The effects of changing weather and climate present new challenges for farmers, foresters, and ranchers. Regardless of its causes, the impacts of climate change will need to be addressed in order for agriculture and forestry to continue meeting the world’s growing demand for food, feed, fiber, shelter, and fuel. Because of this, the 25x’25 Alliance has formed its Adaptation Work Group composed of agriculture, forestry, business, academic, and conservation leaders. Together, this group is exploring the impacts of a changing climate on the agriculture and forestry sectors and developing recommendations on ways for producers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to adapt.
Adaptation Recommendations Report
Released in April 2013, the 25x’25 Adaptation Work Group’s “Agriculture and Forestry in a Changing Climate: Adaptation Recommendations” presents a variety of pathways for building and strengthening resilience to climate change in our nation’s agriculture and forestry system in the areas of research, production systems and practices, risk management, decision tools, and outreach. Rather than being offered as a definitive set of adaptation recommendations, the report is intended as the beginning of a national dialogue on the steps needed to prepare for an uncertain future.
We want to hear from you! Our Recommendations Report is a living document, to be revised and expanded upon as new information from a wide range of sources is brought to light. As such, we not only welcome, we encourage your feedback on the types of adaptation measures needed to enable our nation’s producers to succeed in the context of a changing climate. To provide feedback on this report, as well as the changes that you are seeing on your land and how you or others are adapting, click here.
Climate Change Impacts Report
“Agriculture and Forestry in a Changing Climate: The Road Ahead” is a summary of the anticipated impacts of climate change on the agriculture and forestry sectors. Released by the 25x’25 Adaptation Work Group in January 2012 after a thorough examination of peer-reviewed sources, the report identifies and discusses trends in temperature, precipitation, and other variables and how these could potentially effect farmers, foresters, and ranchers. This report served as the foundation for the Work Group’s adaptation recommendations.
Additional Project Materials
April 2nd, 2013 – Press Conference Presentation Slides
Adaptation Initiative Project Synopsis
List of Adaptation Project Leaders
Additional Resources
United States Department of Agriculture, “Climate Change and Agriculture in the United States: Effects and Adaptation,” February 2013.
United States Department of Agriculture, “Effects of Climate Variability and Change on Forest Ecosystems: A Comprehensive Science Synthesis for the U.S. Forest Sector,” December 2012.
United States Climate Change Science Program, “The effect of climate change on agriculture, land resources, water resources, and biodiversity in the United States: Program synthesis and assessment product 4.3,” May 2008.
United States Global Change Research Program, “Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States,” 2009.
For More Information
For more information on the 25x’25 Adaptation Initiative, email info@25×25.org or call 410-252-7079.