Farm poll shows stress and concern up among farmers

The just-released “Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll” shows nearly all farmersbelieve their occupation is more risky than ever before — and a vastmajority have higher stress levels. Iowa State University sociologist PaulLasley says just about nine-out-of-10 farmers surveyed said farming’s gottenmore risky in the last five years.Fifty-seven percent of the Iowa farmers surveyed said they are more “stressedout.” Lasley, who directs the poll and analyzes its results, says that’ssignificant as the poll was taken in February and March.Almost 26-hundred farmers were surveyed.