That's just 2 percentage points less than the 83 percent who agreed with that statement this year. Thirty-five percent of the farmers surveyed said they are hunters and 41 percent said they fish. The hunting response was up 2 percent from 1990 and the fishing response was down 2 percent. Other wildlife activities farmers enjoy include bird watching, practiced by 25 percent in 2000, down from 40 percent in 1990, and photographing wildlife, practiced by 8 percent in 2000, down from 14 percent in 1990. However, that is a smaller percentage than in 1990, when 84 percent agreed that stiff penalties are needed.
Farmers also say they have a role in helping to preserve wildlife.
Sixty-two percent said farmers should reduce the use of pesticides that are harmful to wildlife, and 53 percent said financial incentives would encourage them to do more for wildlife on their farm. Sixty-six percent also said the government should pay farmers to preserve habitat for wildlife. Related to that opinion, only 15 percent of the farmers surveyed agreed with the statement that wildlife habitat on their farm increases its market value. 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.