COPING STRATEGIES

This section explores various strategies for dealing with climate change impacts through cultural, economic, policy and institutional structures. These strategies also highlight the cross-sectoral inter-dependencies which link the diverse communities of the Grea t Plains.

Many of these strategies are even now being adopted as ways of coping wi th the already difficult climate of the Great Plains. Yet numerous cultural, economic, policy and social factors inhibit a more rapid and widespread adoption of these more sustai nable practices. These strategies favor improvement and maintenance of soil, water, biotic and la nd resources and can be classified as "no regrets" options. A combination of the strategies are needed if we are to ensure the viability of the Great Plains.

A vital component to any mitigation strategy is planning. Development o f mitigation plans at the local level would facilitate better coping with climate change. Ph ysically, emotionally, and psychologically, people cope better with a disaster or a change if preparedness and/or a response plan is in place. The first priority is to let p lanning decisions be made at a local level. Although a federal agency should lead and coordinate planning efforts, the substance of plans should originate from within the community itsel f. Plans should allow for maximum flexibility in dealing with climate variability.

In order to meet increasing water demands, application of and experiment ing with new storage techniques may offset some of the climate change impacts on the water av ailability. Various techniques can increase the storage and availability of water for many r egions of the Great Plains: Groundwater storage reservoirs, snowpack storage in mountain fore sts achieved through specific forest management practices, snow capture and storage in alpine basins, crop management practices that enhance soil moisture retention through crop stubble, wind breaks, mulches, and snow management strategies on the Plains. The use of such techniq ues could increase the quantity of stored water to provide resilience in a time of changin g climate. Increased irrigation demand may lead to wide-spread adoption of scientific appro aches, such as irrigation scheduling, adjustment of yield target to match available water, and/ or the change of cropping system or land use in the event that irrigation costs exceed the worth of increased production effected by irrigation.

In the agricultural sector, various strategies have evolved to deal with drought and the conservation of soil resources (Table 4). Practices such as reduced tillage can reduce the loss of carbon and water from croplands. The use of cover crops and changes in resid ue management can suppress soil loss through wind and water erosion, improve soil c arbon storage, and increase soil moisture availability. Many of these coping strategi es not only provide direct benefits to the farmer or rancher, but also are beneficial to the environment (Table 4).

Precision agricultural practices that integrate specialized crop varieti es, fertilizer inputs and irrigation schedules into a new style of crop management may provide a techn ological approach to cope with climate change. The engineering of new crop varieties ada pted to regional climate changes is already a well-developed industry today and its impo rtance will grow in the future.

Management of crop and livestock diversity can be an effective tool to s tabilize agricultural income, reduce pest and weed infestations, and improve soil fertili ty at the same time. Crop rotation can be very effective in reducing the incidence of crop dis eases and pests, by limiting the length of time a crop is planted on a specific parcel of land. Use of legumes in a crop mixture is also an effective way of supplying additional nitrogen to the soil system reducing the need to apply nitrogen fertilizer.

Expanded use of CRP lands for moderate grazing, or haying of a pasture m ix, would benefit financial stability as well as maintain soil carbon sequestration and so il moisture levels. These lands might also be used as bio-fuel areas, providing a renewable fuel sou rce. Such areas are also beneficial for improved wildlife habitats.

Greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural systems are determined partia lly by the amount and timing of applications of nutrients and by the form and technique of application. Livestock emissions are influenced by diet, management of waste, and the degree of integration between crop and livestock systems. Sustainable agricultural practi ces incorporating the use of crop rotation and green manure can reduce the need for nitrogen based fertilizers that can easily return to the atmosphere or leach into the groundwat er. Cropping practices such as the return of crop residue can be valuable in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and returning carbon to the soil as organic matter. Continued re search into cropping management and sustainable agricultural practices will improve these ty pes of management techniques.

Table 4.