Michigan Launches Program to Tackle Long-Term Climate Challenges in Plant Agriculture

By Andi Anderson

Michigan confronts the growing impact of climate change on agriculture with the launch of the Agricultural Climate Resiliency Program. As 2023 marked the warmest year globally, the state recognizes the need to address both short-term and long-term climate-related issues affecting its agricultural industries.

Challenges and Solutions:

• Global Climate Trends: 2023 recorded the warmest year globally, contributing to increased frequency and severity of weather events.
• Environmental Threats: Growers face challenges ranging from flooding and drought to emerging pests and diseases.
• Funding Emphasis: While addressing urgent needs, most funding has focused on short-term solutions.

The Collaborative Initiative:

• Partnership: A new collaboration involves the plant coalition, MDARD, and Michigan State University (MSU) to help Michigan's plant agriculture adapt and mitigate climate change effects.
• Program Inception: The Agricultural Climate Resiliency Program, operational through MSU AgBioResearch and MSU Extension, secured $1 million in recurring funds from the MDARD budget. An additional $5 million will fund a competitive grants program.

Insights from Leaders:

• Dr. Tim Boring, MDARD Director: Emphasizes climate resiliency as a top priority and credits Gov. Whitmer's commitment to agriculture for key investments in climate and water science.
• Jim Zook, Executive Director of Marketing, Michigan Corn Marketing Program: Traces the initiative's roots back to 2016, highlighting the need for longer-term research benefiting Michigan agriculture as a whole.
• George Smith, Director of AgBioResearch at MSU: Describes the program as a commitment to making Michigan part of the solution to climate change mitigation and adaptation, focusing on sustainable approaches like regenerative agriculture.

Program Objectives:

• Multidisciplinary Research: MSU will hire new faculty positions and Extension educators to conduct research in critical areas of climate and water science.
• Focus Areas: Research will cover groundwater use, water quality, economic impact of climate change on farms, lifecycle analysis of agricultural systems, and modeling the impact of climate change on pest emergence.

Quentin Tyler, Director of MSU Extension, emphasizes the importance of grounding the work in the field and ensuring applicability to farms across the state. The program aims to involve growers in defining goals that meet their needs.

Call for Proposals:
Projects under the program are open for proposals until March 1, with evaluation by a panel of experts from MSU, MDARD, and the plant coalition. This collaborative effort seeks to provide practical strategies and sustainable solutions for the long-term success of Michigan's agriculture.

As Michigan positions itself at the forefront of climate and water research, the Agricultural Climate Resiliency Program signifies a significant step towards bolstering the state's agricultural systems against new challenges.

Photo Credit: michigan-state-univsersity-msu