Farming in the Storm: Exploring Alternative Risk Management Strategies Amid Winter Storm Elliott Restricted; Files Only

Abstract

This thesis examines the impact of Winter Storm Elliott on alternative farmers in Metro Atlanta. While it is widely documented that alternative farmers typically do not use crop insurance, there is limited research on the alternative risk management they use. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the impact mitigation strategies utilized by farmers during Winter Storm Elliott. The findings of this study reveal that alternative farmers in Metro Atlanta use adaptive on-farm strategies and are involved in a civic agriculture system that creates local networks which function as support systems during periods of crisis. 

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

Agricultural Paradigms

Conventional Paradigm

Alternative Paradigm

Table 1: Conventional vs. Alternative Paradigms (adapted from Martinez-Torrez and Rosset (2010) and Chappell et al (2013).

Interpretations of Risk

Civic Agriculture

Methods

Chapter Summaries

CHAPTER ONE: CROP INSURANCE AND THE CONVENTIONAL CONCEPT OF RISK

History of Crop Insurance

Limited Crop Insurance Adoption by Alternative Farmers

The Failure of Knowledge Deficit Models

CHAPTER TWO: ALTERNATIVE FARMER RESPONSES TO A CHANGING CLIMATE

Opportunities

Challenges

Case Study of Winter Storm Elliott

Table 2: Farmer Interviewee Information

Low Impact

Medium Impact

High Impact

Beyond Winter Storm Elliott

Spring Frost

Summer Heat

Risk Mitigation Strategies

Season-Extending Infrastructure

Crop Diversification

Scheduling

Navigating the Inevitable Precarity of Farming

CHAPTER THREE: THE RESILIENCE OF CIVIC AGRICULTURE

Support Between Farmers

Organizational Support

Government Support

The Lack of Relevant Government Support Options

Limited Trust

Takeaways

CONCLUSION

REFERENCES

APPENDICES

Appendix A: Initial Contact Email

Appendix B: Interview Introduction Script

Appendix C: Verbal Consent Questions

Appendix D: Interview Questions for Farmers

Appendix E: Interview Questions for Organizations

Appendix F: Codebook

About this Honors Thesis

Rights statement

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School	Emory College
Department	Anthropology
Degree	B.A.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Environmental Studies Agriculture, General Anthropology, Cultural
Keyword	Georgia Resilience Sustainable Agriculture Climate change Civic Agriculture Risk management
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Hilary King , Emory University
Committee Members	Emily Burchfield, Emory University Scott Schnur , Emory University Kristin Philips , Emory University

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