Agricultural Drought Response in Temperate Climates Requires Institutional Development and Coordination to Support Adaptation

Abstract

Abstract Droughts and dry periods represent a novel and emerging threat to agriculture in historically water rich, temperate regions, such as the Northeast United States. Water governance institutions to manage water quantity in these regions are underdeveloped in the context of current needs. In this study, we examine the state of Maine as a case study in drought institutions in a historically water‐rich region. Specifically, we review the institutional landscape for drought resilience and resistance for Maine agriculture and identify the gaps that may be hindering agricultural adaptation. Through focus groups with farmers and agricultural advisors, we find: (a) There are few quasi‐governmental organizations and programs dedicated to agricultural drought‐adaptation; rather farmers rely upon mostly federal, state, and non‐governmental regional programs and policies that are non‐drought specific in nature; and (b) there is a need for articulated and persistent coordination between federal‐state‐local organizations and programs, to ensure vertical and horizontal integration and complementarity. In the absence of drought‐specific institutions that coordinate across scales, there is the potential for ineffective drought adaptation and maladaptation in Maine and other temperate regions. This could result in wasted public and private resources, ineffective use of natural resources, and inequitable or otherwise socially undesirable outcomes. Our research adds to the growing body of evidence showing that, even in temperate and historically water‐rich regions, drought is a threat to agricultural viability. Here, we outline the need for institutional coordination around drought‐adaptation to facilitate strategic program development.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Water Resources Research, 2026 · DOI ↗