Module 4: Adaptation Planning
Steps for Making Informed Climate Adaptation Decisions:
Farmers can use a five-step process to develop a farm-specific plan to adapt to climate change, based on their farm goals:
Step 1: Define Farm Adaptation:
Any good plan starts with a clear goal! In step one, consider your farm goals and objectives for production profitability and stewardship. In this season, what will you prioritize? What is important to you and your land? What does the future look like on your farm?
Step 2: Identify On-Farm Climate Impacts and Specific:
Protecting your farm starts with understanding the climate risks it faces. In the first part of step two, you will consider what climate impacts you are most experiencing or at risk for. Often, climate impacts are interconnected or cascading, so it is normal to list multiple risks. Because every farm has different priorities and assets, climate change affects each operation in unique ways. In the second part of step two, you will map climate impacts and valued farm assets onto the matrix to better understand where and what adaptation strategies are most needed.
Step 3: Identify and Evaluate Adaptation Practices:
There is no one-size-fits-all for adaptation strategies: what works for large grain farms in the Midwest is likely not applicable to dairy farms in the northeast. Now that you’ve identified risks and priorities through outlining goals and impacts, you can find the adaptation strategies that suit your on-farm needs. Additionally, in this step, you will evaluate the practicality and feasibility of solutions.