What Ohioans Think About Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Issues Northwest Extension District...

What Ohioans Think What Ohioans Think About Food, About Food, Agriculture, and Agriculture, and Environmental IssuesEnvironmental Issues

Northwest Extension DistrictNorthwest Extension District

Findlay, OHFindlay, OH

November 15, 2002November 15, 2002

Project BackgroundProject Background

Funded by OSU Extension, OARDC Funded by OSU Extension, OARDC and the College of FAESand the College of FAES Focus on social issues in agriculture as they Focus on social issues in agriculture as they

relate to the ecological paradigmrelate to the ecological paradigm

Project TeamProject Team

Study conducted by a team Study conducted by a team associated with Department of HCRD associated with Department of HCRD and OSU Extension.and OSU Extension. Jeff Sharp, Molly Bean Smith, Bill Flinn, Jeff Sharp, Molly Bean Smith, Bill Flinn,

Mark Tucker, Sherrie Whaley, Greg Davis, Mark Tucker, Sherrie Whaley, Greg Davis, Jerry Thomas, Denny HallJerry Thomas, Denny Hall

MethodologyMethodology

Sample of 7,976 Ohioans selected and Sample of 7,976 Ohioans selected and stratified by 5 extension districts and metro stratified by 5 extension districts and metro core county statuscore county status

Dillman’s TDM utilized with 5 contactsDillman’s TDM utilized with 5 contacts Response rate = 55.7%Response rate = 55.7%

Analysis of state, NW District, and NW district Analysis of state, NW District, and NW district noncore metro (not including Allen or Ottawa noncore metro (not including Allen or Ottawa County)County)

Summary of the SampleSummary of the Sample

Comparison with State and NW Comparison with State and NW populations (2000 Census)populations (2000 Census) Close match: gender, age (over 24), Close match: gender, age (over 24),

households w/ kids, household incomeshouseholds w/ kids, household incomes Limitations: Renters, Households in homes Limitations: Renters, Households in homes

less than $100,000, 18-24 year oldsless than $100,000, 18-24 year olds

Outline of PresentationOutline of Presentation

Personal Connections to AgriculturePersonal Connections to Agriculture General Views of AgricultureGeneral Views of Agriculture Livestock IssuesLivestock Issues Food Safety ConcernsFood Safety Concerns

Connections with Connections with farmingfarming

Parents ever owned or operated a Parents ever owned or operated a farm farm

0

10

20

30

40

Yes (%) 37 28 24

Northwest* Northwest State

*Does not include core urban counties (Lucas and Allen)*Does not include core urban counties (Lucas and Allen)

Grandparents ever owned or Grandparents ever owned or operated a farmoperated a farm

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Yes (%) 62 53 49



Number of farmers knownNumber of farmers known

0

20

40

60

Northwest* 14 45 41

Northwest (%) 27 46 27

State 41 44 15

None 1 to 9 10 or more


Views of Farming Views of Farming and Farmersand Farmers

Q.Q. Overall, farming positively Overall, farming positively contributes to the quality of contributes to the quality of life in Ohiolife in Ohio 93% agreed or strongly agreed93% agreed or strongly agreed

6% undecided6% undecided 1% disagreed or strongly disagreed1% disagreed or strongly disagreed

Strongest agreement among farm respondentsStrongest agreement among farm respondents Significant difference by immediate relatives owning/operating a farm Significant difference by immediate relatives owning/operating a farm

and ageand age

Q. I trust Ohio farmers to protect Q. I trust Ohio farmers to protect the environment. the environment.

62% agreed or strongly agreed62% agreed or strongly agreed 27% undecided27% undecided 11% disagreed or strongly disagreed11% disagreed or strongly disagreed

Agreement strongest in NW districtAgreement strongest in NW district Agreement strongest among farm & country, Agreement strongest among farm & country,

nonfarm respondentsnonfarm respondents Significant difference by gender, age and those with immediate Significant difference by gender, age and those with immediate

relatives owning/operating a farmrelatives owning/operating a farm

Perceived Risks to Environmental Perceived Risks to Environmental Quality Quality (Scaling: 1 = no risk; 7 = serious risk)(Scaling: 1 = no risk; 7 = serious risk)

Disposal of waste in landfillsDisposal of waste in landfills (5.92)(5.92) Industrial activitiesIndustrial activities (5.48)(5.48) Urban sprawlUrban sprawl (5.14)(5.14) Residential chemical use on lawnsResidential chemical use on lawns (5.07)(5.07) Logging or miningLogging or mining (4.93)(4.93) Agricultural activitiesAgricultural activities (3.89)(3.89)

NW District respondents perceive lower risks than state NW District respondents perceive lower risks than state respondents for all items except agricultural activities.respondents for all items except agricultural activities.

Women more likely than men to report higher levels of Women more likely than men to report higher levels of perceived risk.perceived risk.

Q. Ohio farmers are generally Q. Ohio farmers are generally sensitive to the concerns of sensitive to the concerns of nonfarm neighbors. nonfarm neighbors.


Agreement lowest among city/suburban Agreement lowest among city/suburban residentsresidents Significant difference by those with immediate relatives Significant difference by those with immediate relatives

owning/operating a farmowning/operating a farm

Q. Farming activities that are Q. Farming activities that are offensive to nonfarm neighbors offensive to nonfarm neighbors should be restricted.should be restricted.


NW district is most undecidedNW district is most undecided Highest level of disagreement among farm and Highest level of disagreement among farm and

country,nonfarm respondentscountry,nonfarm respondents Significant difference by gender and ageSignificant difference by gender and age

Views of Ag/Rural Views of Ag/Rural ChangeChange

Q. The loss of farmland is Q. The loss of farmland is acceptable if it creates economic acceptable if it creates economic growth and new jobs in the state. growth and new jobs in the state.


Strongest disagreement among farm Strongest disagreement among farm respondentsrespondents

Q. Ohio’s most productive Q. Ohio’s most productive farmland should be preserved for farmland should be preserved for agriculture. agriculture.


Strongest agreement among farm Strongest agreement among farm respondentsrespondents Significant difference by age (older respondents agree more Significant difference by age (older respondents agree more

strongly)strongly)

Q.Q. The migration of non-U.S. citizens into The migration of non-U.S. citizens into rural Ohio to work in farming & food rural Ohio to work in farming & food production negatively impacts rural production negatively impacts rural quality of life.quality of life.


Most disagreement in NW DistrictMost disagreement in NW District Strong disagreement by farm respondentsStrong disagreement by farm respondents

Significant difference by genderSignificant difference by gender

Large-scale livestock Large-scale livestock and poultryand poultry

Do you know of any large-scale Do you know of any large-scale poultry or livestock production poultry or livestock production facilities near where you live?facilities near where you live?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Yes (%) 61 45 30



How concerned are you about the How concerned are you about the development of large-scale poultry development of large-scale poultry and livestock production facilities?and livestock production facilities?

0

20

40

60

Northwest* 31 48 21

Northwest (%) 27 53 20

State 21 51 28

Very Somewhat Not at all


Are you familiar with some of the Are you familiar with some of the issues related to large-scale issues related to large-scale poultry and livestock production poultry and livestock production facilities?facilities?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Yes (%) 53 44 34



Narrowing the focus:Narrowing the focus:

Focus on NW district (not including Allen Focus on NW district (not including Allen and Lucas Counties)and Lucas Counties)

Analysis is based on data from Analysis is based on data from respondents reporting they were familiar respondents reporting they were familiar with some of the issues related to large-with some of the issues related to large-scale livestock and poultry (n=285)scale livestock and poultry (n=285)

Level of Concern by self-reported Level of Concern by self-reported place of residenceplace of residence

0

20

40

60

City/suburb 51 40 9

Small town 40 40 19

Country, nf 49 37 14

Country, farm 46 46 9


Level of Concern by AgeLevel of Concern by Age

0

20

40

60

40 or younger 37 38 25

41 to 60 48 40 12

Over 60 50 42 9


Select attitudes about Select attitudes about livestocklivestock

Following items from a series of eight Following items from a series of eight questions related to large scale livestock questions related to large scale livestock and poultry facilities & two questions related and poultry facilities & two questions related to livestock and animal welfareto livestock and animal welfare

Q. Large-scale poultry and Q. Large-scale poultry and livestock production facilities in livestock production facilities in rural areas are a threat to rural rural areas are a threat to rural quality of lifequality of life

66% agreed or strongly agree66% agreed or strongly agree 12% undecided12% undecided 22% disagreed or strongly disagreed22% disagreed or strongly disagreed

Women agreed more strongly than menWomen agreed more strongly than men Similar pattern of response by place of Similar pattern of response by place of

residenceresidence

Q. Large-scale livestock facilities Q. Large-scale livestock facilities positively contribute to the positively contribute to the economy economy


Agreement lowest in NW districtAgreement lowest in NW district Agreement lowest among country, farm Agreement lowest among country, farm

respondentsrespondents

Q. The environmental impact of Q. The environmental impact of large-scale livestock operations large-scale livestock operations have been greatly exaggerated.have been greatly exaggerated.


Younger respondents more likely to Younger respondents more likely to agree than older respondentsagree than older respondents

Q. Large-scale facilities pose a Q. Large-scale facilities pose a serious threat to water and stream serious threat to water and stream qualityquality

75% agreed or strongly agree75% agreed or strongly agree 13% undecided13% undecided 12% disagreed or strongly disagreed12% disagreed or strongly disagreed

Respondents over 60 more strongly Respondents over 60 more strongly agreed with the statementagreed with the statement

Similar pattern of response by place of Similar pattern of response by place of residenceresidence

Q. Odors are the most serious Q. Odors are the most serious problem with large-scale poultry problem with large-scale poultry and livestock facilitiesand livestock facilities

23% agreed or strongly agreed23% agreed or strongly agreed 35% undecided35% undecided 42% disagree or strongly disagree42% disagree or strongly disagree

Respondents over 60 and women Respondents over 60 and women reported strongest level of agreementreported strongest level of agreement

Q. In general, increased regulation Q. In general, increased regulation of the treatment of animals in of the treatment of animals in farming is needed.farming is needed.

44% agreed or strongly agreed44% agreed or strongly agreed 28% are undecided28% are undecided 28% disagreed or strongly disagreed28% disagreed or strongly disagreed

Women reported stronger agreement Women reported stronger agreement than menthan men

Food SafetyFood Safety

Q. Food is not as safe as it was 10 Q. Food is not as safe as it was 10 years ago. years ago.


Perceived Risks to Food Safety Perceived Risks to Food Safety (NW District)(NW District)

(Scaling: 1 = no risk; 7 = serious risk)(Scaling: 1 = no risk; 7 = serious risk)

Pesticide residues in foodPesticide residues in food (5.23)(5.23) Contamination of drinking waterContamination of drinking water (5.15)(5.15) Bio-terrorist attacks on food supplyBio-terrorist attacks on food supply (5.12)(5.12) Bacterial contaminationBacterial contamination (5.10)(5.10) Growth hormones in meat or milkGrowth hormones in meat or milk (5.04)(5.04) Mad cow diseaseMad cow disease (4.59)(4.59) Genetically modified organismsGenetically modified organisms (4.40)(4.40)

NW District respondents perceive lower risks than state NW District respondents perceive lower risks than state respondents for all items.respondents for all items.

Women more likely than men to report higher levels of Women more likely than men to report higher levels of perceived risk.perceived risk.

Trust in Sources of Environmental Trust in Sources of Environmental and Food Safety Informationand Food Safety Information

(Scaling: 1 = no trust; 5 = High trust)(Scaling: 1 = no trust; 5 = High trust)

Physician/health professionalPhysician/health professional (3.89)(3.89) University scientistUniversity scientist (3.74)(3.74) Farmer or growerFarmer or grower (3.75)(3.75) U.S. Dept. of AgricultureU.S. Dept. of Agriculture (3.66)(3.66) ExtensionExtension (3.61)(3.61)

Lesser trusted sources: U.S. FDA, friends and family, Lesser trusted sources: U.S. FDA, friends and family, U.S. EPA, and consumer advocacy group.U.S. EPA, and consumer advocacy group.

Q. I consider imported foods as Q. I consider imported foods as safe as those produced in the U.S. safe as those produced in the U.S.


Q. When given a choice, I prefer to Q. When given a choice, I prefer to buy foods produced locally. buy foods produced locally.


Q. Organic foods are safer than Q. Organic foods are safer than conventionally produced foods. conventionally produced foods.


BiotechnologyBiotechnology

Q. Biotechnology is having a Q. Biotechnology is having a negative impact on food safety. negative impact on food safety.


Q. The use of biotechnology in Q. The use of biotechnology in agriculture is having a positive agriculture is having a positive impact on the environment. impact on the environment.


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