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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #331351
Title: Adaptation Resources for Agriculture: Responding to climate variability and change in the midwest and northeast

Author
item JANOWIAK, MARIA - Us Forest Service (FS)
item DOSTIE, DANIEL - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)
item WILSON, MIKE - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)
item KUCERA, MIKE - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)
item Skinner, Robert
item Hatfield, Jerry
item HOLLINGER, DAVE - Us Forest Service (FS)
item SWANSTON, CHRIS - Us Forest Service (FS)

Submitted to: Government Publication/Report
Publication Type: Government Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/15/2016
Publication Date: 10/1/2016
Citation: Janowiak, M., Dostie, D., Wilson, M., Kucera, M., Skinner, R.H., Hatfield, J.L., Hollinger, D., Swanston, C. 2016. Adaptation Resources for Agriculture: Responding to climate variability and change in the midwest and northeast. Government Publication/Report. Available: https://www.climatehubs.oce.usda.gov/sites/default/files/adaptation_resources_workbook_ne_mw.pdf.

Interpretive Summary: Changes in climate and extreme weather are already occurring and impacting agriculture, both regionally and nationally. To help agricultural producers in the Midwest and Northeast regions of the U.S. overcome these challenges, a workbook has been developed that contains climate change and adaptation options needed to continue achieving production, profit, and stewardship goals. The workbook guides the user through a decision-making process for developing site-specific actions from a menu of adaptation responses, which range from small changes of current practices to large changes that will impact the entire farm. From incremental adjustments of existing practices to major alterations that transform the entire farm operation. The menu of adaptation responses helps the user make decisions that address both short and long range time frames. Four examples are provided to demonstrate how the adaptation process is used.

Technical Abstract: Changes in climate and extreme weather have already occurred and are increasing challenges for agriculture nationally and globally, and many of these impacts will continue into the future. This technical bulletin contains information and resources designed to help agricultural producers, service providers, and educators in the Midwest and Northeast regions of the U.S. integrate climate change considerations and action-oriented decisions into existing farm and conservation plans. An Adaptation Workbook provides producers a flexible structured process to identify and assess climate change impacts, challenges, opportunities, and farm-level adaptation tactics and continuously evaluate adaptation actions for improving responses to extreme and uncertain conditions. A synthesis of Adaptation Strategies and Approaches serves as a “menu” of potential responses organized to provide a clear rationale for making decisions by connecting planned actions to broad adaptation concepts. Responses address both short and long-range time frames and extend from incremental adjustments of existing practices to major alterations that transform the entire farm operation. Example adaptation tactics—prescriptive actions for agricultural production systems common in the region—for each approach guide producers, service providers, and educators to develop appropriate adaptive actions for their farms and location. Four Adaptation Examples demonstrate how the adaptation process is used.