Wisconsin farmers are adapting to climate change impacts on their farms – WUWM

Report on Climate Change Impacts and Agricultural Adaptation in Wisconsin in Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction and Executive Summary

This report details the significant impacts of climate change on Wisconsin’s agricultural sector, drawing from recent studies and firsthand accounts from local farmers. It analyzes the growing recognition of climate-related challenges among the farming community and examines the adaptive strategies being implemented. These findings are framed within the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). The report highlights how sustainable farming practices are crucial for climate resilience, food security, and environmental protection.

2.0 Climate Change Impacts and Farmer Perceptions in Wisconsin

2.1 Documented Climate Impacts

According to the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI), the state’s agricultural landscape is undergoing a significant transformation due to a variety of climate-related phenomena. These impacts directly threaten agricultural productivity and the long-term viability of farming operations, challenging the achievement of SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).

• Extreme and more frequent, intense rainfall events.
• Wetter spring and fall seasons, complicating planting and harvesting schedules.
• Warmer winters and hotter summers.
• Increased frequency and severity of droughts.

2.2 Farmer Awareness and Concern

A 2025 survey conducted by the University of Wisconsin–Madison Soil Health & Agroecological Living Lab (SHALL) indicates a significant level of concern among the state’s farmers, a key step toward fulfilling SDG 13 (Climate Action).

1. 56% of the 900 farmers surveyed believe climate change is happening.
2. 26% believe it is not happening.
3. 18% remain unsure.

Farmers’ direct experience with altered weather patterns, such as intense rainfall leading to soil erosion and crop damage, informs this perspective. Fourth-generation farmer Les Danielson noted that rainfall events exceeding four inches cause an “exponential amount of damage,” a direct threat to soil health and terrestrial ecosystems as outlined in SDG 15 (Life on Land).

3.0 Agricultural Adaptation and Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

3.1 Implementation of Sustainable Farming Practices

In response to observed climate impacts, Wisconsin farmers are increasingly adopting sustainable agricultural techniques. These practices serve as critical adaptation measures that build resilience while actively contributing to multiple SDGs.

• Cover Cropping: The practice of planting crops to cover the soil rather than for harvest. This method is instrumental in managing soil erosion, improving soil fertility and quality, and enhancing water management.
• No-Till Farming: A technique for growing crops without disturbing the soil through tillage. This practice preserves soil structure, retains moisture, and reduces carbon emissions from the soil.

3.2 Alignment of Practices with SDGs

The adoption of cover cropping and no-till farming directly supports the following Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 13 (Climate Action): These practices enhance the climate resilience of farms and contribute to mitigation by improving soil carbon sequestration.
• SDG 15 (Life on Land): By preventing soil erosion and improving soil health, these methods combat land degradation and protect terrestrial ecosystems.
• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Healthier, more resilient soils lead to more stable and sustainable food production, enhancing food security.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): These techniques represent a shift towards more sustainable patterns of agricultural production.

4.0 Challenges, Opportunities, and Recommendations

4.1 Mixed Impacts and Future Outlook

While extreme weather events present significant challenges, some consequences of a warming climate, such as a longer growing season, offer potential opportunities for increased yields. However, the overall impact remains a net negative, with events like excessive rainfall severely reducing harvests, as experienced by farmer Michael Slattery with his snap bean crop.

4.2 Call for Policy and Resource Support

There is a clear demand from the farming community for greater support to transition towards more sustainable and climate-resilient operations. Key recommendations include:

1. Increased political acknowledgment of climate change and its agricultural impacts.
2. Allocation of greater resources for farmer education and technical assistance on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Financial incentives to encourage the widespread adoption of practices like cover cropping and no-till farming.

Fulfilling these needs is essential for empowering farmers to become central agents in achieving the interconnected goals of climate action, food security, and sustainable land management.

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 focuses on agriculture, which is central to food security. It discusses the production of crops like corn, soybeans, alfalfa, wheat, and snap beans, as well as dairy farming. The impacts of climate change, such as extreme rain events, directly affect crop yields and food production, as exemplified by the farmer who lost a significant portion of his snap bean harvest due to excessive rain.

2. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • This is the primary theme of the article. It explicitly discusses the impacts of climate change on Wisconsin’s agriculture, including “extreme rain, wetter springs and falls, warmer winters and hotter summers, and droughts.” It also covers farmers’ awareness of the issue, with a survey showing 56% believe climate change is happening, and their calls for resources to learn how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

3. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • The article addresses the health of terrestrial ecosystems, specifically agricultural land. It highlights the problem of soil erosion caused by intense rainfall events, which degrades the land. The adoption of sustainable farming practices like cover cropping and no-till farming is discussed as a method to manage erosion and improve soil fertility and quality, directly relating to the protection and restoration of land.

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

1. Target 2.4 (under SDG 2)

   • “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.”
   • The article directly relates to this target by describing how farmers are implementing resilient agricultural practices. For instance, Les Danielson and Michael Slattery use “cover cropping” and “no-till” farming specifically to adapt to climate change impacts like intense rain and to “manage erosion, soil fertility and quality.” These practices are aimed at making their food production systems more sustainable and resilient to climate-related disasters.

2. Target 13.1 (under SDG 13)

   • “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.”
   • The article provides clear examples of farmers strengthening their adaptive capacity. Faced with “more frequent, more intense rain events” and “localized flooding,” farmers are not passive victims but are actively changing their methods. The adoption of cover cropping and no-till farming are direct measures to build resilience against these climate-related hazards affecting their farms.

3. Target 13.3 (under SDG 13)

   • “Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.”
   • This target is reflected in two ways. First, the University of Wisconsin–Madison survey serves as an awareness-raising tool, gauging and reporting on farmers’ beliefs about climate change. Second, the article highlights a demand for increased capacity, quoting a farmer who “wants more resources for farmers like himself to learn how to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions,” which is a direct call for improved education and human capacity on climate change mitigation.

4. Target 15.3 (under SDG 15)

   • “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.”
   • The article’s discussion on soil erosion connects directly to this target. Farmer Les Danielson notes that heavy rain events cause “a lot more erosion” and an “exponential amount of damage” to fields. The practices of cover cropping and no-till farming are presented as solutions to combat this land degradation and preserve soil quality, contributing to the goal of restoring degraded land.

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

1. Indicator for Awareness and Concern (related to Target 13.3)

   • The article provides a specific, quantifiable indicator of awareness from the University of Wisconsin–Madison survey. The finding that “56% of the sample said that they believe climate change is happening” serves as a direct measurement of the level of awareness and concern among the farming community in Wisconsin. This can be used as a baseline to track changes in perception over time.

2. Indicator for Adoption of Sustainable Practices (related to Targets 2.4, 13.1, 15.3)

   • The article implies an indicator through its description of farmers adopting new techniques. Progress can be measured by tracking the proportion of agricultural land or the number/percentage of farmers implementing sustainable and resilient practices such as “cover cropping” and “no-till” farming. The article profiles two farmers who have adopted these methods, suggesting that tracking their adoption rate across the state would be a relevant indicator.

3. Indicator for Climate-Related Damage (related to Targets 2.4, 13.1)

   • The article implies indicators related to the impact of extreme weather. One farmer states that due to heavy rain, he “only got about maybe one fifth of what I usually get in my harvest.” This suggests that crop yield losses due to extreme weather events can be a key indicator. Similarly, the mention of “localized flooding” and “a lot more erosion” points to measuring the frequency and extent of climate-related damages to agricultural land as an indicator of vulnerability and the need for adaptation.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wuwm.com