Sixty-nine percent of statewide voters support current incentive-based programs to reduce livestock methane emissions, according to a recent statewide and San Joaquin Valley voter research poll released by Dairy Cares. Forty-two percent of those voters indicated “strong” support for such programs, with Democrats (80%) and Independent (73%) voters offering the greatest approval.

The data proves “the current incentive programs provided by the state to California’s dairy farmers for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and producing renewable natural gas are strongly supported.”

The survey additionally showed that 86% of voters view farming and food production as essential to the state’s economy and that 65% of voters statewide and 72% of voters in the San Joaquin Valley OPPOSE having the state directly regulate dairy farms and eliminate current incentive programs. Further, 64% of statewide voters believe their food prices would increase if incentives are eliminated. 77% of San Joaquin Valley voters describe a rise in food cost as a crisis or very serious problem.

Similarly, 74% of voters OPPOSE placing a new tax on meat and dairy products.

The survey was conducted between May 2-6, 2024 by Sextant Strategies and Research, who survey 1,200 California registered voters, including an oversample of 400 interviews in the San Joaquin Valley.

This data further confirms the overwhelming statewide support for the climate change incentives currently provided to California dairy farmers, including the use of dairy digesters to mitigate fugitive methane emissions, and brings to light a a different perspective held by Valley residents.