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Helping farmersadaptextremeweathervariableclimateshort
This document summarizes resources for agricultural adaptation to climate change provided by USDA agencies including the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Agriculture Research Service. It describes an adaptation workbook framework that was developed and tested to help farmers and land managers incorporate climate considerations into their management. The framework connects management goals and climate impacts to specific adaptation actions. It provides a menu of options to prepare for, cope with, and recover from climate extremes. The document outlines key principles of adaptation and strategies to create pathways to sustainability under a changing climate.
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Helping farmersadaptextremeweathervariableclimateshort
- 1. Dan Dostie, NRCS MikeKucera, NRCS Jerry Hatfield, ARS Climate Hubs Natural Resources Conservation Service Agriculture Research Service U.S. Forest Service July 30th, 2017
- 2. SymposiumTopics: 1. OverviewofAdaptationResources 2. Methods,Analysis,Results 3.ContributionstoScience& Society 4. RealWorldExample
- 3. Overview of AdaptationResources Visit www.climatehubs.oce.usda.gov and look for “Adaptation Assistance” Climate Change Response Framework For On the Farm
- 4. 4 Adaptation Resources forAgriculture: Responding to Climate Variability and Change in the Midwest and Northeast U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC, Technical Bulletin 1944, October 2016
- 5. Focus: Midwest &Northeast
- 6. Different Approaches for DifferentTypes of Agriculture
- 7. About Adaptation Resourcesfor Agriculture: • For educators, conservationists, advisors, farm owners, operators • Farm or Area wide scale, NOT state or national policy scale • Broad ecological site and planning considerations, NOT specifications • NOT financial, legal, market, human resource considerations
- 8. About Adaptation Resourcesfor Agriculture: Contents: 1. Regional Climate Change Effects 2. Adaptation Concepts 3. Regional Adaptation Responses 4. Adaptation Workbook 5. Real World Examples 6. Glossary 7. Literature cited 8. Methods used 9. Worksheets
- 9. A Successfully TestedFramework USDA Climate Hubs Midwest, Northeast & Northern Forests Adaptation Workbook Strategies & Approaches Menu of adaptation actions • Structured but flexible process to integrate climate considerations into management • Workbook approach
- 10. Why it’s important: Connectsthe Dots Management Goals & Objectives Climate Change Impacts Intent of Adaptation (Option) Make Idea Specific (Strategy, Approach) Action to Implement (Tactic) Challenges & Opportunities Why it’s important: Helps connect the dots from broad concepts to specific actions for implementation.
- 11. Prepare for, Copewith, Recover From Extremes
- 12.
- 13. Tiered Menu ofResponses 2/8/30/124
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- 15. Worksheets To Connectthe Dots
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- 18. Workbook Testing forAgriculture • 03/03/2016, USDA Climate Hub Workshop, Madison, WI • 07/24/2016, Soil & Water Conservation Society, Louisville, KY • 09/23/2016, Small Farms Conference, Virginia Beach, VA • 02/02/2017 Pennsylvania Association For Sustainable Agriculture, PA
- 19. It’s Online! USDA ClimateHubs Midwest, Northeast & Northern Forests Currently versions are available for forest ecosystems, agriculture and urban forests. Integrates climate change information from NCA and other resources.
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- 21. 21 There are otherframeworks
- 22. Other Adaptation Resources: •Different perspectives • Animal Ag, Wildlife, Estuaries, & International Development Smallholders • A variety of land owners with diverse goals • Summarizing information and help accessing decision tools
- 23. Creating Conservati0n Connections andPathways to Sustainability 23
- 24. Fertility Management Natural System Dynamics Wildlife Habitat & Recreation Past Management History Pests & Invasives CropYield& Revenue Goals Environmental Outcomes Soil Health And more!! A Changing Climate? Business Requirements Regulations and Neighbor Relations Will it be a wet year? Will we have a dry spring, a hot summer, a stormyfall?
- 25. Parry et al.2007, SCBD 2009, Groves et al. 2010 Consider “Win-Win-Win” opportunities
- 26. Producer Driven Outcomesfor Production, Profits, & Stewardship Considerations and Effects Vulnerable Ecosystem Services Changing Atmospheric Conditions Dostie, 2016
- 27. Use Climate Services toMake Considerations Relevant
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- 30. Current management maybe fine Same actions– climate change just makes them that much more important Small “tweaks” that improve effectiveness New & different actions to consider, even some that may seem wild & crazy *individual results will vary
- 31.
- 32. Are Adaptation andMitigation Connected? Consider mitigation opportunities? Adaptingtoday withoutmitigatingimpacts on tomorrowmay increasethe futurecostof adaptation
- 33. Key Principles ofAdaptation Set priorities for the most vulnerable Consider the co-benefits of planned actions Be flexible and creative Take precautionary actions Monitor & adaptively manage resources Keys to sustaining farms, ranches, and forests under extreme, variable and uncertain weather and climate conditions
- 34. Sustainability? The ability toprovide for core societal needs into the indefinite future without unwanted negative effects (NRC, 2010). To be sustainable, a farming system needs to be able to continue to meet goals in the face of stresses and fluctuating conditions; to adapt and evolve. Resiliency? The capacity of a system to absorb disturbance and reorganize while undergoing change so as to still retain essentially the same function, structure, identity, and feedbacks (Walker et al. 2002). When it can no longer persist, time to transform 34
- 35. Adapting to extremeweather & variable climate All adjustments in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which reduces vulnerability, moderates harm, or exploits beneficial opportunities.
- 36. Strategies Create Pathways Forestry 1.Sustain fundamental ecological functions. 2. Reduce the impact of existing biological stressors. 3. Protect forests from severe fire and wind disturbance. 4. Maintain or create refugia. 5. Maintain and enhance species and structural diversity. 6. Increase ecosystem redundancy across the landscape. 7. Promote landscape connectivity. 8. Enhance genetic diversity. 9. Facilitate community adjustments through species transitions. 10.Plan for and respond to disturbance. Agriculture 1. Sustain fundamental functions of soil and water. 2. Reduce existing stressors of crops and livestock. 3. Reduce risks from warmer and drier conditions. 4. Reduce the risk and long-term impacts of extreme weather. 5. Manage farms and fields as part of a larger landscape. 6. Alter management to accommodate expected future conditions. 7. Alter agricultural systems or lands to new climate conditions. 8. Alter infrastructure to match new and expected conditions.
- 37. Summary: Connections & Pathways Eachdecision is unique and will vary based upon: • Place: Location & Site Conditions • Purpose: Goals & Objectives • People: Values, Culture, & Resources • Level of Uncertainty: Learn as you go! There isn’t a single path
- 38. Cornell’s Water DeficitCalculator 38 http://climatesmartfarming.org/tools/
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- 40. NRCS Climate ConnectionsTool (Beta) Step by Step Instruction Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QFjga1pwso&feature=youtu.be
- 41. Tool Shed • Repositoryfor tools relevant to climate adaptation and mitigation • Public-facing, searchable database • Inventory, gap analysis • serch.us/tools Source.
- 42. Workshop Summary • Usethe Adaptation Workbook as a framework • Use decision support tools to adaptively manage practices • Current management may be fine, may need small tweaks or large transformations • Engage trusted advisors to develop win-win- win solutions!
- 43. 43 Questions? Maria Janowiak [email protected]for Online Workbooks Dan Dostie [email protected] NRCS role in Climate Adaptation