Case Studies to Examine Farmer Perceptions and Implementations of Buffer Capacity in Southeastern Ontario

Buffer capacity measures the ability of a system to maintain its original function when confronted with outside stresses and is often considered to be a key component of resilience. Farmers in southeastern Ontario are facing several threats such as seasonal drought and volatile markets, prompting necessary responses on how to effectively manage their farms. This research study used an exploratory grounded theory approach to inquire how farmers seek to enhance buffer capacity on their farm by asking (1) what short-term threats their farm faces and (2) what strategies they are employing to navigate those threats. Ten farms in the Inverary region of southeastern Ontario were analyzed, with four of the farms being classified as “alternative” and six being classified as “conventional.” Semistructured interviews took place on-site at each respective farm. We noticed clear differences between the strategies of each farm to build buffer capacity into their operation. While some farmers emphasized that maintaining strong natural capital was key for dealing with both environmental and socioeconomic stresses, others sought to make use of new technology and automation to address their biggest short-term stresses. This project suggests that farms are not homogenous in their approach to building operational aspects that improve buffer capacity.