FACTBOX: Reuters AFB survey on the election and trade
(Reuters) - American farmers would be strong supporters of either John McCain or Mike Huckabee if the election were held today, and they pointed to the economy as the most important issue for the 2008 presidential race, according to a Reuters survey of 686 farmers.
The poll was distributed to farmers and ranchers attending the annual meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation, the nation's largest farm group. The meeting, which tends to attract larger and more sophisticated farming operators, was attended by some 5,000 grain growers, livestock producers and agribusiness executives.
The Reuters poll, conducted for the ninth consecutive year, did not attempt to weigh responses by state, size of farm, or other criteria. Farmers also were asked questions on a variety of topics including biomass crops, ethanol and the farm bill.
The following table details the survey results from 686 voluntary respondents. Totals may not equal 100 percent due to rounding:
U.S. FARM BILL
Would you participate in a revenue protection plan such as what Congress is considering?
Yes: 66 pct No: 34 pct
Do you think direct payments should be eliminated?
Yes: 24 pct No: 76 pct
Did Congress' failure to pass a new farm bill or renew the 2002 farm bill before it expired in September make it harder to determine which crops/how much to plant in 2008?
Yes: 36 pct No: 64 pct
2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Which of the following is the most important issue for the 2008 presidential race?
Immigration: 22 pct
Iraq: 11 pct
Social Security: 3 pct
Farm Bill: 7 pct
Education: 1 pct
Conservation: 1 pct
Taxes: 12 pct
Health care reform: 9 pct
Economy: 30 pct
Other: 5 pct
If the presidential election was today, who would you vote for?
Clinton: 5 pct
Obama: 5 pct
Edwards: 4 pct
Giuliani: 6 pct
Thompson: 8 pct
Huckabee: 30 pct
McCain: 29 pct
Romney: 9 pct
Other: 4 pct
WORLD TRADE
Are international trade and exports becoming more important to your bottom line?
Yes: 86 pct No: 15 pct
Will recently negotiated trade agreements, and ones to come (Colombia and Panama), have a noticeable impact on your bottom line?
Yes: 56 pct No: 44 pct
ETHANOL
Has the ethanol boom raised your income/quality of life?
Yes: 71 pct No: 29 pct
Does the ethanol glut make you more likely to reduce your corn plantings this year?
Yes: 10 pct No: 90 pct
BIOMASS
Are you interested in growing a biomass crop?
Yes: 54 pct No: 46 pct
Would the government have to offer a land rental payment or crop support before you would grow a biomass crop?
Yes: 46 pct No: 54 pct
2008 CROP PLANTINGS
How many acres of the following crops will you plant this year compared with last year?
2008 2007 Pct change
Corn: 170,790 176,090 -3 pct
Soybeans: 144,524 122,976 18 pct
Cotton: 37,752 43,125 -12 pct
Wheat: 96,667 74,318 30 pct
(Reporting by Christopher Doering, editing by Matthew Lewis)
