Report on the Impact of Dry Weather on Agricultural Sustainability in Chittenden County

Executive Summary

Farms throughout Chittenden County are reporting significant operational challenges due to prevailing dry weather conditions. These impacts, which exist even without an official drought declaration, are creating difficulties in seasonal planning and threatening crop and livestock viability. This situation directly intersects with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning food security, water management, climate action, and terrestrial ecosystems.

Impact on Food Security and Livestock Management (SDG 2: Zero Hunger)

The dry conditions pose a direct threat to local food production, undermining the principles of SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), which aims to ensure sustainable food production systems. Livestock farms are particularly vulnerable, as the lack of rain jeopardizes hay production, a critical resource for sustaining animals through the winter.

• Pasture Degradation: Samantha Sanders, a farm production assistant at Bread & Butter Farm, noted a potential negative impact on the quantity and quality of hay harvested from their 600 acres of pasture.
• Winter Feed Scarcity: A reduction in hay yield threatens the ability of farms to feed livestock, potentially affecting the local supply of meat and dairy products.

Challenges in Water Management and Sustainable Production (SDG 6 & SDG 12)

The drought highlights critical challenges in water resource management and sustainable agricultural practices, aligning with the objectives of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). While some farms possess irrigation, the dry weather creates logistical burdens for all.

• Irrigation Strain: Farms with irrigation, such as Bread & Butter Farm, still face difficulties in coordinating watering schedules, consuming valuable time and resources.
• Soil Volatility: Rayna Joyce, the farm’s vegetable production manager, explained that their clay soil presents a unique challenge, as it can become overly saturated or excessively dry very quickly, complicating water management.
• Planning Disruptions: The unpredictable conditions make it difficult for farmers to plan crop cycles and resource allocation, hindering progress toward sustainable production patterns.

Expert Analysis and Climate Adaptation Strategies (SDG 13 & SDG 15)

The UVM Extension’s Crop and Soil Program is actively working with farmers to mitigate the effects of extreme weather, a core component of SDG 13 (Climate Action). The current situation underscores the need for resilient agricultural systems capable of adapting to climate variability.

1. Observed Crop Stress: Dr. Heather Darby of the program confirmed that field and vegetable crops are already showing visible signs of stress from the lack of precipitation.
2. Projections: The forecast for continued dry weather is expected to exacerbate these impacts on regional agriculture.
3. Recommendation for Resilience: In line with SDG 15 (Life on Land), which focuses on protecting terrestrial ecosystems, Dr. Darby advises that farmers without irrigation should prioritize maintaining soil health. Healthy soil is fundamental to retaining moisture, ensuring nutrient cycling, and safeguarding the long-term viability of agricultural fields against drought and other climate shocks.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

The article discusses issues related to drought affecting farms, which connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary SDGs addressed are:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The core issue is the threat to agricultural production, including crops and livestock feed, which directly impacts food security and the livelihoods of farmers.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The article highlights the problem of water scarcity due to “dry weather” and a “stretch of no precipitation,” which affects the ability to water crops.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: Drought is described as a form of “extreme weather,” a climate-related hazard that requires farmers to adapt and build resilience.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The article mentions the impact on “600 acres of pastures” and the importance of maintaining “soil health,” which are key components of sustainable land management.

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

Based on the issues discussed, the following specific targets can be identified:

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Target 2.4: “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.”
  • Explanation: The article directly addresses this target by describing how a drought (extreme weather) is impacting food production (“stress in field crops and vegetable crops,” “impact the amount and quality of hay”). It also highlights the need for resilient practices, such as irrigation and maintaining soil health, to adapt to these conditions.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Target 6.4: “By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.”
  • Explanation: The article’s focus on the “dry weather,” “no precipitation,” and the logistical challenges of “coordinating how everything is going to get watered” points directly to water scarcity impacting the agricultural sector. The mention of farms with and without irrigation systems relates to water-use infrastructure and efficiency.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Target 13.1: “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.”
  • Explanation: The drought is presented as a climate-related hazard. The article shows the need for adaptive capacity, as the dry weather “has made it difficult to plan out the end of their growing season.” The role of UVM Extension’s program in working with farmers “to limit the effects of extreme weather” is a clear example of efforts to strengthen resilience.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• Target 15.3: “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.”
  • Explanation: The article mentions the “potential impact on the pastures” and the advice from Dr. Darby for farmers to “maintain soil health for the well-being of their fields” during a dry season. This directly relates to preventing land degradation caused by drought.

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

The article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

Indicators for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

• Amount and quality of hay: Samantha Sanders explicitly states the drought could “potentially impact the amount and quality of hay.” This is a direct indicator of agricultural productivity for livestock feed.
• Stress in field crops and vegetable crops: Dr. Heather Darby notes that “we are really starting to see stress in field crops and vegetable crops.” This serves as a qualitative indicator of crop health and potential yield loss.

Indicators for SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)

• Periods of no precipitation: The phrase “stretch of no precipitation” is an indicator of water stress and scarcity in the region.
• Prevalence of irrigation systems: The article distinguishes between farms that “have irrigation systems” and those that “do not,” indicating the level of water management infrastructure and capacity to cope with drought.

Indicators for SDG 13 (Climate Action)

• Existence of institutional support for adaptation: The mention of “UVM Extension’s Crop and Soil Program” that “works with farmers to limit the effects of extreme weather” is an indicator of strategies in place to strengthen resilience.

Indicators for SDG 15 (Life on Land)

• Condition of pastures: The concern about the “potential impact on the pastures” is an indicator of the health and degradation of agricultural land.
• Soil health: The explicit recommendation to “maintain soil health” is a key indicator for combating land degradation. The description of the soil as “clay soil” that can get “very very dry” also points to soil condition as a measurable factor.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: mynbc5.com