Water Resilience

Throughout the western United States, shifting climatic patterns and events affect farmers and ranchers of all sizes, scales, and practices. The rapid acceleration of climate change imposes new constraints and demands on small and mid-scale producers in the western states. Additionally, small and mid-scale producers, particularly women and others from historically underserved groups, require tailored, targeted interventions and support to successfully respond, adapt, and succeed in the face of a changing climate. These challenges are not constrained by state boundaries and solutions are often constrained by a lack of coordination and communication between universities, agencies and farming communities facing similar challenges.  

Through on-farm learning events and informational support delivered to technical professionals, this three-year project will build a regionally specific set of stories and case studies and support a network for producers of all sizes and scales. The project objectives, or what we hope to accomplish, are listed below:

  1. Work smarter by working together
    Focused on integrating research, education, and outreach conducted around water resilience/climate smart farming practices in California, Oregon, and Washington 
  2. Support a network of educators
    Build the capacity of 150+ agricultural professionals from CA, OR, and WA to support growers in transitioning to water resilient strategies through participation in regional training and a newly formed online community of practice.  
  3. Share the information via Demonstration Farms
    Highlight regionally appropriate examples of water resilient strategies and provide opportunity for learning for farmers and other community members through participation in 12 hands-on demonstration projects in CA, OR, and WA.
  4. Share the information via on-farm learning circles
    Increase knowledge, access to resources, and confidence related to climate change and water-resilience building practices for beginning, small scale, and women producers. 
  5. Share the information with a broader audience
    Engage a broader audience through storytelling, case studies, and producer highlights.