Location: Soil, Water & Air Resources Research
Project Number: 5030-21600-001-013-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2023
End Date: Jun 30, 2027
Objective:
The proposed work will directly support Objective 1 of the Midwest Climate Hub work plan: “Enable climate-smart decision-making by developing science-based, region-specific information, tools and technologies for agricultural and natural resource managers, and provide assistance where possible to enhance adoption and implementation of the same.” The overarching goal of this proposed project is to support and network agricultural advisors and farmers in the Midwest and Northeast, including those traditionally underserved by outreach programs (women and BIPOC (Black, indigenous, and people of color) agricultural stakeholders), to better integrate climate change information into existing programs and management strategies, initiate new climate-focused programs, engage in adaptation and mitigation planning, and develop a community of peers who can support one another after the program has concluded.
Objectives:
(1)Improve applied knowledge about climate change impacts in vegetable and small fruit, row crop, and agroforestry systems, with programming specifically tailored for women and underserved producers and service providers.
(2)Train and advise participant (“Fellows”) to develop individualized adaptation and mitigation plans.
(3)Develop outreach and education products that reach agricultural advisors and farmers beyond this proposed project.
(4)Support agricultural advisors to integrate climate change information into current programs and/or develop new programs focused on climate change.
(5)Develop recommendations for future climate-focused programs targeting partner agencies and organizations, including Extension.
Approach:
The ARS Midwest Climate Hub will work with project cooperators to revise the NIFA-funded Climate Adaptation Fellowship Curriculum for farmers and crop advisors. One of the two Midwest Climate Adaptation Mitigation Fellowship (CAMF) programs will target women or non-binary and/or BIPOC (Black, indigenous, and people of color) Fellows. The Midwest Climate Hub will hire a fellow to support program recruitment, engagement, outreach, and climate-related education. The fellow will also assist with establishing outreach and education events among Midwest partners that work on agriculture and climate change. CAMF programs will be co-facilitated by project partners, including USDA Climate Hubs (Northeast and Midwest), extension professionals, and Land Grant University Experiment Station faculty/staff.
