Perceptions of Agriculture and the Economy in Nonmetropolitan Nebraska: 2017 Nebraska Rural Poll Results

Authors

Rebecca J. Vogt, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Randolph L. Cantrell, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Bradley Lubben, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
L.J. McElravy, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Timothy L. Meyer, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

7-1-2017

Document Type

Article

Citation

Nebraska Rural Poll: A Research Report, no. 17 (July 1, 2017). Also available at http://ruralpoll.unl.edu.

Comments

Copyright 2017, the authors. Used by permission.

Funding for this project was provided by the Cooperative Extension Division of the Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Agricultural Research Division of the Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Department of Agricultural Economics. Additionally, in-kind support was provided by the University of Nebraska Rural Futures Institute.

Abstract

Conclusion

Most rural Nebraskans view their economic well-being as being dependent on agriculture. Over three-fourths feel their economic well-being is at least somewhat tied to agriculture. Economic dependence on agriculture has changed very little over the past seven years. The proportions reported in 2017 are almost identical to those from 2010.

Similarly, most rural Nebraskans believe the economic well-being of their community is very much dependent on agriculture. Overall, over nine in ten rural Nebraskans feel their community’s economic well-being is at least somewhat tied to agriculture.

Most rural Nebraskans say their job/income security is about the same as it was a year ago. The concern about job/income security was greater during the 2009 national economic recession compared to this downturn in the agricultural economy.

However, most rural Nebraskans are uncertain they would find the kind of job they are looking for in their community. The level of uncertainty of finding the kind of job they would be looking for in their community was higher in 2009 than this year. This uncertainty was higher for persons living in or near smaller communities compared to those living in or near larger communities.

Finally, many rural Nebraskans believe the current downturn in agriculture is about the same as other agriculture downturns of the past. Residents of the Panhandle are more likely than residents of other regions of the state to say the current downturn in agriculture is worse or much worse than previous downturns.