Protecting Local Markets (Research)

Understanding factors influencing perceptions of climate change helps to advance productive dialogues

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Problem

How can climate change mitigation become a priority for U.S. agriculture producers?

Over the past four decades, agriculture has increasingly been affected by weather disruptions linked to a changing climate.

Findings

Social scientists examined farmers' perceptions of resource availability and climate change over four years using surveys and conducting personal interviews with apple and wine-grape producers in California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington. They found that changing precipitation patterns, reliance on local markets, and regional location were all factors that impacted the farmers' perceptions.

Impact

The study can be a platform for change and advance dialogues on climate change, especially in local markets where producers and consumers have stronger environmental concerns.

The study helps to understand the underlying socioeconomic factors and market structures that lead to a divergence in perceptions of climate change and resource problems.
Acknowledging that human behavior, climate change, and increasingly extreme weather are interconnected is key to climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.

Related Research Area: Advanced Agricultural and Food Systems

Research Credit

Team

Leland Glenna, Yetkin Borlu

Participating Departments

Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education

Partner

Social and Economic Sciences Research Center, Washington State University

Competitive Funding

USDA NIFA (Specialty Crop Research Initiative)

Federal and State Appropriations

USDA NIFA Hatch Multistate Project PEN04612, Accession #1010877

Emerging Discoveries

Researchers examine climate change perception among specialty-crop producers

May 26, 2020

Farmers whose operations have been impacted negatively by changing precipitation patterns — either too much or not enough water — are more likely to acknowledge the link between extreme weather conditions and climate change. That is one of the findings of a study examining farmers’ perceptions of resource availability and climate change, published recently in Organization and the Environment.