The Nebraska Rural Poll is an annual survey conducted by the UNL Department of Agricultural Economics in partnership with Rural Prosperity Nebraska and Nebraska Extension.
Traditionally, rural Nebraskans have not had a strong voice in state policy decisions. The Nebraska Rural Poll gathers the aggregated voice of rural Nebraskans and relays its findings to state lawmakers, ensuring the rural voice is heard. The goal of the Nebraska Rural Poll is to give local and state leaders a better understanding of the issues, challenges and concerns of Nebraska's rural citizens. The Rural Poll is an annual effort that focuses on such issues as community, government policy, well-being and work.
Core questions are included every year; over time these core questions will provide insight about trends and changes occurring in rural Nebraska. In addition, each year rural citizens and government officials form an advisory committee that identifies key issues or topics to include in the survey. Poll findings are distributed to member of the Nebraska Legislature, staff members of the state's congressional delegation, and other state and local leaders to facilitate their decision making.
If you would like to be added to the Rural Poll listserv to be notified when reports are released or when topics for future surveys are being solicited, please click here to send us your contact information.
For further information about the Poll or its findings, contact Becky Vogt (survey manager), or other team members: Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel, Brad Lubben, L.J. McElravy, Tim Meyer, Steve Schulz, or Heather Akin.
2023 Nebraska Rural Poll
The 2023 Nebraska Rural Poll was mailed to households outside the Lincoln and Omaha areas in April and May. The questionnaire asked rural Nebraskans about childcare, civil discourse, and the economy, as well as the core questions on well-being and community.
The 2023 reports can be accessed here.