Cambria Co. farmers expecting lower crop yields due to drought conditions – WJAC

Report on Agricultural Yields and Sustainable Development in Cambria County

1.0 Executive Summary

Drought conditions in Cambria County have severely impacted agricultural productivity, presenting significant challenges to local food systems and economic stability. This report analyzes the case of Weakland Farms in Portage, examining the direct consequences of reduced crop yields through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2.0 Case Study: Weakland Farms

Weakland Farms, a 2,200-acre corn and soybean operation, is experiencing a critical reduction in output due to adverse weather conditions. The situation highlights the vulnerability of conventional farming to climate-related shocks.

• Crop Yield Reduction: Corn yields have fallen from an average of 160-170 bushels per acre to approximately 90 bushels per acre, a decrease of nearly 50%.
• Economic Pressure: The financial impact is compounded by high initial investment costs (estimated at nearly $500,000 before planting) and low commodity market prices.
• Operational Context: The farm operates with high-value equipment, such as a $750,000 combine, yet remains fundamentally dependent on stable weather patterns.

3.0 Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The challenges faced by Weakland Farms directly intersect with several key SDGs, demonstrating the local impact of global sustainability issues.

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The significant drop in crop production directly threatens food security. This case illustrates a disruption in sustainable agricultural production, a primary target of SDG 2, by undermining the stability of the local food supply.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action: The drought is a tangible manifestation of climate change’s impact on local ecosystems and economies. The farm’s struggles underscore the urgent need for climate action to protect vulnerable sectors like agriculture.
3. SDG 1: No Poverty & SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The combination of reduced yields and low market prices places extreme financial strain on farming operations, jeopardizing the livelihoods of farmers and threatening the economic viability of the agricultural sector. This undermines efforts to ensure decent work and sustained economic growth.
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: This event highlights the fragility of current production patterns. It calls for a transition toward more resilient and sustainable agricultural practices that can better withstand climate shocks and ensure long-term productivity.

4.0 Mitigation and Economic Diversification

In response to agricultural volatility, Weakland Farms has implemented a diversification strategy that aligns with principles of economic resilience, contributing to SDG 8.

• Agri-tourism Initiative: For over two decades, the farm has engaged in agri-tainment, creating an alternative revenue stream.
• Activities Offered: These include a pumpkin patch, hayrides, and a corn maze.
• Economic Impact: This diversification helps buffer the farm against losses in crop production and contributes to the local tourism economy, promoting sustainable economic growth.

5.0 Conclusion

The experience of Weakland Farms serves as a critical case study on the intersection of climate change, food security, and economic sustainability. The severe impact of drought on crop yields highlights the profound challenges to achieving Sustainable Development Goals 2, 8, and 13 at the local level. The farm’s diversification into agri-tourism demonstrates a proactive strategy for building economic resilience, but the underlying vulnerability of primary agricultural production to climate impacts remains a significant concern that necessitates broader action on sustainable agriculture and climate resilience.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article’s central theme is the significant reduction in crop yields due to drought. This directly impacts food production and availability, which is the core focus of SDG 2. The financial strain on farmers also affects their ability to continue producing food, threatening local food security.
2. SDG 1: No Poverty
   • The article highlights the severe economic vulnerability of farmers. With high upfront costs (“almost half a million dollars”), halved crop yields, and lower market prices, farmers face a substantial loss of income. This economic shock can push farming families towards or deeper into poverty.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • Farming is presented as a form of work and a livelihood that is under threat. The article discusses the economic viability of the farm, and the farmer’s diversification into “agri-tainment” is a strategy to achieve economic growth and sustain their business in the face of agricultural volatility.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The root cause of the farmers’ problems is identified as “drought conditions.” Drought is a climate-related natural hazard. The article serves as a case study on the direct impacts of extreme weather events on local economies and livelihoods, underscoring the need for climate adaptation and resilience.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 2 (Zero Hunger):
   • Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers. The article illustrates a direct challenge to this target, as the farmer’s productivity (crop yield) has been cut in half, from “160 or 170 bushels of the acre, on average” to “90, maybe, now,” which negatively impacts income.
   • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production… and strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought… The situation described, where a drought halves crop yields, demonstrates a lack of resilience in the current agricultural system.
2. Under SDG 1 (No Poverty):
   • Target 1.5: By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters. The article shows farmers in a vulnerable situation, directly exposed to a climate-related event (drought) and suffering the resulting economic shock.
3. Under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
   • Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification… The farm’s engagement in “agri-tainment, or agri-tourism” for the past 22 years is a clear example of diversification to create alternative revenue streams and improve economic resilience.
4. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The severe impact of the drought on the farm’s viability highlights the urgent need to strengthen the adaptive capacity of the agricultural sector to such climate-related hazards.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Directly Mentioned Indicator: The article provides specific data that aligns with Indicator 2.3.1 (Volume of production per labour unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size). It quantifies the drop in agricultural productivity by stating corn yields have fallen from an average of “160 or 170 bushels of the acre” to “90, maybe, now.” This is a direct measure of productivity.
• Implied Indicators: The article implies several other indicators without providing exact data:
  • Economic Loss from Disasters (related to Target 1.5): The text describes a significant economic loss by stating yields are “down to about half” and the “commodities market has the price set lower, too.” This implies a measure of direct economic loss attributed to a climate-related disaster.
  • Economic Diversification (related to Target 8.2): The mention of the farm’s 22-year history in “agri-tourism” implies an indicator related to economic diversification, such as the share of revenue generated from non-agricultural activities.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

4. Table of Findings

Source: wjactv.com