This statement is based on the results of the 1996 Vermonter Poll, an annual statewide public opinion poll conducted by The University of Vermont's Center for Rural Studies. Analysis of the poll's data reveals that over 96% of respondents said that they believe that the state's agricultural landscape is important or very important to the state tourism industry, and more than 90% said they believe it is important for the state to diversify its agricultural output.
However, questions that were designed to measure Vermonters' knowledge of issues surrounding the scope and types of agricultural activities in the state reveal that many Vermonters did not know the answers to questions about such issues.
For example, about 80% of the poll's respondents were unable to state correctly the percentage of land in Vermont that is in agricultural production. Only about 20% correctly said that about a fifth of the land is in agriculture. The most common (incorrect) answers were a tenth of the land (29% of responses) and a third (25%).
Table 1. "What percentage of land in agricultural production?" Response Percent ------------------------------- A tenth 29.0 A fifth 20.1 A third 24.5 Almost half 15.1 Don't know/refused 11.4 ------------------------------- Total 100.0 -------------------------------
Vermonters were even less likely to know the type of cheese that is produced in greatest quantity in the state. Nearly 87% answered incorrectly that cheddar is the most abundantly produced cheese. Only about 6% correctly said mozzarella. A handful of respondents also guessed pepperjack or parmesan.
Table 2. "What cheese is produced in the greatest quantity in VT?" Response Percent ------------------------------- Cheddar 86.9 Pepperjack 1.5 Mozzarella 6.4 Parmesan 0.7 Don't Know/Refused 4.5 ------------------------------- Total 100.0 -------------------------------Respondents did better on the question asking about the percentage of the state workforce that is in agriculture and related fields. About 28% correctly said that about twenty percent of the workforce is in agriculture and related industries. However,the most common answer, almost ten percent of the workforce, which got 30% of responses, was incorrect. Also, 20% of respondents incorrectly stated that about thirty percent of the workforce is in agriculture.
Table 3. "What percent of the workforce is in agriculture and related industries?" Response Percent ------------------------------- About ten 30.4 About twenty 28.2 About thirty 20.0 About forty 8.8 Almost fifty 5.1 DK/Ref. 7.4 ------------------------------- Total 100.0 -------------------------------
Next, respondents were given the names of the 5 USDA food groups, and asked which of these groups ought to have the most daily servings. About a third (34%) of respondents correctly said that grains ought to have the most servings, but slightly more respondents (35%) incorrectly thought the answer was vegetables. Dairy was the third most common choice, followed by fruits and meats.
Table 4. "Which USDA Food group ought to have the most daily servings?" Response Percent ------------------------------- Vegetables 35.0 Grains 34.0 Meats 2.7 Fruits 7.1 Dairy 15.4 DK/Ref. 5.8 ------------------------------- Total 100.0 -------------------------------
The results of this poll have led groups such as the Agriculture In The Classroom (AITC) Consortium to recommend that education about agriculture be included in school curricula to a greater degree, especially as a hands-on way of teaching about science and nature. Such an emphasis upon agriculture in schools will, it is hoped, bring Vermonters' level of knowledge about agricultural issues up to par with their belief about its importance to the state's well-being.