Managing Risk and Climate Variation Among Georgia Organic Farmers

• Type of Material: Report
• Authors: Carrie Furman, University of Georgia; Carla Roncoli, Emory University; Todd Crane, Wageningen University; Joel Paz, University of Georgia; Gerrit Hoogenboom, University of Georgia
• Language: English
• Date: 2009
• Publisher: Southeast Climate Consortium
• Copyright Statement: UN Sustainable Development Goals
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/managing-risk-and-climate-variation-among-georgia-organic-farmers
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Southeast Consortium Technical Report series
• Keywords: organic farming; agricultural decision making; southeast USA; climate forecasts; climate variability; risk management
• Research Categories: Economics, Agricultural; Environmental Sciences

Abstract

Research documenting the impacts of seasonal climate variability on crop performance has generated considerable optimism about the potential of climate forecasts for improving farmers’ capacity to manage risk and optimize gains. Through an analysis of the social and cultural contexts of information management and decision making strategies, previous research conducted by the Southeast Climate Consortium (SECC) among conventional producers in the southeastern USA has explored the potentials and constraints for the application of seasonal climate forecasts in agriculture. This report complements this previous research by focusing on organic farmers in Georgia where the market potential for organic products, especially around urban centers, far exceeds the cropland designated for its production. The research approach combines quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative data were collected through an online survey completed by 40 respondents. Semi-structured interviews with 31 participants yielded qualitative data. Research questions focused on participants’ agricultural management systems, how they perceive climate change, and their knowledge, use, perceptions, and attitudes toward weather and climate predictions. Organic farmers, due to the small-scale diversified nature of their farms, differ from conventional producers in the southeastern USA in important ways that have implications for how they may access, understand, use, and assess climate information. Organic farmers tend to be relatively young and new to farming, and therefore, less able than conventional producers to rely on accumulated experience and knowledge from prior generations of farmers and family members. Our findings show that weather and climate factors are among the most important drivers that shape their agricultural decisions. Organic farmers use multiple strategies to manage climate risk. Production strategies for risk management include crop diversification, staggered planting, hoop or green houses, and irrigation technologies. This study recommends how research and extension programs may better reach and serve this clientele, for example, through providing tools that predict and monitor weather and climate extremes, such as freezes, droughts, and hurricanes, as well as tools with information on climate related threats such as pests and diseases. It is imperative that climate information is presented and packaged into decision support systems in a way that reflects an understanding of the social practices of information processing and risk management that are embraced by organic farmers.