AGRI-BUSINESS SURVEY March 1999

Columnist : Lincoln Institute

1.) How would you rate the current business climate for agriculture in Pennsylvania?

1% – Excellent
5% – Above Average
33% – Average
26% – Below Average
34% – Poor
1% – No Opinion

2.) In general, do you think business conditions for agriculture in Pennsylvania are better, the same, or worse than they were a year ago?

5% – Better
34% – Same
61% – Worse
0% – No Opinion

3.) Looking ahead a year, do you think business conditions for agriculture in Pennsylvania will be better, the same, or worse than they are now?

6% – Better
49% – Same
39% – Worse
6% – No Opinion

4.) How do you think Pennsylvania rates relative to other states in terms of costs that affect agricultural-related businesses (ie: tax rates, regulatory costs, utility prices, labor costs, growth opportunities, infrastructure, etc.)?

1% – Excellent
11% – Above Average
45% – Average
27% – Below Average
10% – Poor
6% – No Opinion

5.) Has deregulation of the electric utility industry in Pennsylvania resulted in substantial cost savings to your business?

7% – Yes
74% – No
19% – Don’t Know

6.) Have you heard of the 21st Century Environment Commission?

12% – Yes
88% -No

If YES, are you familiar with the Commission’s recommendations relative to containing suburban development or Aurban sprawl?

23% – Yes
77% – No

If YES, do you agree with the Commission’s recommendations?

8% – Yes
27% – No
65% – Don’t Know

7.) Generally speaking, do you think land use and zoning decisions should remain in the hands of local government (cities, boroughs and townships), or should such decisions be made at the county level?

70% – Local Level
25% – County Level
5% – No Opinion

8.) Do you think the decline in the number of farming operations in Pennsylvania is more a result of land development, or more the result of economic pressures?

6% – Land Development
51% – Economic Pressures
43% – Both
0% – No Opinion

9.) Do you think a farmland preservation, or having government purchase farmland to preserve it as open space, is good public policy?

57% – Yes
31% – No
12% – No Opinion

10.) Some states within the nation have a Right to Work law, which means that a worker cannot be fired or kept from having a job for either joining or not joining a labor union. Do you favor or oppose such a law for Pennsylvania?

32% – Strongly Favor
20% – Somewhat Favor
11% – Somewhat Oppose
26% – Strongly Oppose
11% – No Opinion

11.) Does your business employ unionized workers?

2% – Yes
98% – No

12.) Are they required to join or support a union as a condition of employment?

2% – Yes
98% – No

13.) How would you rate Pennsylvania’s ARight to Farm Laws@? (Ie: laws which protect the rights of farmers to use certain farm equipment, etc.)

3% – Excellent
18% – Above Average
56% – Average
8% – Below Average
4% – Poor
11% – No Opinion

14.) Should Pennsylvania pass additional laws to more effectively control wildlife damage to farmlands/pastures?

61% – Yes
29% – No
10% – No Opinion

15.)
 How would you rate the soil conservation methods employed by the State of Pennsylvania?

5% Excellent
30% Above Average
54% Average
2% Below Average
5% Poor
4% No Opinion

16.)
 Congress is considering legislation to east safety rules for child labor laws for Amish children. Should this legislation be passed?

57% – Yes
29% – No
14% – No Opinion

17.)
 Should the above-mentioned legislation apply to non-Amish children?

64% Yes
22% No
14% No Opinion

18.)
 How would you rate Pennsylvania’s Super Fund site clean-up activities?

1% – Excellent
10% – Above Average
41% – Average
7% – Below Average
12% – Poor
29% – No Opinion

19.) How would you rate Pennsylvania’s laws for protecting/improving water quality?

4% – Excellent
29% – Above Average
54% – Average
3% – Below Average
3% – Poor
7% – No Opinion

20.)
 How would you rate Pennsylvania’s laws for managing farm wastes?

5% – Excellent
33% – Above Average
50% – Average
4% – Below Average
2% – Poor
6% – No Opinion

21.)
 How would you rate Pennsylvania’s laws for controlling odors and noises from normal farming practices?

4% – Excellent
24% – Above Average
55% – Average
4% – Below Average
2% – Poor
11% – No Opinion

22.)
 How would you rate existing laws regulating the selling of agricultural products to overseas markets?

2% – Excellent
2% -Above Average
25% – Average
17% – Below Average
21% – Poor
13% – No Opinion

23.) If a friend approached you about starting a farm anywhere in the USA, would you recommend Pennsylvania?

41% – Yes
46% – No
13% – No Opinion

24.)
 In marketing Pennsylvania to the nation’s farm community, which of the following would you highlight as the state’s key asset? (Choose only one.)

6% – Cost of Land
7% – Cost of Living
60% – Quality of Life
4% – Tax Rates
2% – Regulatory Environment
3% – Labor Climate
9% – Infrastructure
9% – Growth Potential

25.) Which would you cite as Pennsylvania’s biggest liability? (Choose only one.)

23% – Cost of Land
4% – Cost of Living
4% – Quality of Life
31% – Tax Rates
17% – Regulatory Environment
7% – Labor Climate
3% – Infrastructure
11% – Growth Potential

(The Lincoln Institute’s 1999 Agri-Business Survey was conducted between March 3, 1999 and March 24, 1999. A total of 418 agricultural businesses operating within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania responded to the survey.)