Bridging scientific and experiential knowledges via participatory climate adaptation research: A case study of dry farmers in Oregon

Melissa Parks,Amy Garrett,Gabrielle Roesch-Mcnally

doi:10.5304/jafscd.2021.103.015

Melissa Parks, Amy Garrett + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2021.103.015

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Abstract

In western Oregon’s Willamette Valley, small fruit and vegetable growers have traditionally relied on irrigation to produce their crops. However, they are increasingly experiencing issues with water availability and access due to precipitation pattern changes associated with climate change. In 2016, the Dry Farming Collaborative (DFC) was developed as a participatory model for facilitating research, social networks, and resource-sharing among agricultural stakeholders to test the efficacy of dry farming as an adaptation strategy. Dry farming differs from irrigated cropping systems in that growers do not irrigate their fields and instead utilize a suite of practices to conserve soil moisture from winter rains for summer crop growth. To better understand how to meaningfully engage stakeholders in participatory climate adaptation research, this study explored how the participatory process facilitated the adoption of dry farming as a climate adaptation strategy among participants. Drawing on interviews with 20 DFC participants, including farmers, gardeners, and researchers, results indicate that the integration and use of different knowledge systems within the participatory research process made it easier for participants to integrate dry farming into their operational contexts. Processes designed to encourage interactions and information-sharing between participants and nonhierarchical researcher-grower relationships facilitated the exchange of these knowledge systems among participants, thus providing them with the trusted and salient information they needed to adopt new practices. Results indicate that these features could be useful for enacting future participatory climate research projects that lead to the adoption of effective adaptation strategies.

Highlights

In western Oregon’s Willamette Valley, many small fruit and vegetable producers traditionally have depended upon irrigation to produce their crops during the hot, dry summers
To better understand how to meaningfully engage stakeholders in participatory climate adaptation research, this study explored how the participatory process facilitated the adoption of dry farming as a climate adaptation strategy among participants
In seeking to understand whether and how the Dry Farming Collaborative (DFC)’s participatory process facilitated the experimentation with and adoption of dry farming by participants, this paper explores how its structure supported the exchange of different forms of knowledge in a way that enhanced trust and salience among participants

Summary

Introduction

In western Oregon’s Willamette Valley, many small fruit and vegetable producers traditionally have depended upon irrigation to produce their crops during the hot, dry summers. Due to a changing climate in the region, small farmers are likely to experience more drought conditions, changes to peak flows associated with earlier runoff and reduced snowpack, and more extreme rain events (May et al, 2018). For many producers, this means that access to water during the growing season will be limited, especially for those who have junior water rights or no water rights (Li et al, 2019). Some of the practices that support dry farming include early soil preparation and planting; the selection of drought tolerant, resistant, or early-maturing cultivars; lower planting density; cultivation or surface protection to prevent crusting and cracking of the soil surface; diligent weed control; and improvement of soil health over time with practices such as cover cropping, rotation, and minimizing soil disturbance (Garrett, 2019)

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