Conferences
Heat Risk Management for Small, Specialty Crop, and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers in Western Massachusetts
Molly Funk
Summary
CISA offered in-person and remote workshops to educate western Massachusetts farmers about managing risk from extreme heat and warming temperatures. Growers in Massachusetts are increasingly faced with unpredictable weather. We selected heat as a particularly top of mind issue for farmers and invited participants to consider interrelated climate impacts, including how heat risk is compounded by environmental and social trends, such as labor management, precipitation changes, extended drought, and air quality.
We collaborated with UMass Amherst Extension and regional experts to advise farmers on temperature trends, and risks posed to various aspects of production, including soil health, weed management, seed selection, and food safety. The series also addressed risks posed to the health and safety of farmers, farm employees, and market staff. We offered a Spanish language training for employees and are conducting outreach to farmers on how they’ve adapted practices to better protect workers from extreme heat. Resources collected throughout the series will be compiled into a heat risk management toolkit and made available to farmers across the state.
We have reached 158 individuals representing 68 farms across eight events. Most participating farms are small, specialty crop producers, and 32% are socially disadvantaged. Based on evaluations, 81 participants have increased understanding of production strategies to reduce risk, 37 have increased understanding of risk to human health and safety, and 46 have increased understanding of adaptive practices employed by similar operations. 50% of respondents plan to make a change to their production or management practices, to reduce future risk.
Details
| Conference | 2025 Extension Risk Management Education National Conference |
| Presentation Type | Poster |