Survey Says General Public Has Trust In Florida Farmers To Be Water Wise

Results from a recent survey conducted by the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources indicate a majority of Floridians believe farmers are using water the right way.

Nearly 90% of state residents agreed or strongly agreed that farmers are concerned about water when making decisions. Almost 80% of respondents thought farmers used sound reasoning when making decisions about water.

Local government officials, however, weren’t as bully. Only 36% of policymakers said valid principles guided farmers’ behaviors with water use, and 54% agreed or strongly agreed that farmers felt concerned about water when making decisions.

Overall, local government officials were more confident in the quantity and quality of Florida’s water supplies.

Even though 69% of residents agreed that farmers can be relied upon to keep their promises when it comes to water, more than half said that farmers should be watched closely so they don’t take advantage of water resources.

For more information, and to view other survey results, click here.