Research

I study how diversified farming systems respond to water scarcity and climate pressure. My work connects field ecology, farmer knowledge, and applied research partnerships across California agriculture.

Themes

Agroecology and Water Resilience

I study dry farming, soil processes, and diversified management practices that can support crop productivity under limited irrigation and drought conditions.

Selected publications

• Deep nutrients and soil fungal communities support tomato fruit yield and quality in dry farm management systems
• Biophysical and policy factors predict simplified crop rotations in the U.S. Midwest
• Long-term evidence shows that crop-rotation diversification increases agricultural resilience to adverse growing conditions in North America
• Crop diversification improves water-use efficiency and regional water sustainability

Farmer-Centered Transition Research

I use interviews, participatory research, and applied collaborations to make agroecological transitions more legible to both growers and public-serving institutions.

Selected publications

• Tomato dry farming as an agroecological model for California’s drought resilient future: Farmers’ perspectives and experiences
• Narrow and brittle or broad and nimble? Comparing adaptive capacity in simplifying and diversifying farming systems

Public Interest Evaluation

I contribute to evaluation work on California farm-to-school and sustainable agriculture programs, with attention to climate, equity, and environmental outcomes.

Selected reports

• Drivers of Climate Smart Practice Use for Farm to School Producers
• School Market Viability and Appeal Among Farm to School Producers
• Does Farm to School Advance California’s Nature-Based Solutions Targets?

Current Collaborations

• CA Farm to School Evaluation Team

• California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance

• Farmer and extension collaborations on dry farming in California

© Yvonne Socolar