2010 Agri-Business Survey
| Response Summary | |
|---|---|
| Total Started Survey: | 120 |
| Total Completed Survey: | 109 (90.8%) |
Section I: Business Climate
1. How would you rate the current business climate for agriculture in Pennsylvania?
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 115 | |
| skipped question | 5 | |
| Excellent | 2.6% | 3 |
| Above Average | 12.2% | 14 |
| Average | 41.7% | 48 |
| Below Average | 37.4% | 43 |
| Poor | 5.2% | 6 |
| Refused/No Opinion | 0.9% | 1 |
2. In general, do you think business conditions for agriculture in Pennsylvania are better, the same, or worse than they were SIX MONTHS AGO?
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 115 | |
| skipped question | 5 | |
| Better | 20.9% | 24 |
| Same | 49.6% | 57 |
| Worse | 29.6% | 34 |
| No Opinion | 0.0% | 0 |
3. LOOKING AHEAD SIX MONTHS, do you think business conditions for agriculture will be better, the same, or worse than they are now?
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 115 | |
| skipped question | 5 | |
| Better | 18.3% | 21 |
| Same | 60.9% | 70 |
| Worse | 20.9% | 24 |
| No Opinion | 0.0% | 0 |
4. Are employment levels at your business higher, the same, or lower, than they were SIX MONTHS AGO?
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 114 | |
| skipped question | 6 | |
| Higher | 10.5% | 12 |
| Same | 64.0% | 73 |
| Lower | 19.3% | 22 |
| No Opinion | 6.1% | 7 |
5. LOOKING AHEAD SIX MONTHS, do you anticipate that employment levels at your business will be higher, stay the same, or be lower?
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 115 | |
| skipped question | 5 | |
| Higher | 8.7% | 10 |
| Same | 72.2% | 83 |
| Lower | 14.8% | 17 |
| No Opinion | 4.3% | 5 |
6. Has your business's revenue increased, stayed relatively the same, or decreased during the PAST SIX MONTHS?
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 113 | |
| skipped question | 7 | |
| Increased | 29.2% | 33 |
| Same | 38.9% | 44 |
| Decreased | 28.3% | 32 |
| No Opinion | 3.5% | 4 |
7. Do you expect your businesss' revenue to increase, stay relatively the same, or decrease during the COMING SIX MONTHS?
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 114 | |
| skipped question | 6 | |
| Increase | 23.7% | 27 |
| Same | 56.1% | 64 |
| Decrease | 17.5% | 20 |
| No Opinion | 2.6% | 3 |
8. How do you think Pennsylvania rates relative to other states in terms of costs that affect agricultural-related businesses (ie: taxes, regulatory costs, utility prices, labor costs, growth opportunities, infrastructure, etc.?)
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 115 | |
| skipped question | 5 | |
| Excellent | 0.9% | 1 |
| Above Average | 20.0% | 23 |
| Average | 35.7% | 41 |
| Below Average | 31.3% | 36 |
| Poor | 7.8% | 9 |
| No Opinion | 4.3% | 5 |
9. Do you plan to make any machinery or equipment purchases over the coming three months?
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 111 | |
| skipped question | 9 | |
| YES | 27.0% | 30 |
| NO | 51.4% | 57 |
| DON'T KNOW | 16.2% | 18 |
| REFUSED/NO OPINION | 5.4% | 6 |
10. Do you plan to invest in any capital improvements, such as expanding or building new facilities, for your business over the coming three months?
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 115 | |
| skipped question | 5 | |
| YES | 22.6% | 26 |
| NO | 63.5% | 73 |
| DON'T KNOW | 9.6% | 11 |
| REFUSED/NO OPINION | 4.3% | 5 |
11. If you answered "YES" to Question # 10, is the purpose of the capital improvement due to:
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 25 | |
| skipped question | 95 | |
| Growth of Business | 28.0% | 7 |
| Increased Efficiency of the Business | 40.0% | 10 |
| Compliance with Regulatory Requirements | 12.0% | 3 |
| Combination of the Above | 20.0% | 5 |
| Other (please specify) | Show Replies | 3 |
12. Have you had to take any of the following actions to deal with the current economic recession:
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 67 | |
| skipped question | 53 | |
| LAY OFF EMPLOYEES | 31.3% | 21 |
| REDUCE EMPLOYEE WORK HOURS | 41.8% | 28 |
| CLOSE OR CONSOLIDATE FACILITIES | 11.9% | 8 |
| REDUCE PRODUCT LINES | 13.4% | 9 |
| RAISE PRICES | 35.8% | 24 |
| CUT PRICES | 17.9% | 12 |
| CLOSE YOUR BUSINESS | 1.5% | 1 |
| Other (please specify) | Show Replies | 9 |
13. What is your top business concern?
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 109 | |
| skipped question | 11 | |
| ACCESS TO CREDIT | 15.6% | 17 |
| LOST SALES | 30.3% | 33 |
| TAXES | 14.7% | 16 |
| COST OF HEALTH CARE COVERAGE | 22.9% | 25 |
| ENERGY COSTS | 16.5% | 18 |
| Other (please specify) | Show Replies | 10 |
Section II: Issues
1. Thinking about dairy industry regulations in Pennsylvania as it relates to the pricing of milk,would you say state regulations need:
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 105 | |
| skipped question | 15 | |
| A COMPLETE REVIEW | 56.2% | 59 |
| SOME UPDATING | 28.6% | 30 |
| NO CHANGES | 1.9% | 2 |
| NO OPINION | 13.3% | 14 |
2. What are your thoughts on Dairy Pooling in Pennsylvania?
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 103 | |
| skipped question | 17 | |
| SUPPORT 100% DAIRY POOLING | 6.8% | 7 |
| SUPPORT PARTIAL DAIRY POOLING | 16.5% | 17 |
| OPPOSE DAIRY POOLING | 3.9% | 4 |
| NO OPINION | 72.8% | 75 |
3. Have you heard about the Chesapeake Bay TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load)?
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 105 | |
| skipped question | 15 | |
| YES | 82.9% | 87 |
| NO | 16.2% | 17 |
| REFUSED | 1.0% | 1 |
4. If you have heard of the Chesapeake Bay TMDL, do you think it is a threat to Pennsylvania agriculture?
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 98 | |
| skipped question | 22 | |
| SIGNIFICANT THREAT | 33.7% | 33 |
| SOMEWHAT OF A THREAT | 27.6% | 27 |
| NO THREAT | 2.0% | 2 |
| DEPENDS ON HOW IT IS IMPLEMENTED | 26.5% | 26 |
| NO OPINION | 10.2% | 10 |
5. What is the biggest challenge you have in complying with environmental regulations?
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 93 | |
| skipped question | 27 | |
| DIRECT COST OF PERMITTING (BMP INSTALLATION, ETC.) | 18.3% | 17 |
| INDIRECT COSTS DUE TO INFLEXIBILITY | 18.3% | 17 |
| INCONSISTENCY OF REQUIREMENTS BETWEEN JURISDICTIONS | 26.9% | 25 |
| UNPREDICTABILITY | 34.4% | 32 |
| SUPPLY OF QUALIFIED CONSULTANTS | 2.2% | 2 |
| Other (please specify) | Show Replies | 5 |
6. Which of the following do you think is the most cost-effective way to further reduce nutrient and sediment runoff from Pennsylvania agriculture?
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 99 | |
| skipped question | 21 | |
| INSTALLATION OF RIPARIAN BUFFERS | 10.1% | 10 |
| COVER CROPS | 12.1% | 12 |
| NO-TILL | 15.2% | 15 |
| NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANNING WITH MANURE STORAGE | 26.3% | 26 |
| ON-FARM MANURE TO ENERGY PROJECTS | 7.1% | 7 |
| COMMUNITY-SCALE MANURE TO ENERGY PROJECTS | 6.1% | 6 |
| 'PRECISION FARMING' TECHNIQUES (GPS, ETC.) | 3.0% | 3 |
| DIET AND FEED ADJUSTMENTS FOR LIVESTOCK | 1.0% | 1 |
| NONE OF THE ABOVE (PA AG ALREADY DOES ALL IT CAN DO) | 19.2% | 19 |
| Other (please specify) | Show Replies | 5 |
7. What is the most cost-effective way for government to assist farmers with environmental compliance?
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 99 | |
| skipped question | 21 | |
| COST-SHARING FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PRACTICES | 38.4% | 38 |
| TAX CREDITS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PRACTICES | 34.3% | 34 |
| INCREASING STAFF AT CONSERVATION DISTRICTS | 5.1% | 5 |
| INCREASE CAPACITY OF COOPERATIVE EXTENSION | 1.0% | 1 |
| COST-SHARING FOR PRIVATE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE | 6.1% | 6 |
| RESEARCH FOR NEW PRACTICES/TECHNOLOGY | 10.1% | 10 |
| GROWTH OF NUTRIENT TRADING AND SIMILAR MARKETS | 5.1% | 5 |
| Other (please specify) | Show Replies | 4 |
8. To address the deficiency in the unemployment compensation fund, do you think the payroll tax should be expanded to apply to the first $12,000 in pay (currently the tax applies to the first $8,000)?
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 106 | |
| skipped question | 14 | |
| YES | 22.6% | 24 |
| NO | 51.9% | 55 |
| REFUSED/NO OPINION | 25.5% | 27 |
9. Generally speaking, do you think land use and zoning decisions should remain in the hands of local government (cities, boroughs and townships), or should such decisions be made at the county or state level?
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 106 | |
| skipped question | 14 | |
| LOCAL LEVEL | 51.9% | 55 |
| COUNTY LEVEL | 29.2% | 31 |
| STATE LEVEL | 12.3% | 13 |
| NO OPINION | 6.6% | 7 |
10. Do you think the decline in the number of farming operations in Pennsylvani is more a result of land development, or more the result of economic pressures?
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 106 | |
| skipped question | 14 | |
| LAND DEVELOPMENT | 4.7% | 5 |
| ECONOMIC PRESSURES | 36.8% | 39 |
| BOTH | 58.5% | 62 |
| NO OPINION | 0.0% | 0 |
11. Do you think farmland preservation, or having government purchase farmland to preserve it as open space, is good public policy?
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 103 | |
| skipped question | 17 | |
| YES | 66.0% | 68 |
| NO | 29.1% | 30 |
| NO OPINION | 4.9% | 5 |
12. How would you rate Pennsylvania's laws in the following areas:
| answered question | 105 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| skipped question | 15 | ||||||
| EXCELLENT | ABOVE AVERAGE | AVERAGE | BELOW AVERAGE | POOR | NO OPINION | Response Count |
|
| PROTECTING/IMPROVING WATER QUALITY | 2.9% (3) | 37.1% (39) | 48.6% (51) | 1.9% (2) | 1.0% (1) | 8.6% (9) | 105 |
| MANAGING FARM WASTES | 4.8% (5) | 40.0% (42) | 40.0% (42) | 2.9% (3) | 1.0% (1) | 11.4% (12) | 105 |
| CONTROLING ODORS & NOISES FROM NORMAL FARMING | 5.7% (6) | 32.4% (34) | 46.7% (49) | 1.9% (2) | 1.9% (2) | 11.4% (12) | 105 |
| REGULATION OF SELLING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS OVERSEAS | 1.0% (1) | 12.4% (13) | 47.6% (50) | 11.4% (12) | 1.0% (1) | 26.7% (28) | 105 |
13. If a friend approached you about starting a farm anywhere in the USA, would you recommend Pennsylvania?
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 106 | |
| skipped question | 14 | |
| YES | 50.9% | 54 |
| NO | 32.1% | 34 |
| NO OPINION | 17.0% | 18 |
14. In marketing Pennsylvania to the nation's farm community, wich of the following would you highlight as the state's key assent? (Select only one)
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 104 | |
| skipped question | 16 | |
| COST OF LAND | 2.9% | 3 |
| COST OF LIVING | 5.8% | 6 |
| QUALITY OF LIFE | 45.2% | 47 |
| TAX RATES | 1.9% | 2 |
| REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT | 1.9% | 2 |
| LABOR CLIMATE | 3.8% | 4 |
| INFRASTRUCTURE | 26.9% | 28 |
| GROWTH POTENTIAL | 11.5% | 12 |
15. Which would your rate as Pennsylvania's biggest liability (Choose only one.)
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 105 | |
| skipped question | 15 | |
| COST OF LAND | 29.5% | 31 |
| COST OF LIVING | 2.9% | 3 |
| QUALITY OF LIFE | 1.0% | 1 |
| TAX RATES | 18.1% | 19 |
| REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT | 35.2% | 37 |
| LABOR CLIMATE | 1.9% | 2 |
| INFRASTRUCTURE | 3.8% | 4 |
| GROWTH POTENTIAL | 7.6% | 8 |
16. In what part of Pennsylvania is your business located?
| Response Percent |
Response Count |
|
| answered question | 108 | |
| skipped question | 12 | |
| NORTHWEST PA | 3.7% | 4 |
| SOUTHWEST PA | 2.8% | 3 |
| NORTHCENTRAL PA | 10.2% | 11 |
| ALTOONA/JOHNSTOWN | 3.7% | 4 |
| SOUTHCENTRAL/HARRISBURG | 38.0% | 41 |
| SOUTHEASTERN | 29.6% | 32 |
| LEHIGH VALLEY | 3.7% | 4 |
| NORTHEASTERN | 8.3% | 9 |
17. Please feel free to comment on any issues of concern to you that were not covered in this survey.
| Response Count |
|
| answered question | 10 |
| skipped question | 110 |
| Other (please specify) - Show Replies | 10 |
