>Our 1994 survey indicated 3% of farmers, 6% of extension agents
>and 77% of
>members of sustainable agriculture groups believed that farmers can
>produce
>enough food and fiber without using synthetic chemicals.
<<
A survey of public opinion about agriculture issues was recently
completed here. Among the results were the following (slightly
contradictory) ones: "Although respondents who expressed an opinion
generally seemed to trust the safety of food produced on the Island
(94%). Furthermore a majority agreed that pesticides are a necessary
part of modern farming (74%), that pesticides are not a threat to public
health (69%), and are not affecting the health of their families, a
comparable majority agreed that farmers could prosper by using organic
farming methods (80%). "
These results, particularly the organic farming one, seem to corroborate
the findings reported by JVW, above. Interestingly, these are not just
the opinions of extension agents or organic farmers; they are the
opinions of a cross-section of the general public.
BOB
(by the way, unfortunately, the complete results of the survey are not
yet public, as they are still being analyzed)
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