Farmers in the Northeast have always managed weather-related risk, but many are finding that weather conditions have become less predictable and more difficult to work around than they once were. While average temperatures continue to increase and growing seasons are gradually lengthening, many of the most significant day-to-day challenges on farms are related to changing precipitation patterns, increased weather variability, and a growing likelihood of both excessive rainfall and drought. 

Many discussions of climate change focus on rainfall totals, temperatures, or annual climate statistics. Farmers, however, experience weather through its effects on management decisions and field conditions. What matters most is often not how much rain fell during a month or season, but whether soils are fit for the field operation that needs to occur today. 

What does climate change mean for water management on New York farms? This webinar from American Farmland Trust highlights current and projected climate risks such as drought, flooding, and precipitation extremes and their impact on farm productivity, natural resources, and farmer and farmworker well-being. Experts, including Dr. Kitty O'Neil of Harvest New York, share what small farms can expect in the coming decades and why water conservation is a critical part of agricultural resilience.

Designed for Extension professionals, educators, emergency managers, and others working to build climate resilience in their communities, this webinar features Dr. Kitty O'Neil, an agricultural climate resiliency specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension, discussing key vulnerability areas in grazing livestock farms.