Utahns Support Farmers & Ranchers,
Grazing and Farmland
A strong majority of Wasatch Front residents believe farming and ranching is important to the future of the state, and consider farmers good stewards of the land. They also think livestock grazing on public lands is acceptable, but wolves in Utah are not. Seventy five percent of respondents think it would be alright to divert some of the existing sales tax on food to protect farmland. Ninety two percent of the respondents agreed that farming and ranching are important to the future of the state.
“That's an encouraging message for the thousands of farmers and ranchers in our state," said Agriculture and Food Commissioner, Leonard Blackham. "We're pleased to see the support for livestock grazing, since cattle and sheep ranching are so important to rural Utah's economy,” he added.
Commissioner Blackham says the continued use of grasses as a renewable resource on both private and public lands is a vital element to a healthy livestock industry in Utah. Grazing not only provides feed for livestock but also maintains healthy landscapes by controlling invasive grass species such as fire-prone cheatgrass that contribute to catastrophic fires.
The survey of 400 Utahns living in Cache, Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, and Utah counties was conducted in early August by NSON Opinion Strategy of Salt Lake City for the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF). The margin of error was ± 4.9%. The poll is part of the UDAF’s effort to help Utahns understand where their food comes from, and encourage citizens to become advocates for agriculture.
Other poll results:
• 95% feel freshness of food is an important factor when buying produce.
• 77% believe that the loss of farmland will lead to a greater dependence on foreign food.
• 75% believe a small portion of the existing tax on food should be spent to protect farmland.
• 84% believe farmers and ranchers are responsible stewards of the land.
• 75% believe livestock grazing on public lands is acceptable.
• 43% do not believe wolves should be allowed to roam free in Utah. 38% believe they should.
The entire poll results are available at: Poll Results
Who should protect farmland? Most residents thought the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food should take the lead in the effort… followed by farmers, and city and county governments
Turning Support Into Action at AgriAdvocates.org
Utahns can protect farmland by visiting www.agriadvocate.org and sign up to become an advocate.
"Our ultimate goal in launching AgriAdvocates.org is to provide an online portal to educate consumers on how to support local agriculture, protect Utah's wildlife and become more self-sufficient," said Jed Christenson, director of marketing and development for the UDAF. "We also want Utahns to understand the biggest issues facing our farmers and ranchers and learn what they can do to help, whether that's writing to their congressman or participating in their local CSA”. (community supported agriculture)
The UDAF has launched a statewide AgriAdvocates campaign which offers anyone the opportunity to become an advocate for Utah farmland protection. Become an advocate at www.agriadvocates.org
Economic Impacts
Utah’s agriculture processing and production sectors together account for $15.2 billion in total economic output in the state after adjusting for multiplier effects. Based on Utah’s 2008 Gross State Output, the production and processing sectors account for 13.9% of total state output.
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Posted August, 2010