Transcript:
Most years, Wisconsin farmer Josh Bryceson sells about 2,000 pounds of garlic. But increasingly extreme weather is making his harvest less reliable.
Bryceson: “What we’ve seen with excessive amounts of rain is we’ll have more pests and disease in that crop, and in the last two years, I’ve only been able to make 400 pounds.”
In addition to running the farm, Bryceson works as the director of grower support programs at the Good Acre, a nonprofit in the Twin Cities. He consults with many farmers in the region who – like him – are struggling with the impacts of climate change.
Bryceson: “It’s very common to hear rain eroding ground to the point where it can’t be planted anymore.”
He says there are some ways to prepare and adapt. For example, planting cover crops on fallow fields can reduce erosion, and covered structures called high tunnels can help protect crops from harsh conditions.
And he says it’s important not to rely on just one crop. On his farm, in addition to growing garlic and other vegetables, he raises a small herd of dairy cattle and sells milk and cheese.
So he says having multiple income streams softens the blow if a crop fails, and can help keep the farm going in increasingly challenging times.
Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media / Thanks to the Midwest Climate Resilience Conference for logistical support.
