Cultivating Weather Adaptable Agriculture Through Peer-to-Peer Learning Among Farmer Networks

Commodities

Practices

• Education and Training: decision support system, farmer to farmer, mentoring, networking

This project will foster peer-to-peer learning among farmers in Illinois, focusing on the role of weather-adapted farming practices and weather-informed decision making in creating a more sustainable agricultural system. In American Farmland Trust’s (AFT) experience engaging farmers, not all farmers have been able to participate. Through this project, farmers who have not been reached with traditional outreach efforts will participate in educational resources and strengthen networks to advance the establishment of weather-adapted agriculture practices.

AFT will collaborate with three farmers (Farmer Advisors) to develop weather-adapted agriculture trainings, which will be offered using AFT’s learning circle model in a series of three in-person workshops. Learning circles are an innovative peer-to-peer learning model which provides opportunities for farmers to learn from peers and subject experts on weather-adapted agriculture in a non-hierarchical setting that recognizes the expertise and knowledge of the collective group, rather than a few individual speakers. Workshops will take place across Northern Illinois, highlighting a variety of vegetable, specialty crop, and small grain operations.

This project’s objectives are to 1) engage 400 farmers via peer-to-peer learning to build weather-adaptability in agriculture, 2) host three learning circles that will build strong networks among farmers, and 3) provide training and resources to empower farmers to implement weather-adapted practices and share their knowledge within their own farmer networks.