Specialty Animals

The challenges facing specialty livestock are similar to what is experienced by larger livestock (swine, cattle): the ability to produce feed-grain, the quality of pastures and forage crop production, animal health, growth, and reproduction, and disease and pest distributions.  However, due to their typically smaller size, specialty livestock offers opportunity for diversification in the U.S.'s livestock production systems.  A better understanding of the advantageous and disadvantageous of specialty livestock within a region are highly significant with regard to the success of adaptation programs to be implemented in the long run.

Cows on pasture laneway

A rotational stocking system controls the timing and intensity of grazing by rotating animals among paddocks, and gives the pastures time for rest and regrowth. Heavy rain events have increased dramatically in the Northeastern United States. These downpours are causing more…

Managing Grazing to Improve Climate Resilience

Cover image to Adaptation Resources for Agricultire

Changes in climate and extreme weather are already increasing challenges for agriculture. This technical bulletin was developed specifically to meet the unique needs of agricultural producers, and provide educators and service providers in the Midwest and Northeast regions of…

Adaptation Resources for Agriculture: Responding to Climate Variability and Change in the Midwest and Northeast

The challenges facing specialty livestock are similar to what is experienced by larger livestock (swine, cattle): the ability to produce feed-grain, the quality of pastures and forage crop production, animal health, growth, and reproduction, and disease and pest distributions.…

Specialty Animals

Changes in climate and extreme weather have already occurred and are increasing challenges for agriculture nationally and globally. Many of the impacts are expected to continue or intensify in the future. Because of the sensitivity of agriculture to weather and climate…

Agriculture in a Changing Climate

map of us with crop moisture data

Local weather and climate determine the commodities produced and affect growth, disease, and soil health. Understanding current weather and climate is important for producing crops sustainabily. The Northwest Climate Hub works to support use of current and projected information…

Northwest Agriculture, Weather and Climate

Cows on pasture at Shelburne Farms in Vermont

The climate in the Northeast U.S. has been changing. Winters have been getting warmer and heavy rainstorms are becoming much more common.  Many longtime farmers feel that the seasons have shifted, and the latest climate models indicate that these changes are likely to…

Agricultural Vulnerabilities in the Northeast

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