Summary: Climate change in the eastern Corn Belt Region (ECBR) is projected to bring higher temperatures, more variable and extreme levels of precipitation, and longer growing seasons. While these possibilities imply opportunity for increased production in the ECBR, managing change sustainably will be increasingly challenging. This project aims to elevate the capacity of decision makers in the ECBR to adapt to a variable climate. Our approach is to identify how changing seasonal and extreme precipitation patterns induce changes in land use and management patterns driven by heterogeneous farmer adaptations. To assess multiple goals related to agricultural production, conservation, and societal well-being, we will build an integrated set of models of the climate system, regional economy, and agroecological outcomes and use this to evaluate policies and programs by projecting their impacts on the sustainability and resilience of this regional agroecosystem under varying futures.
Additional information about the project can be found on the Agroecosystem Resilience Project website and in the Farmer Adaptation to Changes in Extreme Weather: Survey Report. A brief overview can also be viewed below.
Funded by NIFA Award No. 2018-68002-27932
Publications
Walpole, H., M. Doidge and R.S. Wilson. In review. Identifying who engages in sustainable adaptation in large-scale commodity agriculture. Weather, Climate and Society.