Agricultural Economics Department
Date of this Version
2012
Document Type
Article
Citation
Center for Applied Rural Innovation, CARI Research Report (August 2012) 12-2, 25 pages
Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Also available at https://ruralpoll.unl.edu/pdf/12resources.pdf
Abstract
Many rural Nebraskans say they already recycle a lot and face no barriers. However, many rural Nebraskans cite lack of programs and difficulty getting materials to drop-off sites as barriers to recycling. Persons living in or near smaller communities are more likely than persons living in or near larger communities to say their community doesn’t offer recycling. However, most rural Nebraskans say their community offers either curbside pickup or drop-off recycling for all of the materials listed with the exception of glass bottles.
Most rural Nebraskans are in favor of building the Keystone XL pipeline, but think it should be built on an alternate route that avoids the Sandhills and Ogallala aquifer. Most also agree that the decision on location should be controlled by state government, not federal. Most rural Nebraskans (61%) strongly disagree or disagree with the statement, “The pipeline should not be built at all because the environmental risks outweigh the economic benefits.” And, most rural Nebraskans (73%) strongly agree or agree that if the government ultimately decides the fate of the proposed pipeline, the decision on location within the state should be controlled by state government, not federal.
Most rural Nebraskans rate water protection and conservation as well as production for community/local food systems as a high priority use of land or natural resources. In comparison, just over one-quarter rate recreational activity as a high priority for land or natural resource use. Younger persons are more likely than older persons to rate production for community/local food systems as a high priority. Persons with occupations in agriculture are less likely than persons with different occupations to rate recreational activity and wildlife habitat as high priority uses of land or natural resources.
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