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Farmer Adoption of Climate-Smart Practices Is Driven by Farm Characteristics, Information Sources, and Practice Benefits and Challenges

Author

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  • Devon Johnson

    (California Climate Hub, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Davis, CA 95616, USA)

  • Maya Almaraz

    (Sustainable Food Systems, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA)

  • Jessica Rudnick

    (California Sea Grant, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA)

  • Lauren E. Parker

    (California Climate Hub, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Davis, CA 95616, USA)

  • Steven M. Ostoja

    (California Climate Hub, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Davis, CA 95616, USA)

  • Sat Darshan S. Khalsa

    (Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA)

Abstract

Agriculture plays an important role in mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Yet, advances in climate-smart agriculture require a better understanding of farmer adoption. This exploratory paper uncovered differences that distinguish High, Moderate, and Low adopters of climate-smart practices. Our study utilized 952 in-person surveys of California farmers with a focus on mitigation and adaptation practices, along with farm characteristics, information sources, and practice benefits and challenges. Specifically, farmers with larger parcels were more likely to be High adopters, and farmers with access to only one water source were more likely to be Low adopters. There was no significant difference found between Moderate and High adopters’ use of any information sources. The ranking of different information sources changed between groups. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the rate of Moderate and High adopters’ consideration of practice benefits. All groups identified practice uncertainty as the greatest challenge, with a significant difference between Moderate and High adopters. Our results demonstrate where differences occur between farmer adopter groups and by extension provide insights into where to target outreach efforts to promote the adoption of climate-smart practices in California agriculture.

Suggested Citation

  • Devon Johnson & Maya Almaraz & Jessica Rudnick & Lauren E. Parker & Steven M. Ostoja & Sat Darshan S. Khalsa, 2023. "Farmer Adoption of Climate-Smart Practices Is Driven by Farm Characteristics, Information Sources, and Practice Benefits and Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-12, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:10:p:8083-:d:1148103
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Meredith Niles & Margaret Brown & Robyn Dynes, 2016. "Farmer’s intended and actual adoption of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 135(2), pages 277-295, March.
    2. Wood, Liza & Lubell, Mark & Rudnick, Jessica & Khalsa, Sat Darshan S. & Sears, Molly & Brown, Patrick H., 2022. "Mandatory information-based policy tools facilitate California farmers’ learning about nitrogen management," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    3. Jessica Rudnick & Mark Lubell & Sat Darshan S. Khalsa & Stephanie Tatge & Liza Wood & Molly Sears & Patrick H. Brown, 2021. "A farm systems approach to the adoption of sustainable nitrogen management practices in California," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(3), pages 783-801, September.
    4. Ajay S. Singh & Francis Eanes & Linda S. Prokopy, 2020. "Climate change uncertainty among American farmers: an examination of multi-dimensional uncertainty and attitudes towards agricultural adaptation to climate change," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 1047-1064, October.
    5. Beetstra, Margaret A. & Wilson, Robyn S. & Doidge, Mary, 2022. "Conservation behavior over time: Examining a Midwestern farmer sample," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
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    7. Meredith T. Niles & Margaret Brown & Robyn Dynes, 2016. "Farmer’s intended and actual adoption of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 135(2), pages 277-295, March.
    8. David Pannell & David Zilberman, 2020. "Understanding Adoption of Innovations and Behavior Change to Improve Agricultural Policy," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(1), pages 3-7, March.
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