Go Small and Go Home: Beginning Farmers and Ranchers in Siskiyou County and Diversification

This case study explores how beginning farmers and ranchers in a northern California county, many of them returning to conventional family operations, are embracing diversification to spread risk, manage limited water, and... [ view full abstract ]

This case study explores how beginning farmers and ranchers in a northern California county, many of them returning to conventional family operations, are embracing diversification to spread risk, manage limited water, and exploit market opportunities to adapt to challenges and maintain agricultural livelihoods. Qualitative data, including 25 interviews with beginning farmers and ranchers, highlight the importance of cultural values, beliefs, and norms in how and when farmers adopt adaptive management practices. The conditions under which beginning farmers employ new practices in this conservative rural community may offer lessons about navigating polarized settings where becoming an insider is vital to achieving cultural acceptance.