Say what you will about Millennials, but we're a resilient bunch. In the face of #climatechange, young #farmers are digging deep (and planting trees) to adapt to the new normal. Everyone take notes! In Vermont, "100 year floods" seem to come every 10 years now -- sometimes, even more frequently than that. Much of the state's affordable farmland sits in the flood plain, and young farmers who frequently work this "cheap" land are sitting ducks. How do you mitigate a risk like this? So far, young farmers in Vermont have... ✅ Produced a diverse output of crops and livestock which means if one is lost, another may survive ✅ Replanted their fields in narrow strips, alternating crops, so that taller plants can offer some protection to smaller plants ✅ Added yards of topsoil and raised beds to protect plants from rising waters ✅ Experimented with planting vegetables near banks of clover and rye so the deep roots will hold the soil in place and keep it from washing away ✅ Planted hundreds of trees along river buffer zones And, perhaps most importantly, ✅ Formed close ties between other young farmers to more easily share strategies and equipment and help each other harvest early if heavy weather is on the horizon. It sounds like these farmers are heading in a #regenerative direction. What else can be done? Although resilient, young farmers still need help and are asking for ➡ On farm technical advisors to provide further support and ➡ Mental health services. Will this next Farm Bill deliver? * #SustainableAgriculture https://lnkd.in/gjdAP5WG
Philippa Lockwood’s Post
More Relevant Posts
-
Stuck on the ground, well intentioned Vermont organic farmers should switch to Tree crops to ensure longevity, prosperity and "Treestainability" https://lnkd.in/e8ZfUkvg (reposted from Post Modern Agriculture) How the Shock of Catastrophic Floods Is Changing Farming in Vermont
How the Shock of Catastrophic Floods Is Changing Farming in Vermont
https://www.nytimes.com
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
Christmas tree farms, like those in North Carolina, are facing challenges as extreme weather, such as Tropical Storm Helene, devastates crops, roads, and equipment. Farmers like Dee Clark, a third-generation grower, are struggling to rebuild and adapt after significant losses, threatening holiday traditions and their livelihoods. These storms are reminders of how climate change is reshaping even the most cherished seasons. #ClimateChange #ChristmasTrees #Resilience
NC’s Christmas tree industry — the second biggest in US — may be impacted by Helene
charlotteobserver.com
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
Climate change continues to impact agriculture in new and unexpected ways. It’s more and more critical that we look to crops that meet climate change where it’s happening and can help rehabilitate damaged soil. #10billionby2050 https://lnkd.in/gSgKwfyK
North Carolina farms face depleted, toxic soil after historic Helene flooding
theguardian.com
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
Florida's farmers are tough. They face a lot, and hurricanes are no exception. Florida is the Sunshine State and hurricanes are big deals there. These storms can be devastating, causing billions of dollars in losses and wrecking crops and farm infrastructure. They swirl in, shake things up, and then take off leaving a lot to fix. But what if I said these storms could also help farmers get even better at what they do? Scientists have been checking out how hurricanes and farms get along and here’s what they found: Farmers are learning new tricks from each storm. They're becoming more prepared and smarter. For example: farmers are planting a variety of crops instead of relying on just one or two. This reduces the risk of losing everything if a hurricane wipes out a particular crop. Another strategy they are using is windbreaks, like rows of trees, to shield crops from strong winds. They're also teaming up with tech experts to figure out faster ways to fix things when the storm is over. While hurricanes are tough to predict, wouldn’t it help farm owners like you to predict day-to-day weather accurately for your farms? Check out our website today to learn more!
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
In 2024, fires in Brazil rose by 80% compared to 2023, spreading from the Amazon to São Paulo. Human-caused fires, worsened by drought and... #wildfires #wildfire #forestprotection #sustainableforests #ragingfires #amplicam #firedetection
Out-of-Control Wildfires Have Brazil Gasping For Air
https://www.fairobserver.com
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
Intense fires in many regions. Restoring the small water cycle is key via better land management including holistic grazing.
Our Great Plains are on fire, and it’s still winter. Regenerative agriculture applied to grasslands reverses desertification. Let’s work together to implement it before it’s too late. Our hearts go out to all impacted. Visit commongroundfilm.org to learn more about how we can restore the carbon and small water cycle, rangelands, and more. #climatechange #drought #naturebasedsolutions #regenerativeagriculture #regeneration https://lnkd.in/ghjFiKVQ
How Texas’s Smokehouse Creek Wildfire Just Grew into the Largest in State History
scientificamerican.com
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
🚜 The Impact of Recent Storms on Florida’s Farmland Hurricanes Helene and Milton have caused catastrophic damage to Florida’s agricultural sector, with initial estimates showing $1.5 to $2 billion in losses—far exceeding the impact of previous storms like Hurricanes Idalia and Debby. Florida’s farmland is facing unprecedented challenges, and without swift action, key agricultural operations across the state are at risk. The Commissioner of Agriculture has requested federal disaster aid to help farmers recover and rebuild in the wake of this devastation. At Old Drake, we’re closely following these developments and remain dedicated to supporting the future of farmland and agriculture in Florida. #FarmlandRecovery #FloridaAgriculture #FarmResilience
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
Rain, Rain, and more Rain... For weeks, the skies over many Kenyan villages have continued to weep endlessly. Now, murmurs speak of overflowing #rivers, breached dams, and entire villages threatened by raging #floodwaters. The very #rain that should have brought hope now threatens to become the destroyer. Fields lie submerged, a watery graveyard for what was meant to be this season's harvest. Crops that should be bursting with life now droop limply underwater, dreams of a bountiful #harvest dissolving with every drop. Lives have been tragically lost, families displaced, homes washed away, schools flooded, bridges and roads crumbled, and livestock lost – the very foundations of life swept away in the relentless torrent. Yet, the memory of the drought that choked the Horn of Africa for so long is still fresh, a cruel reminder etched into the land's vulnerability. The human cost of these extremes is heartbreaking. This brutal dance between #drought and deluge is a stark reminder of nature's power and a sobering truth: this cycle will repeat. But what if there was a way to soften the blow, a Voice of Warning, whispering tips to survive the consistent #weather shifts? Before the crippling drought that left farmers' farms bare and robbed pastoralists of their livestock, this Voice could have guided communities. It could have advised on #waterconservation, helped plan #alternativegrazing for #pastrolistcommunities, and even identified #droughtresistant crops. With reliable warning, we would have faced the #floods without fear but with preparation. By understanding the coming downpour, we could have built stronger defenses, stockpiled food and water, and evacuated vulnerable areas in time, minimizing the heartbreak, loss, and #displacement. The losses, while still significant, could have been lessened. The despair could have been tempered with a sense of preparation, of having done everything possible to face the coming storm. #EarlyWarningSystems (EWS) wouldn't have stopped the drought or the rain, but they could have armed us with knowledge – the most potent weapon against disaster. #EWS are not magic solutions, but when well executed, they can give us the precious gift of time to prepare, adapt, and build #communityresilience. #disasterpreparedness #Kenyafloods #droughtresilience #weatherpreparedness #riskassessment Find this and more climate & sustainability insight in today's Sunday Nation's pullout, #ClimateAction https://lnkd.in/dAcuTTxB
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
Firebreak Creation: Cultivating fields creates a natural barrier, known as a firebreak, which can impede the spread of fires by depriving them of fuel. Reduced Fuel Load: Regular cultivation reduces the accumulation of dry vegetation, decreasing the potential fuel for fires and minimizing the risk of large-scale blaze. Enhanced Accessibility for Firefighters: Cleared fields make it easier for firefighters to access and control fires, allowing them to deploy resources more effectively. Strategic Plowing Patterns: Farmers can employ strategic plowing patterns to create firebreaks in specific areas, optimizing the protection of valuable crops and structures. Preventative Measure: Cultivating as a preventative measure can mitigate the impact of wildfires, safeguarding agricultural assets and surrounding ecosystems. Community Collaboration: Farmers collaborating on field cultivation for fire prevention fosters a sense of community resilience, as collective efforts enhance overall wildfire preparedness. Integrated Land Management: Incorporating fire-prevention cultivation into overall land management practices promotes sustainable agriculture while concurrently reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires. #FirePrevention #FarmSafety #CultivateForSafety #RuralResilience #FieldManagement #ProtectOurLand #SafeFarmingPractices
To view or add a comment, sign in