Agriculture2

Given climate change, our food and the people who grow it face the following impacts:

(Create photos or icons to show primary impacts as gallery images with hover captions.)

Link to full vulnerabilities at the bottom.

Goals are presented in bold with their corresponding action items below it.

Add key headliner items at the top.

Include a link to all of the dials at the bottom.

Goals and Strategies

Increase adoption of ecologically sound and climate smart practices for Missoula County agriculture.

Identify and promote ecologically sound agricultural best practices in a 1-stop shop, considering pests, pathogens, heat, drought, smoke.
Promote regenerative soil building to revitalize soil quality.
Develop and communicate water-use best practices for agricultural producers in real time to inform plant and animal water needs, improve efficiency, and reduce water loss.

Strengthen social connectivity between farmers, ranchers, and community members.

Create a farmer and rancher support network at regional or sub-regional level, considering economic and mental health needs of agricultural community.

Increase economic resilience of Missoula County agriculture given climate change.

Promote diversification of farm income sources (e.g., carbon capture offsets, value added products, and eco-tourism).
Increase access to locally sourced food through aggregation, storage and distribution of agricultural products.
Increase support for locally sourced food through education and outreach, economic incentives, and other programs.

Implementation

Implementation has begun for the strategies in the Agriculture sector.
If you would like to receive more information or would like to apply to join the working group, contact Caroline Lauer.

Climate Resiliency & Agriculture Upcoming Events

Ongoing: Clark Fork Market (Caras Park), Saturdays, May 1 - October; Missoula Farmer's Market (XXXs), Saturdays, May - October

Resources, Articles, Happenings

Downloadable Flyer for Outdoor/Agricultural workers developed as part of Wildfire Smoke Ready Week 2021: Outdoor Workers and Wildfire Smoke
Video: Northern Plains Resource Council 2020 Soil Summit.
Farmers and ranchers, nonprofits, agency officials, and legislators explore how policy and financing tools can promote soil health and the adoption of soil health practices in Montana.
Common Ground: Series on Soil Health & Regenerative Agriculture in Montana via the Montana Free Press
- Part 1

Working Group Members

Bonnie Buckingham, Community Food and Agriculture Coalition
Bryce Christiaens, Missoula County Weed District
Abby Huseth, Climate Smart Missoula
Nick Silverman, Adaptive Hydrology LLC
Jamie Ryan Lockman, Montana Organic Association
Jenny Zaso, Community Food & Agriculture Coalition
Dave Prather, Western Montana Growers' Cooperative

Do you prefer to think about strategies in terms of which climate impacts they respond to?

You can sort all agricultural strategies by related climate impact below, as well as whether they have a mitigation benefit or strengthen resiliency in a different sector as well as agriculture.

loading gallery

full list of vulnerabilities addressed

Agriculture