Almost three-quarters of Americans say that not reauthorizing the farm bill in 2023 would have a significant impact on the country, according to a new poll from the American Farm Bureau Federation. Arizona Farm Bureau leadership is heartened by this news.

The survey explores the public’s awareness of the farm bill, its impact, and priorities for funding in the legislation. The poll, conducted by Morning Consult, showed more than half of respondents said they would be more likely to support their member of Congress if they voted to reauthorize the farm bill.

“This is very encouraging feedback for Arizona's farmers and ranchers, especially given our recent challenges with the ongoing drought and the residual issues of the pandemic,” said Arizona Farm Bureau President and southern Arizona rancher Stefanie Smallhouse. “For so many years the public has largely misunderstood the Farm Bill to be a special interest spending bill when it is actually a national security bill. Food security is national security and investing in that security through a well-thought-out and deliberated piece of legislation brings certainty to the taxpayer, the consumer, and the farmer. The risk management tools, conservation cost-share, and ag research of the Farm Bill are all vital to Arizona's farm and ranch families to foster resilience in a local food supply and provide all the ecosystem services that our folks on the ground provide in managing our landscapes and watersheds.”

 

Further Results of the Morning Consult Survey

Nearly 70% of respondents also identified two areas of the farm bill as top priorities for government funding: risk management programs that serve as a safety net for farmers and nutrition programs that serve as a safety net for families facing hunger.

“Thanks to the farm bill, farmers and ranchers can hold on through the tough times to keep the nation’s food supply secure,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Farmers and ranchers must take the lead to share with our neighbors and lawmakers about the impact the farm bill has on every family in America. Almost nine in ten adults trust farmers, which will be important as we work to inform the 260 lawmakers who weren’t in Congress when the last farm bill was written.”

After witnessing the food system impacts of Russia’s war with Ukraine, an overwhelming majority of Americans also believe the U.S. should consider a safe and abundant food supply a matter of national security. This suggests the farm bill should be considered a part of the country’s national security strategy.

Key findings of the survey include:

  • 73% of adults say not passing a farm bill would have a significant impact on the country;
  • A majority of adults agree that nutrition programs (68%) and risk management (67%) should be top priorities for government funding in the farm bill;
  • 86% of adults say they are concerned about food inflation;
  • 84% of adults say the U.S. should consider a safe and abundant food supply a matter of national security; and
  • 89% of adults trust farmers.

Read the full results of the survey here.