister.com)
