CAFO Moratorium Poll Results 2019

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Summary of Findings

In the first-ever national poll measuring voters’ attitudes toward moratoria on CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations), respondents demonstrated overwhelming public concern with the negative health and environmental impacts caused by CAFOs, or industrial animal farms. The poll also found support—57 percent—for greater government oversight of these facilities, and 43 percent of respondents said they favor a national ban, or moratorium, on the creation of new CAFOs. Only 38 percent oppose a ban.

The poll also includes state-specific results for Iowa and North Carolina, where there are high concentrations of CAFOs. In 2018, the Iowa General Assembly put forward a proposal to increase oversight of CAFOs and place a moratorium on new and expanded CAFOs. Iowa is home to 23 million hogs (and about 3 million people). In 2007, the North Carolina state legislature banned the construction of new CAFOs and mandated stricter rules for existing CAFOs.

Methodology

The nationwide survey was conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner (GQR) Research in October 2019, and drew responses from more than 1,000 registered voters, and more than 400 registered voters in Iowa and North Carolina.

More Key Findings

• Nationally, more than 80 percent of respondents expressed concern about air and water pollution, worker safety and health problems caused by CAFOs.
• In Iowa, 63 percent of respondents think it’s important for the state legislature to pass a proposal banning construction of new and expanded CAFOs.
• In North Carolina, 57 percent of voters surveyed say they favor the state’s current ban on new CAFOs and only 27 percent oppose the ban.

For more information about the survey and its findings, please contact Robert Martin, director of the Food Policy Program at CLF: rmarti57@jhu.edu