Agriculture in a Changing Climate

Encompassing a range of agro-ecological systems and diverse geographic and climatic contexts, the Northwest region provides a unique opportunity to test a collaborative approach to assessing and prioritizing climate change mitigation and adaptation opportunities. At a 2016 workshop titled “Agriculture in a Changing Climate”, university faculty and students, crop and livestock producers, and individuals representing state, tribal and federal government agencies, industry, nonprofit organizations, and conservation districts worked together to define research and extension priorities for the future. Insights and priorities related to climate change mitigation and adaptation in the Northwest were defined at the workshop. In this white paper, we synthesize those priorities, coupling recommendations from participants with a review of current literature. The focus is on identifying research and extension actions that can be taken over the next five years. We review current scientific understanding of climate impacts and mitigation, vulnerabilities, and opportunities to adapt, and enumerate research and extension priorities in four areas: (1) cropping systems, (2) livestock systems, (3) decision support systems to help producers and others incorporate climate change considerations into longer-term decisions; and (4) partnerships and communication between researchers and stakeholders. Priorities articulated in this white paper highlight the need for ongoing investment and strategic collaboration and knowledge sharing to develop actionable science. Actionable science will be more effective if integrated with regional extension efforts, facilitating utilization of scientific knowledge by the agricultural industry as the climate changes.