New York Poll Shows Farm Subsidy Cuts and More Conservation Spending Would Improve Public
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Other important findings of the poll include:
- More than three out of four (77%) poll respondents disapprove of the overall job that Congress has been doing in 2007.
- More than two out of three (69%) poll respondents would have a more favorable opinion of Congress if it passed a Farm Bill that substantially increases funding for cleaner water; protects wildlife; preserves farmland; and conserves soil.
- More than two out of three (70%) poll respondents said that current farm subsidy spending is ‘somewhat’ or ‘way too much.’ Respondents were told that the Congressional Budget Office estimates that farm subsidies will cost a minimum of $40 billion in the next five years under an extension of the current Farm Bill. Similar subsidy spending would occur under the bill passed by the House of Representatives.
- More than three out of four (78%) poll respondents said they prefer reducing farm subsidies over tax increases or spending that increases the budget deficit to obtain more money to help farmers make our rivers, streams, lakes and bays cleaner; protect wildlife; and conserve soil.
- More than three out of four (77%) of poll respondents agree that their U.S. senators should support a Farm Bill that shifts money from farm subsidies and invests it in programs that help farmers make our rivers, streams, lakes and bays cleaner; promote a healthier food supply; and produce renewable energy that could reduce our reliance on foreign oil.
- More than eight out of 10 (82%) poll respondents would have a more favorable opinion of Congress if it passed a Farm Bill that prevents people and corporations with million dollar incomes from receiving farm subsidy payments. The House-passed Farm Bill allows farmers and farming corporations with adjusted gross incomes of up to $1 million and farmer couples with adjusted gross incomes of up to $2 million to receive subsidy payments.
The Farm Bill currently provides $4 billion in annual funding for conservation programs through which USDA partners with farmers and ranchers to provide clean water, fresh air, healthy soils and wildlife, and other public environmental benefits.
Unfortunately, two out of three farmers are rejected when they apply for these conservation programs because this funding level is insufficient to meet the demand. Increasing conservation funding in the 2007 farm bill also would ensure that more states and regions get a fairer share of Farm Bill spending. Currently, seven states receive more than 50 percent of Farm Bill spending, which is unfair to the rest of America’s farmers.
The sample size of the poll was 811 adults. The poll’s margin of error is +/- 3.5 percentage points. For information about the methodology and reliability of Zogby’s online polls, visit: http://interactive.zogby.com/
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