03.3.25

New Ag Insights Survey: Tennesseans Support Defending Farmers' Access to Crop Protection Tools

Findings reveal bipartisan opposition to litigation that threatens U.S. agriculture

March 3, 2025
Contact: contact@modernagalliance.org 

St. Louis, MO — A new Ag Insights Survey from the Modern Ag Alliance confirms that Tennessee farmers and the broader public strongly support maintaining access to essential crop protection tools—a view on which majorities of Republicans and Democrats agree. These results come as legislation is being considered by lawmakers across the country to avert a crisis in U.S. agriculture due to relentless litigation targeting these products. Additional key findings include extremely low levels of trust in trial lawyers and opposition to litigation that threatens U.S. agriculture, food prices, and food security. 

"These findings send a clear message to Tennessee lawmakers that their constituents stand with farmers and they expect their elected officials to do the same,” said MAA Executive Director Elizabeth Burns-Thompson. “The crisis facing U.S. agriculture can be prevented by ensuring safe and essential crop protection tools remain available. If our leaders don’t act, the consequences will be felt at every dinner table in America."  

Key Findings

  • Tennesseans strongly oppose litigation that could limit farmers’ access to critical crop protection tools. 92% of farmers and 62% of all Tennesseans—including 63% of Republicans and 61% of Democrats—oppose these efforts.
  • Tennesseans are deeply concerned that litigation against crop protection manufacturers will lower crop yields, leading to higher food prices for consumers during a time of record inflation. 90% of farmers and 74% of all Tennesseans—including 79% of Republicans and 68% of Democrats—share this concern. 
  • Tennesseans overwhelmingly trust farmers, not trial lawyers. 76% of Tennesseans trust local farmers, including 81% of Republicans and 71% of Democrats. Meanwhile, only 13% of Tennesseans trust trial lawyers, including 9% of Republicans and 19% of Democrats.
  • Tennesseans want leaders who stand with farmers over trial lawyers on agriculture policy. 98% of farmers and 80% of all Tennesseans—including 86% of Republicans and 74% of Democrats—are more likely to support leaders who stand with farmers over trial lawyers.

Full state findings here.

Methodology 

This survey was written and administered by Penta Group Intelligence, an independent research firm. The results are based on a representative sample of 500 online and phone interviews of Tennessee-based adults and 50 Tennessean farmers. The study also surveyed a national representative sample of 1,005 US adults and 550 additional farmers from 11 states. The study was conducted January 29 through February 18, 2025. The margin of error for the Tennessee adult population is +/-4.38.

About The Modern Ag Alliance 

The Modern Ag Alliance is a diverse coalition of agricultural stakeholders advocating for U.S. farmers’ access to the crop protection tools they need to ensure we have a robust and affordable domestic food supply. To learn more, visit modernagalliance.org.

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