A program for Midwest producers and advisors working with row crops.

The Midwest region is an important agricultural region in the United States, generating $55 billion in crop sales in 2019. However, extreme weather events including drought and flooding are negatively impacting agricultural production. This Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Fellowship cohort seeks to create a community of row crop producers and advisors who will learn about climate change adaptation and mitigation together. States in the Midwest region include Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois. This program is for farmers growing corn, soy, and other grains, and for those advising farmers in this region.


Program Goals

  • Provide geographically specific climate change information relevant to diversified agriculture and agroforestry in the Northeastern United States

  • Empower row crop farmers and advisors to become climate leaders in their communities through peer-to-peer learning

  • Create opportunities for farmers to create farm-specific climate adaptation and mitigation plans with support

  • Strengthen agricultural advisor knowledge and abilities in climate adaptation and mitigation planning

  • Support development of outreach and education products that reach farmers and agricultural advisors beyond the program


What do Fellows in this program do?

  • Work in farmer/service provider pairs throughout fellowship 

  • Receive online climate change training and resources from subject matter experts

  • Build a community of other row crop farmers and advisors who are concerned about and ready to address climate change. 

  • Learn how to create a farm-specific climate adaptation and mitigation plans 

  • Gain experience and confidence talking about climate change

 

Timeline

  • Fall 2023 | Recruitment of Fellows

  • January - February 2024 | Participation in Online Workshop

    • Approximately 16 hours total of participation

    • Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:30-9:30 AM Central/8:30-10:30 AM Eastern on the following dates: February 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29. 

    • All sessions will be recorded, and participants will have access to the recordings if they cannot attend the live session.

  • Spring 2024 - Fall 2025 | Ongoing Engagement and Development of Farm Climate Adaptation and/or Mitigation Plan

    • Fellows complete required activities (risk assessment, adaptation plan, economic analysis, outreach)

    • Fellows complete optional activities (on farm demonstrations, trials, installations)

    • Education team check-ins with fellows

    • Fellows submit final reports

  • January 2026 | Final Workshop

    • Sharing farm plan

    • Program evaluation


Who is involved?


Have a question?

For more information about this program, contact Sara Kelemen at sara.kelemen@usda.gov