**6. Adaptation options under climate change**

Prairie producers are highly adaptable to changing conditions. However, such adaptations are sometimes complex and often costly. Under climate change, there may exist some beneficial changes (such as higher level of pulse production, increase in the area under cultivation, and its productivity), but if the rates of these change are faster than producers have experienced, they may pose more difficulties for adaptation. For example, production of new crops may become ergonomically feasible, but whether producers would be able to adapt sufficiently or quickly enough to these new realities is somewhat uncertain. Financial requirements for making such adaptations may be a major constraint.

A synthesis of research on adaptation options for agriculture has identified four main categories [39]: (i) technological developments, (ii) government programs

and insurance, (iii) farm production practices, and (iv) farm financial management. In addition to these 'direct adaptations,' there are options, particularly information provision that may stimulate adaptation initiatives. Most adaptation options are modifications to on-going farm practices and public policy decisionmaking processes with respect to a suite of changing climatic (including variability and extremes) and nonclimatic conditions (political, economic, and social) [39]. Migration by producers has also been seen as an adaptive measure for extreme events. After the prolong droughts of 1930s, many prairie producers in southwest Saskatchewan left for better agricultural regions. Such behavior is consistent with the concepts of vulnerability, exposure to risk, and adaptive capacity, as developed in the climate change research community [40].

Alberta Agriculture [41] suggests that if conditions are drier than usual, producers might (i) expect concerns with lower than usual seed germination and/or plant growth, lack of feed, and shortage of water; (ii) conduct small area tests on new crop types that take advantage of drought tolerance; and (iii) put animals on a rotational grazing program to allow grazing land to rest and recover. The Saskatchewan [42] Strategy for climate change specifically commits to develop and implement an offset system that creates additional value for actions that result in carbon sequestration or reduced emissions, especially from soils and forests.

Other systems, such as mixed systems and industrial or landless livestock systems, could encounter several risk factors mainly due to the variability of grain and pasture availability and cost, and low adaptability of animal genotypes. Regarding livestock systems, optimizing productivity of crops and forage (mainly improving water and soil management) and improving the ability of animals to cope with environmental stress by management and selection could be the best adaptive measures. For an Alberta mixed farm, reported by [43], beef herd adaptation strategy affected farm profits more and costs less. Maintaining the herd size and with regular feeding plan, and purchasing extra fees provided the best adaptation. To guide the evolution of livestock production systems under the increase of temperature and extreme events, better information is needed regarding biophysical and social vulnerability, and this must be integrated with agriculture and livestock components.

Shelterbelts also provide several environmental benefits to the society under climate change. One of the most important ecosystem values from shelterbelts is their capacity to sequester carbon (C) [44]. Six major species of tree and brush used for this purpose were examined in this study. At maturity, these trees can sequester a large amount of carbon. For example, a hybrid poplar can sequester 3–5 t of C per year, whereas a Caragana shrub can store only 1.3–2.7 t of C per year (**Table 5**). However, the amount of C stored in the younger trees would be lower but eventually the amount would reach the levels shown in **Table 5**. In addition, shelterbelts also sequester carbon in the soil and in the understory.

If one uses the 2022 price (as fixed by the Government of Canada) of \$50 per t of C, a hybrid poplar tree is worth \$150–250 to the society. Unfortunately, this value is not internalized in the decision of the landowner since at present they do not receive any compensation for the stored or sequestered carbon. Under these conditions, decision to maintain shelterbelts on farms may be discouraged since they do not enter into their economic decision-making. Policies have to be developed to compensate the producer for the loss of this revenue [45].

Irrigation is one of the best adaptive measures under drought conditions [46]. In addition to stabilize production over the drought period, they increase returns from crop production and help mixed farms maintain livestock activities through forage production [47]. In addition, the level of nonagricultural sectors is also higher due to availability of water and its backward and forward linkages [48].

**129**

Region.

*Resiliency of Prairie Agriculture to Climate Change DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87098*

> **Name of the plant**

**Type of shelterbelt**

*Source: [44].*

**Table 5.**

under more severe climate changes.

*Level of carbon sequestered by shelterbelts by type.*

**7. Knowledge gaps and areas for future research**

There are many potential adaptation options available for marginal change of existing agricultural systems, often variations of existing climate risk management [49], but their implementation is likely to have substantial benefits under moderate climate change for some cropping systems, and there are limits to their effectiveness

Tree Hybrid poplar 3.29 5.18 Tree Scots pine 1.44 3.26 Tree White spruce 2.24 4.13 Tree Green ash 2.02 3.92 Tree Manitoba maple 2.80 5.26 Shrub Caragana 1.31 2.67

**Amount of carbon sequestered in mega grams per year per ha Low value High value**

Estimates of climate change impacts on crop production are wide ranging. Of course, different studies use different assumptions about the nature of key climate variables, along with assumptions of crop type, seeding dates, fertilization, and irrigation. Many other factors, such as insects, diseases, and weeds, would also change because of climate change. Our knowledge of these changes is very weak. Furthermore, much of the Canadian research has concentrated on cereals and to a limited extent on oilseeds (mainly canola). Research on other oilseeds, forages, fruits, and vegetables (including potatoes) has been less extensive. This is a serious

One of the changes associated with climate change is the level of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Under these conditions, a situation of carbon fertilization may occur, which may increase some crop yields (particularly for plants using the C3 carbon-fixation pathway, like wheat or canola). Higher levels of atmospheric CO2 may also improve water-use efficiency. However, the picture is complex, since weeds may also be more vigorous under a carbon-enriched atmosphere. Warmer and longer growing seasons could be positive for crop growth and yield. However, very little research has been done in the context of the Prairie

Livestock production would be affected by availability of forages and direct effect through feed efficiency. Grassland production is limited by moisture supply. Although a drier climate would suggest declining production and grazing capacity, actual changes in grassland production are likely to be modest, given a longer growing season, reduced competition from shrubs and trees, and increases in warm-

Northward shift of climate congenial to agricultural production has been predicted for future. However, for the Prairie Region, the exact nature of this change is not known. Furthermore, to what extent this change would translate into profitable

gap in our knowledge for climate change impacts on crop production.

season grasses that have higher water-use efficiency [50].

agricultural production has yet to be researched.


#### **Table 5.**

*Climate Change and Agriculture*

in the climate change research community [40].

tration or reduced emissions, especially from soils and forests.

also sequester carbon in the soil and in the understory.

compensate the producer for the loss of this revenue [45].

to availability of water and its backward and forward linkages [48].

and insurance, (iii) farm production practices, and (iv) farm financial management. In addition to these 'direct adaptations,' there are options, particularly information provision that may stimulate adaptation initiatives. Most adaptation options are modifications to on-going farm practices and public policy decisionmaking processes with respect to a suite of changing climatic (including variability and extremes) and nonclimatic conditions (political, economic, and social) [39]. Migration by producers has also been seen as an adaptive measure for extreme events. After the prolong droughts of 1930s, many prairie producers in southwest Saskatchewan left for better agricultural regions. Such behavior is consistent with the concepts of vulnerability, exposure to risk, and adaptive capacity, as developed

Alberta Agriculture [41] suggests that if conditions are drier than usual, producers might (i) expect concerns with lower than usual seed germination and/or plant growth, lack of feed, and shortage of water; (ii) conduct small area tests on new crop types that take advantage of drought tolerance; and (iii) put animals on a rotational grazing program to allow grazing land to rest and recover. The Saskatchewan [42] Strategy for climate change specifically commits to develop and implement an offset system that creates additional value for actions that result in carbon seques-

Other systems, such as mixed systems and industrial or landless livestock systems, could encounter several risk factors mainly due to the variability of grain and pasture availability and cost, and low adaptability of animal genotypes. Regarding livestock systems, optimizing productivity of crops and forage (mainly improving water and soil management) and improving the ability of animals to cope with environmental stress by management and selection could be the best adaptive measures. For an Alberta mixed farm, reported by [43], beef herd adaptation strategy affected farm profits more and costs less. Maintaining the herd size and with regular feeding plan, and purchasing extra fees provided the best adaptation. To guide the evolution of livestock production systems under the increase of temperature and extreme events, better information is needed regarding biophysical and social vulnerability, and this must be integrated with agriculture and livestock

Shelterbelts also provide several environmental benefits to the society under climate change. One of the most important ecosystem values from shelterbelts is their capacity to sequester carbon (C) [44]. Six major species of tree and brush used for this purpose were examined in this study. At maturity, these trees can sequester a large amount of carbon. For example, a hybrid poplar can sequester 3–5 t of C per year, whereas a Caragana shrub can store only 1.3–2.7 t of C per year (**Table 5**). However, the amount of C stored in the younger trees would be lower but eventually the amount would reach the levels shown in **Table 5**. In addition, shelterbelts

If one uses the 2022 price (as fixed by the Government of Canada) of \$50 per t of C, a hybrid poplar tree is worth \$150–250 to the society. Unfortunately, this value is not internalized in the decision of the landowner since at present they do not receive any compensation for the stored or sequestered carbon. Under these conditions, decision to maintain shelterbelts on farms may be discouraged since they do not enter into their economic decision-making. Policies have to be developed to

Irrigation is one of the best adaptive measures under drought conditions [46]. In addition to stabilize production over the drought period, they increase returns from crop production and help mixed farms maintain livestock activities through forage production [47]. In addition, the level of nonagricultural sectors is also higher due

**128**

components.

*Level of carbon sequestered by shelterbelts by type.*

There are many potential adaptation options available for marginal change of existing agricultural systems, often variations of existing climate risk management [49], but their implementation is likely to have substantial benefits under moderate climate change for some cropping systems, and there are limits to their effectiveness under more severe climate changes.
