Northwest U.S. agriculture in a changing climate: collaboratively defined research and extension priorities

Authors: YORGEY, GEORGINE - Washington State University; HALL, SONIA - Washington State University; ALLEN, ELIZABETH - Washington State University; WHITEFIELD, ELIZABETH - Washington State University; EMBERTSON, NICHOLE - Whatcom Conservation District; JONES, VINCENT - Washington State University; SAARI, BROOKE - Washington State University; RAJAGOPALAN, KIRTI - Washington State University; ROESCH-MCNALLY, GABRIELLE - Forest Service (FS); VAN HORNE, BEATRICE - Forest Service (FS); ABATZOGLOU, JOHN - University Of Idaho; Collins, Harold; HOUSTON, LAURIE - Oregon State University; EWING, TIMOTHY - Washington State University; KRUGER, CHAD - Washington State University

Submitted to: Frontiers in Environmental Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/4/2017
Publication Date: 8/31/2017
Citation: Yorgey, G., Hall, S., Allen, E., Whitefield, E., Embertson, N., Jones, V.P., Saari, B., Rajagopalan, K., Roesch-Mcnally, G., Van Horne, B., Abatzoglou, J., Collins, H.P., Houston, L., Ewing, T., Kruger, C. 2017. Northwest U.S. agriculture in a changing climate: collaboratively defined research and extension priorities. Frontiers in Environmental Science. 5. Article 52. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2017.00052.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2017.00052

Interpretive Summary: In the U.S. Northwest, a collaborative process is being used to engage individuals spanning the research-practice continuum. This approach was showcased in a 2016 workshop titled “Agriculture in a Changing Climate”. Participants included university faculty and students, crop and livestock producers, and individuals representing state, tribal and federal government agencies, industry, nonprofit organizations, and conservation districts. Because it encompasses a range of agro-ecological systems and diverse geographic and climatic contexts, the Northwest region provides a unique opportunity to test a collaborative approach to assessing and prioritizing climate change mitigation and adaptation opportunities. Additionally, the region has a strong history of research and science communication that integrates diverse stakeholders. This history provides a foundation upon which the prioritization effort presented here can build. At the workshop, insights and priorities related to climate change mitigation and adaptation in the Northwest were defined. Here we synthesize those priorities, coupling recommendations from participants with a review of current literature. This article reviews current scientific understanding of climate impacts and mitigation, vulnerabilities, and opportunities to adapt, and enumerates research and extension priorities in four areas: (1) cropping systems, (2) livestock systems, (3) decision support systems to help producers and others incorporate climate change considerations into longer-term decisions; and (4) partnerships and communication between researchers and stakeholders. Priorities defined at the Agriculture in a Changing Climate workshop highlight the need for ongoing investment and strategic collaboration and knowledge sharing to develop actionable science that can support improved decision making by the agricultural industry and others as the climate changes.

Technical Abstract: In order for agricultural systems to successfully mitigate and adapt to climate change there is a need to coordinate and prioritize next steps for research and extension. This includes focusing on “win-win” management practices that simultaneously provide short-term benefits to farmers and improve the sustainability and resiliency of agricultural systems. In the U.S. Northwest, a collaborative process is being used to engage individuals spanning the research-practice continuum. This approach was showcased in a 2016 workshop titled “Agriculture in a Changing Climate”. Participants included university faculty and students, crop and livestock producers, and individuals representing state, tribal and federal government agencies, industry, nonprofit organizations, and conservation districts. Because it encompasses a range of agro-ecological systems and diverse geographic and climatic contexts, the Northwest region provides a unique opportunity to test a collaborative approach to assessing and prioritizing climate change mitigation and adaptation opportunities. Additionally, the region has a strong history of research and science communication that integrates diverse stakeholders. This history provides a foundation upon which the prioritization effort presented here can build. At the workshop, insights and priorities related to climate change mitigation and adaptation in the Northwest were defined. Here we synthesize those priorities, coupling recommendations from participants with a review of current literature. The focus is on identifying research and extension actions that can be taken over the next five years. Specifically, this article reviews current scientific understanding of climate impacts and mitigation, vulnerabilities, and opportunities to adapt, and enumerates research and extension priorities in four areas: (1) cropping systems, (2) livestock systems, (3) decision support systems to help producers and others incorporate climate change considerations into longer-term decisions; and (4) partnerships and communication between researchers and stakeholders. Priorities defined at the Agriculture in a Changing Climate workshop highlight the need for ongoing investment and strategic collaboration and knowledge sharing to develop actionable science that can support improved decision making by the agricultural industry and others as the climate changes.