Approach
As climate conditions change, it may become necessary to switch to new plants, animals, or systems in order to maintain a viable farm under new conditions. This is not a new idea, and agricultural producers have a long history of changing practices in response to changing markets, technologies, and environmental conditions. The degree of anticipated climate change, however, may require greater investment and experimentation of new plants, animals, and other commodities and at a much larger scale, and farms may need to change to different systems altogether. For agricultural producers to successfully shift to new commodities and systems, it will also be important that accompanying advances in technologies (e.g., alternative crops/livestock, decision-support tools, etc.) and markets be made as well.
Tactics
- Use new cultivars and new species that seem to match a changing climate.
- Shift to more water-efficient crops or cropping systems.
- Preserve genetic resources by relocating at-risk varieties to locations that are expected to provide future habitat or reserving seed for future use.
- Shift crops to types that can be grown in a controlled environment using hoop and high tunnel houses or greenhouses.
- Switch to alternative livestock breeds, class, or species, especially those with a higher heat, drought, and parasite tolerance.
- Preserve genetic resources by relocating at-risk breeds to locations that are expected to provide future habitat or reserving seed for future use.
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.