While 2007 is two years away, discussion has already started over the 2007 Farm Bill and the future for agricultural, food, and public policy. There is much talk about the potential for major changes because of the current legislative focus on budget priorities and the on-going international trade negotiations. Given this potential, it is important that farmers make their views known. To help legislators, public policy makers and farm leaders make more informed decisions about allocating resources and designing future farm legislation, The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and the Ohio Agricultural Statistics Service are conducting a survey of Ohio farmers to learn about their views and attitudes toward issues likely to determine the 2007 Farm Bill.
Surveys will be mailed to producers in mid-November with a target completion and return date of December 15. Initial findings will be prepared and distributed in the Spring of 2006.
The information gathered in this survey is absolutely confidential. Information from individual operations is combined with other responses to provide the needed data. All results will be reported in aggregate form to Ohio farmers, farm policy makers, and the general public through OSU Extension and academic outlets. In short, farms will not be individually identified in any research result.
Questions on this survey and forthcoming research findings can be directed to Carl Zulauf ( Zulauf.1@osu.edu ) at 614-292-6285 or Barry Ward ( Ward.8@osu.edu ) at 614-688-3959.