Barriers to implementing climate resilient agricultural strategies: The case of crop diversification in the U.S. Corn Belt

Farmer and field-level characteristics, as well as more structural drivers, limit the use of more diverse crop rotations in the Corn Belt. Multi-level modeling suggests that farmers with livestock and those who farm more marginal land are more likely to use extended rotations. Mixed methods analysis suggests that farmers acknowledge the benefits of diversifying their crop rotation to respond to climate related changes. Weather events are not a major driver of crop diversity but some farmers believe climate changes may require greater cropping system diversity.