OMAHA (DTN) -- The DTN/Progressive Farmer Pulse of Rural America Poll reveals strong support for former President Donald Trump and highlights some of the top issues on the minds of farmers as they go to the ballot box.

The survey included 1,393 rural Americans from 46 states. The top five states for responses came from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and Texas. As many as 90% of respondents are farmers, ranchers or rural landowners.

The survey showed former President Trump's support continues to solidify in rural America. He had 46% support in 2016; 50% support in 2020; and 70% support in this year's survey.

See main story about the DTN/Progressive Farmer survey at https://www.dtnpf.com/….

See a Reporter's Notebook video about the survey and responses at https://www.dtnpf.com/….

The following are the questions and responses.

If you had to choose today, who would you vote for out of these candidates?

-- Kamala Harris 19%

-- Donald Trump 70%

-- Undecided 9%

The country is heading in the right direction.

-- Strongly Agree 2%

-- Agree 8%

-- Neither Agree Nor Disagree 11%

-- Disagree 21%

-- Strongly Disagree 56%

-- Not Sure 1%

Is U.S. agriculture better off or worse now than it was four years ago?

-- Better Off 8%

-- The Same 14%

-- Worse Off 72%

-- Not Sure 6%

How do you rate the national rural economy?

-- Excellent 0.6%

-- Good 23%

-- Not so good 60%

-- Bad 17%

How do you rate your own personal finances?

-- Excellent 11%

-- Good 56%

-- Not So Good 30%

-- Bad 3%

Assuming high input costs/low commodity prices are your biggest challenge, what is your next biggest challenge in farming?

-- Increased Regulations 30%

-- More Extreme Weather Events 26%

-- A Weak Farm Safety Net 18%

-- Lack of Affordable Land 16%

-- Lack of Affordable Labor 10%

What is your biggest concern?

-- National Debt/Deficit 43%

-- Chinese Ownership of U.S. Farmland 17%

-- U.S. Ag Trade Deficit 15%

-- China's Ownership of Agribusinesses 12%

-- Access to Global Markets 9%

-- War in Ukraine 4%

If forced to choose, should a new farm bill place more emphasis on commodity programs or provide more support to conservation programs?

-- Commodity Programs 73%

-- Conservation Programs 27%

The Inflation Reduction Act provided $19.5 billion for farmers to enact climate-smart practices. The plan in Congress is to add those dollars to the new farm bill. Do you support keeping rules about climate-smart practices to receive those dollars?

-- Yes 25%

-- No 46%

-- Unsure 29%

Climate change currently does or will in the future negatively impact my farming operation.

-- Strongly Agree 14%

-- Agree 28%

-- Neither Agree Nor Disagree 29%

-- Disagree 14%

-- Strongly Disagree 9%

-- Not Sure 6%

**

Editor's Note: Poll numbers may not add up to 100 due to rounding. Poll was conducted from mid-August until Sept. 1, 2024.

Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com

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