THE LAND, MARCH 16, 2012
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Commentary: The results are in — people like agriculture Valentine’s Day has come and gone, and I feel like It’s time to enjoy my 15 minutes of fame. a school kid again. Remember those days in The statewide survey found that an overgrade school when someone special would whelming majority viewed Minnesota farmslip a miniature card under your desk, posers positively on the issues of the economy sibly attached to a small bag of those redand conservation. Almost nine in 10 responhot heart candies? It was a mixture of dents agreed that farming was very imporexcitement and embarrassment, but it certant to Minnesota’s economy. A similar ratio tainly made my day, week, even school year. agreed with the statement that Minnesota I’ve been a corn and soybean farmer near farmers have a positive impact on the state Belgrade, Minn., for nearly three decades. I John Mages and provide residents with many benefits. love what I do, and I’m proud to carry On the issue of conservation, 73 peron a family tradition that spans several cent of the respondents agreed that generations. I didn’t get into farming farmers are the best stewards of the land, for the bright lights, glory or a coveted and that new technologies and innovations have speaking spot at Take Your Father to School Day. allowed them to grow more and more on less land. But I have to admit that after reading the results Farmers have benefited from innovative technolof a statewide survey that found more than 80 per- ogy that has revolutionized the production of one of cent of respondents have a positive view of agricul- the basic necessities of life. While some may have a ture, there’s an added spring in my step. romanticized view of the small farm in a rural area In the interest of full disclosure, the Minnesota where the family grows just enough to feed themCorn Growers Association, of which I serve as president, commissioned the survey. A respected research firm, the Tarrance Group of Alexandria, Minnesota farmers are enjoying approval ratings Va., conducted a survey of 500 adult residents in November on their attitudes toward agriculture that would make many a politician blush, as a new survey finds more than 80 percent of respondents and farming in Minnesota. have a positive view of agriculture in the state. While the public is inundated with daily tracking While the public is inundated with daily tracking polls in a presidential election year, it’s rare that individuals are surveyed on their opinions of agri- polls in a presidential election year, it’s somewhat rare that individuals are surveyed on what the culture in their state. French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau called Now, obviously, if the survey found that our “the earliest and most honorable of arts.” approval ratings were as low as those of Congress, A national strategic research firm, the Tarrance Group I’d be in a world of hurt right now, and my words of Alexandria, Va., conducted a survey of 500 adult resiwould not be appearing in this fine publication.
OPINION
selves, or sells some sweet corn at the local farmers’ market, the reality is that farming innovations are born of necessity. Nearly a century ago, more than 50 percent of the U.S. population lived in rural areas, and 30 percent of the workforce was engaged in farming. But today, fewer than 2 percent of Americans farm for a living, and only 17 percent of Americans now live in rural areas. In 1940, the number of people fed annually by one U.S. farmer was 19. Today, that number is 155. Corn farmers, like me, are part of this trend. American corn farmers now grow five times as much corn as they did in the 1930s — on 20 percent less land. So it’s nice that Minnesotans recognize and appreciate what we do. OK, I think my 15 minutes is up. Back to work. This commentary was submitted by John Mages, a farmer from Belgrade, Minn., and president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association. ❖
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Minnesota survey finds strong support for ag
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dents in November on their attitudes toward agriculture and farming in Minnesota. The survey has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 4.5 percentage points. “We tend to take for granted sometimes the effort and commitment of those in farming who are not only responsible for feeding the nation, but in many respects, the world,” said Allen Levine, dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Minnesota. “It’s comforting to know that Minnesota residents respect See SURVEY, pg. 9A