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Technical Assistance Providers Identify Climate Change Adaptation Practices and Barriers to Adoption among California Agricultural Producers

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  • Devon Johnson

    (USDA California Climate Hub, Davis, CA 95616, USA
    Institute of the Environment, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA)

  • Lauren E. Parker

    (USDA California Climate Hub, Davis, CA 95616, USA
    Institute of the Environment, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA)

  • Tapan B. Pathak

    (Cooperative Extension, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Davis, CA 95616, USA
    Sierra Nevada Research Institute, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA)

  • Laura Crothers

    (Independent Researcher, Davis, CA 95616, USA)

  • Steven M. Ostoja

    (USDA California Climate Hub, Davis, CA 95616, USA
    Institute of the Environment, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
    USDA-ARS Sustainable Agricultural Water Systems Research Unit, Davis, CA 95616, USA)

Abstract

Climate change will challenge California agriculture, requiring producers (i.e., farmers and ranchers) to adopt climate-adaptive management practices to sustain production. Agricultural technical assistance providers (TAPs) play a significant role in supporting producers’ efforts to adopt climate-smart management practices. It is therefore important to understand current TAP perceptions of climate change, TAP recommendations for climate adaptation, and the barriers to adopting climate-smart practices. To understand these issues, we held four focus group discussions with small groups of TAPs from across the state and evaluated transcripts from the discussions to identify common themes and concepts. The TAPs that participated in the focus groups understood climate change and its impacts on California agriculture, with climate extremes and water-related issues being the most frequently cited climate-related challenges. Focus group discussions and subsequent evaluation revealed that while TAPs recommend science-backed practices for adapting California agriculture to climate change, producers may not be accepting of some recommendations. Critically, the TAP focus groups cited insufficient monetary support—both for themselves and for producers—and insufficient information and messaging around climate-adaptive practices as key barriers to practice adoption. This improved understanding of the intersection of TAPs’ work on climate change and climate adaptation in California agriculture is useful for the development of information and resources that can bridge these identified barriers.

Suggested Citation

  • Devon Johnson & Lauren E. Parker & Tapan B. Pathak & Laura Crothers & Steven M. Ostoja, 2023. "Technical Assistance Providers Identify Climate Change Adaptation Practices and Barriers to Adoption among California Agricultural Producers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:7:p:5973-:d:1111383
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wilson, Tiffany G. & Kustas, William P. & Alfieri, Joseph G. & Anderson, Martha C. & Gao, Feng & Prueger, John H. & McKee, Lynn G. & Alsina, Maria Mar & Sanchez, Luis A. & Alstad, Karrin P., 2020. "Relationships between soil water content, evapotranspiration, and irrigation measurements in a California drip-irrigated Pinot noir vineyard," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).
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