Voter Opinion Poll On Hog Farming, 2001

Survey questions ask: “Based on what you have read or heard, are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, not very concerned or not at all concerned about the number of family farmers that have been forced to leave the land in the last few years?”

• Total concerned (90%)
• Very concerned (64%)
• Somewhat concerned (26%)
• Total Not Concerned (7%)
• Not at all concerned (3%)
• Not very concerned (4%)

“Increasingly large-scale farms are owned by corporations or partnerships but not by those who live on the land. Large scale farming is sometimes known as factory farming. From what you a have read or heard, has the increasing number of factory farms had a very positive effect on rural communities in the U.S., a somewhat positive effect, a somewhat negative effect, or a very negative effect on rural communities in the U.S.?”

• Total positive (26%)
• Very positive (9%)
• Somewhat positive (17%)
• Total Negative (62%)
• Very Negative (29%)
• Somewhat Negative (33%)

“Do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose large-scale factory farms in communities near you that raise pigs?”

• Total favor (21%)
• Strongly favor (7%)
• Somewhat favor (14%)
• Total oppose (63%)
• Strongly oppose (38%)
• Somewhat oppose (25%)

“From what you have read or heard, are large scale factory hog farms very destructive of the environment for nearby communities, somewhat destructive, not very destructive, or not at all destructive of the environment?”

• Total destructive (63%)
• Very destructive (25%)
• Somewhat destructive (38%)
• Total not destructive (21%)
• Not at all destructive (8%)
• Not very destructive (13%)

One of the main objections to factory hog farms is the treatment of the pigs there. Pregnant pigs are confined in cages so small that they can’t even turn around. Some people say that the ways pigs are treated in factory farms is necessary to make sure that people have pork products at a good price. Other people say that pigs should be treated humanely during their lives and provided greater freedom of movement. Which comes closer to your view?”

• Should treat pigs humanely (67%)
• Treatment necessary for pork products at a good price (24%)

Another objection to factory hog farms is that they routinely feed antibiotics to pigs and that this practice may contribute to a growing antibiotic resistance in humans. Some people say that the wide scale use of antibiotics in pigs is wrong and it should be stopped. Other people say that feeding pigs antibiotics is necessary to keep pigs healthy and that it should be allowed to continue. Which comes closer to your view?”

• Wide scale use of antibiotics should be stopped (56%)
• Wide scale use of antibiotics should be allowed to continue (30%)

“Would you be willing to pay a little more for pork products from farmers who use more humane and environmentally friendly methods to raise pigs?”

• Yes (72%)
• No (22%)

“Would you be willing to pay as much as 25% more, 15% more, or 10% more than you pay now (among those willing to pay more)?”

• 25% more (19%)
• 15% more (27%)
• 10% more (45%)