Diversification and agroforestry offer critical climate change adaptation and mitigation services on farms.

Many farmers and advisors are currently interested in learning more about how to achieve diversification, and integrate agroforestry practices into their current farm plans. This Climate Adaptation and Mitigation cohort seeks to create a community of producers and advisors with a focus on diversification and agroforestry who will learn about climate change adaptation and mitigation together. 

You are eligible for this program if our farm is highly diversified, you are practicing agroforestry on your farm, or you advise farmers with highly diversified farms, or who practice agroforestry, and you are located in the Northeast region (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Delaware, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia).

Program Goals

  • Provide geographically specific climate change information relevant to diversified agriculture and agroforestry in the Northeastern United States

  • Empower diversified agriculture and agroforestry practitioners and advisors to become climate leaders in their communities through peer-to-peer learning

  • Create opportunities for farmers to create farm-specific climate adaptation and mitigation plans with support

  • Strengthen agricultural advisor knowledge and abilities in climate adaptation and mitigation planning

  • Support development of outreach and education products that reach farmers and agricultural advisors beyond the program.

What do Fellows in this program do?

  • Work in farmer/service provider pairs throughout fellowship 

  • Receive online climate change training and resources from subject matter experts

  • Build a community of other diversified agriculture and agroforestry practitioners and advisors who are concerned about and ready to address climate change. 

  • Learn how to create a farm-specific climate adaptation and mitigation plans 

  • Gain experience and confidence talking about climate change

 

Timeline

  • Fall 2023 | Recruitment of Fellows

  • January - February 2024 | Participation in Online Workshop

    • Approximately 16 hours total of participation

    • Wednesday nights from 6:30 - 8:30 PM Eastern on the following dates: January 17, 24, and 31, February 7, 14, 21, and 28, and March 6. 

    • All sessions will be recorded, and participants will have access to the recordings if they cannot attend the live session.

  • Spring 2024 - Fall 2025 | Ongoing Engagement and Development of Farm Climate Adaptation and/or Mitigation Plan

    • Fellows complete required activities (risk assessment, adaptation plan, economic analysis, outreach)

    • Fellows complete optional activities (on farm demonstrations, trials, installations)

    • Education team check-ins with fellows

    • Fellows submit final reports

  • January 2026 | Final Workshop

    • Sharing farm plan

    • Program evaluation

Have a question?

For more information about this program, contact Sara Kelemen at sara.kelemen@usda.gov