Climate resilience for organic vegetable growers in the Midwest: Views, needs, and priorities of technical service providers

Authors

Natalie Hoidal, University of Minnesota ExtensionFollow
Greta Gramig, North Dakota State UniversityFollow
James DeDecker, Michigan State University Upper Peninsula Research and Extension CenterFollow
Nicholas Frillman, University of Illinois, Illinois ExtensionFollow
Katie Black, University of Minnesota ExtensionFollow
Sarah Hayward, Michigan State UniversityFollow
Rue Genger, University of Wisconsin-MadisonFollow

Volume

63

Issue

2

DOI

10.34068/joe.63.01.10

Abstract

As organic vegetable production becomes increasingly important in Upper Midwest food systems, Extension programs and partners must rise to the challenge of supporting growers with climate resilience. These growers are uniquely vulnerable to climate impacts, and addressing this challenge requires a networked approach. We report on a needs assessment and social network analysis process with technical service providers across the region to define the challenges, needs, and opportunities for building individual and institutional capacity to address climate change with growers. Results highlighted several focus areas, including improved communication, better access to funding, sound information, and cultural appropriateness.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Hoidal, N., Gramig, G., DeDecker, J., Frillman, N., Black, K., Hayward, S., & Genger, R. (2025). Climate resilience for organic vegetable growers in the Midwest: Views, needs, and priorities of technical service providers. The Journal of Extension, 63(2), Article 10. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.63.01.10