The Functioning Of Crop-Producing Farms In The Context Of Climate Change In The Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship

There is a complex feedback relationship between agriculture and climate change. On the one hand, climate change significantly affects the conditiof agricultural production. On the other hand, agriculture imposes a substantial burden on the natural environment. Therefore, it is essential for farmers to undertake actions that make agricultural practices both more environmentally sustainable and more resilient to climate change. The aim of this study was to identify the challenges faced by crop-producing farms and the adaptive measures implemented in response to climate change. The research employed a literature review and a survey method. The survey was conducted in the second quarter of 2024 and included responses from 112 farm owners in the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship who specialize in crop production. The findings indicate that Polish farmers primarily recognize economic challenges arising from the increasingly volatile operating environment. The most frequently cited concerns were rising production costs (82.1%) and unstable sales prices (79.5%). The third most commonly mentioned challenge was environmental – drought (78.6%) – which may be directly related to climate change. Farmers – partly due to increased awareness of climate change and partly in response to legal regulations – have adopted various environmentally friendly practices. These include the use of modern agricultural machinery and equipment (67.9%), precision dosing systems (25.0%), and navigation technologies (19.6%). Furthermore, many farms (59.8%) utilized energy derived from renewable sources.