New Research: Farmers, Public Support Protecting Access To Crop Protection Tools

Source: Modern Ag Alliance

St. Louis, MO — A new national and state-level Ag Insights survey from the Modern Ag Alliance confirms that U.S. farmers and the broader public strongly support maintaining access to essential crop protection tools–a view on which majorities of Republicans and Democrats agree.

These results come as legislation is being considered by lawmakers across the country to avert a crisis in U.S. agriculture due to relentless litigation targeting these products. Additional key findings include extremely low levels of trust in trial lawyers and opposition to litigation that threatens U.S. agriculture, food prices, and food security.

“These findings send a clear message to lawmakers that their constituents stand with farmers and they expect their elected officials to do the same,” said MAA Executive Director Elizabeth Burns-Thompson. “The crisis facing U.S. agriculture can be prevented by ensuring that safe and essential crop protection tools remain available. If our leaders don’t act, the consequences will be felt at every dinner table in America.”

Key Findings

1) Americans oppose litigation that could limit farmers’ access to critical crop protection tools. 88% of farmers and 56% of all Americans–including 63% of Republicans and 50% of Democrats–oppose these efforts.

2) Americans are deeply concerned that litigation against crop protection manufacturers will lower crop yields, leading to higher food prices for consumers during a time of record inflation. 89% of farmers and 70% of all Americans–including 72% of Republicans and 74% of Democrats–share this concern.

3) Americans overwhelmingly trust farmers, not trial lawyers. 64% of Americans trust local farmers, including 72% of Republicans and 63% of Democrats. Meanwhile, only 11% of Americans trust trial lawyers, including 11% of Republicans and 15% of Democrats.

4) Americans want leaders who stand with farmers over trial lawyers. 97% of farmers and 73% of all Americans–including 78% of Republicans and 71% of Democrats–are more likely to support leaders who stand with farmers over trial lawyers.

To read the entire report click here.

Methodology

This survey was written and administered by Penta Group, an independent research firm. The results are based on a national sample of 1,005 online interviews of US adults and 600 phone and online interviews of farmers from 12 states. The study also surveyed 500 adults in each of the 12 states. The study was conducted January 29 through February 18, 2025. The margin of error for the US adult population is +/-3.1%.

About The Modern Ag Alliance

The Modern Ag Alliance is a diverse coalition of agricultural stakeholders advocating for U.S. farmers’ access to the crop protection tools they need to ensure we have a robust and affordable domestic food supply. To learn more, visit modernagalliance.org.