Climate change in the context of whole-farming systems: opportunities for improved outreach

R. S. Clements (), S. K. Birthisel, A. Daigneault, E. Gallandt, D. Johnson, T. Wentworth and M. T. Niles
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R. S. Clements: University of Maine
S. K. Birthisel: University of Maine
A. Daigneault: University of Maine
E. Gallandt: University of Maine
D. Johnson: University of Vermont
T. Wentworth: University of Vermont
M. T. Niles: University of Vermont

Climatic Change, 2021, vol. 166, issue 3, No 14, 20 pages

Abstract: Abstract Climate change poses a challenge to farming systems worldwide. However, existing research suggests that farmers and those providing outreach may have different climate change perspectives, and there is little understanding of how farmers prioritize climate change compared with other aspects of their farming system. To compare how farmers and outreach professionals in northern New England consider climate change within the context of whole-farming systems, we conducted mental modeling interviews with 33 farmers and 16 outreach professionals. Despite being primed to consider climate during the interviews, only 24% of farmers and 25% of outreach professionals included climate in their mental models. Key differences arose in both group’s perceptions of weather: outreach professionals focused on connections between good weather and biophysical factors, while farmers drew additional connections to factors like quality of life and overall farm success. Social factors including community well-being, public education, and farm success were significantly more likely to be included (P

Keywords: Climate change; Mental models; Farmers; Outreach professionals; Community; Quality of life (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1007/s10584-021-03101-4

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