A poll conducted by Iowa State University’s Extension Department shows little hope among Iowa farmers that economic conditions in the industry will improve. Sociologist Paul Lasley directs the Iowa Farm and Rural Life poll.He says only 12-percent of the farmers in the poll thought farming would improve in the next five years. Lasley says that compares to the height of the farm crisis in the 80s, when as many as 23-percent of farmers polled thought things would get better. Lasley says the pessimism could be caused by the growing gap between the farm economy and the economy overall.Lasley says concern over the farm economy has become a chronic problem as farmers work to do everything right, but end up not making a profit.Lasley says the poll shows the need for continued efforts to improve the farm economy. The poll was conducted in February.
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