Every two years since 1982, the Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll has asked farmers to report on changes in quality of life, defined as “the degree of satisfaction with all aspects of life,” for their families and families in their communities.
In 2022, 86% of participants reported that quality of life for their families either stayed the same or improved over the five years leading up to February/March 2022. This represents a substantial uptick from what had been a downward trend from 91% in 2014, 87% in 2016, 84% in 2018 and 80% in 2020.
The 2022 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll summary report was published in December, and is available online at the Iowa State University Extension Store.
Known also as the “Farm Poll,” the survey is the longest-running survey of its kind in the nation. Questionnaires were mailed in February and March 2022, and 979 farmers statewide responded.
Other topics covered in the 2022 Farm Poll summary include farming and traumatic experiences, opinions about what makes a “good farmer,” influence of information sources on decision making, and participation in carbon markets. View the full 2022 Farm Poll and previous years’ polls online.
