Relating agriculture, energy, and water decisions to farm incomes and climate projections using two freeware programs, FEWCalc and DSSAT

The larger scale perspective of Integrated Assessment (IA) and smaller Impacts, Adaptation, Vulnerability (IAV) need to be bridged design long-term solutions agricultural problems that threaten production, rural economic viability, global food supplies. FEWCalc (Food-Energy-Water Calculator) is a new freeware, agent-based model with the novel ability project farm incomes based on crop selection, irrigation practices, groundwater availability, renewable energy investment, historical projected environmental conditions. used analyze interrelated food, energy, water, climate systems Finney County, Kansas evaluate consequences choices currently available farmers resource managers. This article aims local farmer crops investment in face water limitations change. Metrics analysis include renewable-energy income, availability quality. intended audience includes farmers, managers, scientists focusing systems. Data derived from publicly sources are support user-specified input values. DSSAT (Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer) added arid-region dynamics obtain simulated production demand FEWCalc. Here, simulate income continuation recent ranges prices, expenses, insurance; economics government incentives; one four scenarios, including General Circulation Model projections Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5; groundwater-supported its limitations. A 50-year (2018-2067) projection process indicates possible trends future yield, utility, income. simulation during more wet years produces high slower depletion groundwater, as expected. However, surprisingly, simulations suggest only Drier Future scenario commercially profitable, this because reduced expenses dryland farming. Although losses due low ameliorated by sector insurance, under change still worst annual total addresses scientific, communication, educational gaps between global- local-scale FEW research communities stakeholders, affected their interactions relating near-term near- consequences. needed craft advantageous future.