Rural Poverty on the Rise-Will the Farm Bill Respond?
In August the U.S. Census Bureau released new data from the American Community Survey showing that poverty in rural areas, particularly child poverty, continues to be a major societal problem.
From the 2000 Census to 2006 (the year of the recently released Census Bureau data), the overall non-metropolitan poverty rate increased from 13.4 percent to 15.2 percent (a 13 percent increase). Meanwhile, metropolitan poverty rates also increased, but at a slower rate (and have declined since 2003).
Since 1970, rural poverty has been consistently higher than urban poverty. While rural poverty declined and the gap narrowed from 1970 to 2000, rural poverty is now on the upswing, and the gap between rural and urban poverty is again widening.
The August Census Bureau report also contained extensive data on childhood poverty. A report from the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire finds that nationally 22 percent of rural children live in poverty, up from 19 percent in 2000.
Other important findings include:
- Rural child poverty rates increased from 2000 to 2006 in 37 of the 47 states where rural data was available.
- 19 states witnessed child poverty rate increases greater than the overall national increase, with Ohio, Indiana, and Maine witnessing the largest increases.
- Rural child poverty is highest in the South, lowest in the Northeast, but the Midwest witnessed the greatest increase from 2000 to 2006.
Looking at the percentage of rural children in poverty for selected Midwest and Great Plains states, only North Dakota and South Dakota experienced declines from their 2000 rural child poverty rate. Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska witnessed increases above or equal to the national average.
It is also possible to compare rural child poverty rates for the nation’s four regions. While the South continues to experience the highest percentage of rural children living in poverty, the Midwest witnessed the largest increase from 2000 to 2006. Both the Midwest and South exceeded the national increase. The West witnessed the smallest increase over the period.
As Congress completes the 2007 farm bill they would be well advised to heed these figures. The farm bill affords Congress an opportunity that comes along rarely to address the issues facing rural people and rural communities. Many rural members of Congress state they support rural development programs, but say that the money is not there this time and other things (like nearly unlimited agricultural subsidy payments) are a higher priority.
Rural people and rural communities have a right to ask policymakers some simple questions as the final version of the 2007 farm bill is written:
- How much further behind economically do rural people and rural communities need to fall?
- How long do we have to wait for the real issues of communities and rural people of modest means to be addressed?
- How many more young people and young families have to desert rural communities because only a lifetime of poverty awaits them there?
- If these issues are not addressed now, when?
The Carsey Institute report can be found at http://carseyinstitute.unh.edu/documents/FS_RuralChildPoverty_07.pdf . Our ideas on how to address these issues can be found at http://www.cfra.org/policy/2007.
Contact: Jon Bailey, jonb@cfra.org or 402.687.2103 x 1013, for information.
From the 2000 Census to 2006 (the year of the recently released Census Bureau data), the overall non-metropolitan poverty rate increased from 13.4 percent to 15.2 percent (a 13 percent increase). Meanwhile, metropolitan poverty rates also increased, but at a slower rate (and have declined since 2003).
Since 1970, rural poverty has been consistently higher than urban poverty. While rural poverty declined and the gap narrowed from 1970 to 2000, rural poverty is now on the upswing, and the gap between rural and urban poverty is again widening.
The August Census Bureau report also contained extensive data on childhood poverty. A report from the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire finds that nationally 22 percent of rural children live in poverty, up from 19 percent in 2000.
Other important findings include:
- Rural child poverty rates increased from 2000 to 2006 in 37 of the 47 states where rural data was available.
- 19 states witnessed child poverty rate increases greater than the overall national increase, with Ohio, Indiana, and Maine witnessing the largest increases.
- Rural child poverty is highest in the South, lowest in the Northeast, but the Midwest witnessed the greatest increase from 2000 to 2006.
Looking at the percentage of rural children in poverty for selected Midwest and Great Plains states, only North Dakota and South Dakota experienced declines from their 2000 rural child poverty rate. Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska witnessed increases above or equal to the national average.
It is also possible to compare rural child poverty rates for the nation’s four regions. While the South continues to experience the highest percentage of rural children living in poverty, the Midwest witnessed the largest increase from 2000 to 2006. Both the Midwest and South exceeded the national increase. The West witnessed the smallest increase over the period.
As Congress completes the 2007 farm bill they would be well advised to heed these figures. The farm bill affords Congress an opportunity that comes along rarely to address the issues facing rural people and rural communities. Many rural members of Congress state they support rural development programs, but say that the money is not there this time and other things (like nearly unlimited agricultural subsidy payments) are a higher priority.
Rural people and rural communities have a right to ask policymakers some simple questions as the final version of the 2007 farm bill is written:
- How much further behind economically do rural people and rural communities need to fall?
- How long do we have to wait for the real issues of communities and rural people of modest means to be addressed?
- How many more young people and young families have to desert rural communities because only a lifetime of poverty awaits them there?
- If these issues are not addressed now, when?
The Carsey Institute report can be found at http://carseyinstitute.unh.edu/documents/FS_RuralChildPoverty_07.pdf . Our ideas on how to address these issues can be found at http://www.cfra.org/policy/2007.
Contact: Jon Bailey, jonb@cfra.org or 402.687.2103 x 1013, for information.
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