Integrating Historic Agronomic and Policy Lessons with New Technologies to Drive Farmer Decisions for Farm and Climate: The Case of Inland Pacific Northwestern U.S.

Abstract

Climate-friendly best management practices for mitigating and adapting to climate change (cfBMPs) include changes in crop rotation, soil management and resource use. Determined largely by precipitation gradients, specific agroecological systems in the inland Pacific Northwestern U.S. (iPNW) feature different practices across the region. Historically, these farming systems have been economically productive, but at the cost of high soil erosion rates and organic matter depletion, making them win-lose situations. Agronomic, sociological, political and economic drivers all influence cropping system innovations. Integrated, holistic conservation systems also need to be identified to address climate change by integrating cfBMPs that provide win-win benefits for farmer and environment. We conclude that systems featuring short-term improvements in farm economics, market diversification, resource efficiency and soil health will be most readily adopted by farmers, thereby simultaneously addressing longer term challenges including climate change. Specific "win-win scenarios" are designed for different iPNW production zones delineated by water availability. The cfBMPs include reduced tillage and residue management, organic carbon (C) recycling, precision nitrogen (N) management and crop rotation diversification and intensification. Current plant breeding technologies have provided new cultivars of canola and pea that can diversify system agronomics Pan et al.Win-Win Scenarios for Farm and Climate and markets. These agronomic improvements require associated shifts in prescriptive, precision N and weed management. The integrated cfBMP systems we describe have the potential for reducing system-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by increasing soil C storage, N use efficiency (NUE) and by production of biofuels. Novel systems, even if they are economically competitive, can come with increased financial risk to producers, necessitating government support (e.g., subsidized crop insurance) to promote adoption. Other conservation-and climate change-targeted farm policies can also improve adoption. Ultimately, farmers must meet their economic and legacy goals to assure longer-term adoption of mature cfBMP for iPNW production systems.

U.S. Inland Pacific Northwest Wheat Farmers’ Perceived Risks: Motivating Intentions to Adapt to Climate Change?

“…Risks are accelerating due to climate change [68] and adaptation will be required of farmers in the iPNW region [4]; however, policy intervention may also be required if substantive actions are to be incentivized in order to reduce climate risks [3,17] and build capacity to conduct more climate change resilience planning [4]. It is possible that crop insurance can be harnessed in such a way to better incentivize purposeful and direct actions taken to respond to climate change.…”

“…It is possible that crop insurance can be harnessed in such a way to better incentivize purposeful and direct actions taken to respond to climate change. Tying crop insurance with conservation compliance efforts that incentivize climate friendly BMPs [3], such as no-till farming, reductions in crop residue removal, addition of manure/biosolids and the use of green manures and cover crops, may be a productive avenue for further exploration.…”

“…Dryland cereal production in the inland Pacific Northwest (iPNW) takes place in the semiarid portion of Central Washington and the Columbia Plateau in Northeast Oregon and Northern Idaho [1]. This region produces around 17% of the national wheat harvest [2], which is primarily produced for a bulk commodity export market with over 90% of grains sold to Asia [3]. Wheat is the predominant cropping system in the iPNW but many producers in the region also grow small grains, peas, and canola [4].…”

“…The dominant cropping system in the region has been driven, in part, by economic incentives, including commodity subsidies, farm programs, and global markets, which have incentivized intensive monoculture production in the region. The region has been productive but cultivation has also led to soil degradation and erosion due to intensive tillage and fallow practices [3].…”

Confronting Climate Change Challenges to Dryland Cereal Production: A Call for Collaborative, Transdisciplinary Research, and Producer Engagement

“…In the REACCH project, for example, experimentation and modeling have examined viability of winter canola, winter legumes, and triticale as rotational crops in the lower rainfall regions of the iPNW (Maaz T. M. et al, 2017;Pan et al, 2017;Stöckle et al, 2017). Water conserving technologies examined have included use of alternative wheat harvesting equipment (e.g., stripper headers) that maximize post-harvest residue height, thereby trapping additional winter moisture, have also been included in this modeling analysis.…”