WASHINGTON—Some common ground: Democrats and Republicans agree that agriculture is a sustainable industry, and both believe sustainability incentives should be used instead of government regulation of farms.

Those were among key findings of a national survey conducted in February by Morning Consult, a Washington media company that specializes in polling and market research. The survey, conducted on behalf of the American Farm Bureau Federation, questioned 1,971 registered voters online.

Most respondents said they support sustainability based on a definition that stems from the 1977 and 1990 Farm Bills: a system of agriculture that will satisfy human food and fiber needs, enhance environmental quality, use resources efficiently, sustain the economic viability of farmers and benefit society as a whole.

Seventy-five percent of respondents said they were more likely to call modern agriculture sustainable with the knowledge that a common goal among farmers and ranchers is to leave the land in better shape for the next generation.

And Democrats and Republicans agreed on several survey topics. Eighty percent of Republicans said they believe modern agriculture is sustainable, as do 76 percent of Democrats. Sixty-five percent of Republicans and 63 percent of Democrats favor cooperative incentives that allow government and farmers to work together to address environmental issues, instead of more farm regulation.

Presented with a variety of industries, 78 percent of survey participants ranked agriculture and farming most favorably, compared to 76 percent for the technology sector, 73 percent for the hospitality industry, 67 percent for manufacturing, 60 percent for energy, 43 percent for the pharmaceutical industry and 54 percent for airlines.

Media: Contact Mace Thornton, AFBF executive director of communications, 202-406-3641.