The Most Trusted People in America

Do Americans mistrust farmers and ranchers? If you ask most farmers and ranchers, they’ll say they absolutely think that’s the case. I understand why. There are loud voices critical of agriculture that can quickly fill a room or social media platform. It can seem like they speak for all Americans.

Here's the simple truth: they do not.

Farmers are some of the most trusted people in America. Not only according to Farm Bureau's national polling, but also affirmed by Gallup polls, which consistently rank agriculture in the top five sectors. In their 2020 and 2025 polls, farming was the top-rated sector by Americans.

We've been tracking public trust in farmers since 2019 with our partners at Morning Consult and our national polling also showed farmers topping the chart in trust levels in 2020 and 2025. In fact, farmers have consistently been in the top three when it comes to public trust. Doctors and nurses sometimes slide into first place, which is not bad company to keep.

It’s an impressive statistic that public trust in farmers has remained at 80% or higher since we began tracking it. Congress would love to have a trust level half that high.

When I share this data with Farm Bureau members, they’re often surprised. They’re a humble group, in general, that views their work as more of a calling than a job – one few people outside of agriculture understand. So, for them to be in the number one spot in one of the most important measurements across the social landscape sometimes leaves them speechless. For good reason.

You can't buy trust. You can't manufacture it. You can't demand it. It is earned. And it is declining societally as polarization increases and nefarious intent is assigned to people and groups based solely on differences of opinion. It’s impressive that farmers and ranchers remain above the fray.

But they are correct in believing that few people in the U.S. understand agriculture. That’s not surprising when 98% of the population has no direct connection to a farm. The nearly 2 million farmers and ranchers who make up the remaining 2% are pleased and proud to be the country's providers. But the disconnect is dangerous and those in agriculture would be wise to pay attention to it.

The sky-high trust in farmers does not extend to some farming practices. If public concerns go unanswered, there is potential for an erosion of trust in the people behind the practices. The need for effective engagement has never been higher. But it’s a challenge in the agricultural sector for a variety of reasons. A big one: farmers will be the first to tell you operating a farm is often a sunup to sundown job. Many hold jobs off the farm in order to be able to afford to be farmer. So, making time to engage with people who have questions about farming, whether digitally or at city hall, doesn’t always top the priority list. Farmers also tend to live private lives and like it that way. So, sharing their story can be uncomfortable and seem frivolous (to them). The data tells us it’s anything but frivolous.

When farmers engage and explain why they use the practices they do, public opinion shifts. We’ve seen it happen time and again. In fact, our polling indicates that when the public has a chance to interact with farmers, trust increases nearly 20%. That’s almost eye-popping, but not surprising. In a world where AI-generated content and misinformation campaigns leave the public wondering what to believe, they crave authenticity above all.

That’s why a selfie recorded by a farmer in the field can garner more interest and engagement than a professionally produced and narrated video about farming. This not only presents an opportunity for farmers, it’s a red-carpet invitation, dirty jeans and all. The question is whether farmers will RSVP.

There is no question agriculture has come a long way when it comes to engaging with the public. Whether as a digital influencer building an audience or operating a mobile ag lab that visits schools or as a witness delivering testimony at the statehouse or to Congress, farmers and ranchers increasingly recognize the importance of engaging and are diving in, despite their already full plates. That’s admirable. It will serve all of agriculture well to preserve one of the most precious resources of our time: social trust.