Continuing Education and
Communication Services
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
11/12/2001
Contacts:
Paul Lasley, Extension Sociology, (515) 294-0937, plasley@iastate.edu
Del Marks, Extension Communication Systems, (515) 294-9807, delmarks@iastate.edu
Loss of Family Farms Viewed as Threat to Rural Iowa
AMES, Iowa -- The future of rural Iowa is severely threatened by the loss of family farms, according to 76 percent of the Iowans who are engaged in farming. Another 21 percent say the declining number of family farms is somewhat threatening, while only 2 percent do not see a threat in the changes that are taking place on the farm.
Those views are among the findings of the 2001 Farm and Rural Life Poll, according to Paul Lasley, Iowa State University Extension sociologist who directed the poll. Farmers also are deeply concerned about the loss of small businesses in rural Iowa, with 64 percent indicating the shrinking number of businesses is a severe threat, and another 33 percent seeing a moderate threat in the loss of businesses. "Our little town and the area surrounding it try very hard to keep things going, but it's hard," a Grundy County farmer commented.
The poll also asked about opportunities available for Iowans to achieve the American dream. Opportunities were viewed as "very adequate" for people living in cities with populations greater than 50,000 by 49 percent of the respondents, but only 14 percent felt that way for people living in rural areas and towns under 2,500. Forty-three percent said the opportunities in small towns and rural areas are not adequate.
Significant numbers of survey participants also said there are not adequate opportunities for rural youth (34 percent), wage earners (23 percent), and minorities and new immigrants (both 22 percent).
Rural Iowa also faces challenges from use of illegal drugs, viewed as a severe threat by 54 percent, and a declining work ethic, viewed as a severe threat by 54 percent, the poll indicated. At the other end of the scale, only 22 percent said crime is a severe threat in rural Iowa, and 24 percent said crime is not a threat.
Many issues viewed as a threat to the future of the state center on job-related topics. In addition to the declining work ethic, 36 percent said lack of adequate wages is a severe threat and 55 percent said low wages are somewhat threatening. Seventy-seven percent see an ill-prepared work force as somewhat or severely threatening.
Other sources of concern for the future of rural Iowa include the loss of local schools, viewed as a severe threat by 41 percent, and migration into cities, viewed as a severe threat by 36 percent. Fifty-one percent said changes in traditional family structure are threatening rural Iowa, and 28 percent viewed the depletion of natural resources as a threat. "We need to put more emphasis on keeping quality schools in Iowa. We also need to keep our younger adults here," a Page County farmer wrote in the comments section of the survey.
The Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll is funded by ISU Extension and the Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station. The purpose of the poll, conducted since 1982, is to ask farmers' views on a variety of rural and agricultural issues. A statewide random sample of 3,376 Iowa farm operators were sent mail questionnaires in February, with a 61 percent response rate. A summary report containing complete results of the survey is available at Iowa county extension offices and online at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/pubs/. Look for PM 1886, Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll 2001 Summary Report.
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