ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN — Michigan farmers are feeling the effects of climate change, from unpredictable weather to increased pests and more. The Michigan Climate Smart Farms (MCSF) Program, a new pilot initiative, aims to support and verify farmers’ efforts to address climate change and adopt more resilient practices, helping them effectively communicate their actions in response to shifting conditions.
Climate Change Impacts Michigan Farmers
The Great Lakes help shield Michiganders from some of the more extreme effects of climate change, but farmers still feel the impact.
Impacts include:
- Changing Weather Patterns: More extreme temperature fluctuations, more intense rainfall, and periods of drought all make farming less reliable than it was in the past.
- Pest and Disease Pressure: Warmer temperatures and periods of very wet weather lead to an uptick in pests, diseases, and fungal issues. This can lead to increased costs and loss of crops.
- Water Availability: Altered precipitation patterns can lead to drought and flooding, impacting crop irrigation needs and water supply.
- Soil Health: Erratic weather can lead to soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and changes in soil moisture levels, which can negatively affect crop production.
- Mental Health and Community Impact: The stress of navigating these challenges can take a toll on farmers’ mental health, impacting their communities as well.
What is Climate Smart Farming
With marketing support from Taste the Local Difference, the MCSF Program is working to determine what climate smart farming means in Michigan. Their approach considers three key areas:
- Mitigation: Farms, especially large industrial farms, are a driver of climate change. They’re working to identify the most impactful practices to reduce emissions and increase carbon sequestration in Michigan’s farm soils.
- Adaptation and Resilience: Some impacts of climate change are irreversible, and Michigan’s farmers need to adapt to this changing world and this program aims to support farmers with these adaptations.
- Production: The longevity of farms and access to food rely on the success of Michigan’s farms in terms of profitability and efficiency so they can keep growing food for Michigan’s diverse communities.
Michigan Climate Smart Farms Program
This novel program empowers and certifies farms to adopt climate-smart practices that enhance soil health, sequester carbon, reduce emissions, and adapt to the challenges of climate change.
A talented and committed group of organizations have come together to build this program from scratch. If you’re interested in following along, or getting involved as a farmer, visit the Michigan Climate Smart Farms Program website or reach out to Megan Phillips-Goldenberg at [email protected].