Farmers Adapt to Climate Change Amid Year of Extreme Weather Events

Farmers have had to navigate a series of tornados, flash floods, wildfire smoke, and extreme weather events this past year.

Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Michelle Proscia, agriculture educator at Sullivan County’s Cornell Cooperative Extension, about how they’re navigating and adapting to climate change.

The abbreviated responses below are part of the full interview and have been lightly edited for clarity and length. You can listen to the full interview at the top of this article.

READ: As Wildfire Smoke Engulfs Region, Farmers Stay in the Fields During Summer Peak Season

Can you walk through what farmers have seen these past few months?

Michelle: It’s always something with farming, right? This past season, we’ve seen rain, drought, frost, smoke, wind events, you know, you name it.

One thing I can see is regardless of whatever event happening weather-wise, these farmers we have in our county – whether beginning, new, established – they’re very, very resilient.

It’s almost an unfortunate challenge they’ve had to overcome: more planning, preparation, and awareness. We’re seeing a lot with climate change. The summers are hotter, wetter, even drier, all of the big gambit across the board.

With those challenges, these farmers are figuring out how to overcome them, extending their season by growing under cover or in a high tunnel or a greenhouse, adding more water supply areas, or using more equipment to protect from frost.

One thing I want to highlight is there’s some research that’s being done by the Hudson Valley Research Lab in Highland. They’re starting to look at what smoke does to vegetables and livestock and how these farmers can overcome that challenge. Knowing that information, seeing what they can do, and figuring out how to fix that is kind of the Cornell motto, right?

Are you hearing anecdotally from farmers the impact of these extreme weather events in terms of how they’re impacting specifically crops or livestock?

Michelle: Absolutely. Heat or cold from any of these events will affect livestock, fruit, and vegetables.

Farmers are combating these seasonal extremes with produce and animals who are not used to that. It might be planning your crop cycles differently. It might be figuring out that ‘we’re only gonna raise animals during the not extreme parts of the season.’ A lot of management decisions have to occur during those times.

Can you talk a bit about the unique challenges facing small or beginning farmers when it comes to navigating climate change?

Michelle: I always say that beginning farmers – or farmers in general – have limited use capital, meaning they are limited on time, money, often space.

They’re overcoming those with those preparations or differentiating their growing styles to adapt to the climate that we’re having. It’s just flexibility these days. You can’t fight Mother Nature, you can only work with her, right?

What other trends or patterns are you seeing from farmers adapting to climate change?

Michelle: I’m seeing a lot of farmers working together more for common goals. If there are weather events that hurt a certain farmer’s crop, other farmers in different areas may be able to help pick up what was lost during those events. They’re working together, realizing to not have all their eggs in one basket.

You can find additional resources on the Sullivan County Cornell Cooperative Extension website.

Image: Flooding in Livingston Manor (Photo Credit: Oscar Clevenger)