Abstract: The aim of this study is to identify motivating factors in farmers decision making and explore potential impacts of projected weather extremes to farming practices. We focused on the Willamette Valley area characterized by prominent agricultural land use and a high number of Century Farms. These farms have been in the same family for over 100 years and the farmers have shown great resilience over time in the face of social change, economic hardships, and various weather events. To identify farmer decision-making motivators, interviews have been conducted with century farmers via Zoom. Contact information was sourced from the Oregon Century Farm & Ranch Program database. Interviewees were selected to capture a variety of crop and livestock, with some interviewees identified from other farmers' references. A thematic analysis was conducted on the interviews, with preliminary results indicating that economic considerations are at the forefront of decision making with regards to types of crops grown and farming practices. However, environmental factors such as the 2020 wildfires and 2021 heat dome were noted by many farmers as concerns for future operations. Social influences such as world wars and the post-war shift from rural to urban living were also noted as important influences over time, especially with regards to succession planning. Our findings will help improve communication between farmers concerned about the future of their operations and scientists sharing climate change projections as well as refine targets for future policy changes in the valley facing extended drought and heat waves.
