Public support for farmers reaches five-year high

25 August 2010 | By Alistair Driver

THE British public is falling back in love with farmers, a survey published today suggests.

Three-quarters of people think of farmers ‘favourably or very favourably’, up from 68 per cent in 2005, the latest survey on the ‘public perceptions of farmers and farming’ shows.

The NFU-commissioned survey also reveals that, with a growing demand for food as the world population increases, 86 per cent of people agree that farming will be more important in the future.

The online survey of 1,002 people online across England and Wales showed qualified support for British food, with 46 per cent of respondents saying they would try to buy British produce and 30 per cent saying they would source regional produce.

Just of over half of people (52 per cent) said they ‘agreed or strongly agreed’ that farmers should grow crops for biofuels.

A similar proportion said their trust in farmers would ‘not be undermined if they came out in favour’ of GM crops, while 17 per cent were opposed to GM crops being grown in Britain.

NFU President Peter Kendall said: “These figures clearly demonstrate that the general public supports British farming and recognises the importance of food production to our future.

“A growing interest in where our food comes from means that the public perception of farming is at a five-year high. And when we’re looking to affect change on Government or retail policy then that is what really matters.

“One thing our survey tells us is that people believe farmers have many key roles, both for agriculture and the environment, but their highest priority for us is to produce food and to look after our animals to the highest standards.

“The reality is more and more that we should be doing both while producing more and impacting less. We must continue to meet the growing demand for food and ensure we take the favourability of our customers with us; we need every available tool at our fingertips.”

Readers' comments (5)

Anonymous | 25 August 2010 8:36 pm
I am amazed and encouraged that only 17% appear to be opposed to GM crops. Those opposed make such a noise that I thought it would have been 70%.
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Anonymous | 26 August 2010 9:05 am
I am not amazed that there were only 17% that appear to be opposed to GM crops! I would say that nine out of ten people that I have spoken to did not have a clue about GM and those that have heard of it are ignoring the warning signals! If there is one thing that we put our trust in it is the food that we eat so trusting the farmers to work the land in our best interests....What I am amazed about is the amount of Sheeple on both sides of that gmo fence! I ask why is it that the American government are seeking to ban their people from growing their own produce? if it is true that there is going to be a world food crisis then surely the exact opposite would be more favorable! You say that you are encouraged (post above) by the 17% so I take it that you trust those scientific companies that manufactured agent orange, corexit etc etc! Is it not strange to you that in the US Obama has put in control of the agricultural department people who work for or have in the past worked for Monsanto! who by the way have the farming industry at their feet ... I ask you what is agricultural about that?I trust that you have researched everything you can about GMO including all the opposing information ?
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Exposing-Monsanto/138345986202461?ref=ts

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http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=2209163750&ref=ts
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Anonymous | 27 August 2010 9:09 am
Are we going to follow in these footsteps as we usually do? I suggest that you watch this today! America.....Local farms could be illegal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEr9EeXe4I0&feature=player_embedded

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Adam West | 29 August 2010 11:41 am
The survey indicated a generally positive perception of farming, but there's little value in telling that to farmers. Apart from the usual pat on the back, which is always nice.
The results of this survey should be made exciting for the public and published in red top newspapers so that the general public are told just how great farming is and just how much of the population agrees with what farmers are doing (not just the ones who took part in the survey).
In that way, more "sheeple" as they've been termed above are likely to change their opinion to fit with the overall results of the survey.
Key point of my message: Farmers and farming representative bodies need to talk more to the public that with each other if they want to keep improving their public image. Look at the good work Open Farm Sunday, Jimmy Doherty and Adam Henson have achieved as examples.
I treat Countryfile and celebrity chefs with caution because they are double-edged swords that can easily polarise opinion.
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Anonymous | 29 August 2010 2:31 pm
So what you are saying Adam is that the public should be hoodwinked into believing that GM foods are the greatest thing since sliced bread? I think not!
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