Approach
Along with diversification of crop varieties and livestock breeds themselves, it may also be useful to diversify systems to include new combinations of varieties or breeds. For example, a pasture system that includes a combination of both currently common and potentially future-adapted varieties and breeds can reduce the risk associated with one variety or breed performing poorly and provide time to gain experience with using new, future-adapted varieties and breeds. At the same time, there is risk in anticipating which combinations may be future-adapted, as climate variability can have a greater impact on production than the long-term trend.
Tactics
- Plant multi-species cover crop mixtures including species currently adapted to warmer or drier climates.
- Integrate livestock into cropping enterprises to utilize aftermath grazing on crop residues and cover crop grazing.
- Integrate livestock into cropping enterprises to access additional forage, reduce feed costs, eliminate manure concentration areas, or improve overall farm efficiency.
- Alter mix of grazing species.
- Diversify and expand farm production to include a greater number of annual crops, perennial fruits or nuts, timber or other forest products, livestock, or other commodities (may or may not include agroforestry approaches).
- Use excess heat from methane digestion to provide heat for other enterprises associated with the livestock operation such as greenhouse plants or aquaculture production (‘25 by ’25)
Strategy
Strategy Text
As climate change impacts and risks increase, there will be a greater need to move from short-term, reactive adjustments toward more intentional, planned adaptation responses that are likely to create significant shifts in management. While adaptation actions vary widely in intent, timing, and scale, this strategy emphasizes a clear shift toward more substantial changes that ultimately transform the activities for a particular farm or producer.
Janowiak, M., D. Dostie, M. Wilson M. Kucera, R. H. Skinner, J. Hatfield, D. Hollinger, and C. Swanston. 2016. Adaptation Resources for Agriculture: Responding to Climate Variability and Change in the Midwest and Northeast. Technical Bulletin 1944. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Chief Economist, Climate Change Program Office. 69 p.