DURHAM, N.H.—In partnership with the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of New Hampshire, the USDA Northeast Climate Hub recently unveiled its virtual demonstration tour for UNH’s Woodman Horticultural Research Farm. This 11-video tour joins a growing library of other virtual tours within the ‘As If You Were There project,’ which bridges viewers directly into what climate resilience planning looks like right now.

The UNH tour highlights the trend toward shorter and milder winters, longer growing seasons and potential for new crops and varieties in the changing climate. Explore how experiment station researchers are looking at ways that growers might adapt to, and take advantage of, current and expected climate conditions. Experiments include establishing beneficial plant habitats and wildflower meadows, running cold hardiness fruit trials, and using practices to extend the growing season.

The As If You Were There project features key climate adaptation practices at farm and forest sites across the Northeast. Through interactive 360-degree photography and videos, users can embark on virtual field tours from their own computer or mobile device. Visitors can see how others in the region are adapting to changes in climate.

“The purpose of this project is to harness new technology combined with educational storytelling to engage more people in climate informed decision-making,” said Erin Lane, coordinator for the USDA Northeast Climate Hub. “We want to help capture and share the stories of innovative land managers and researchers. The intent is to provide our audience with an interactive experience which will create greater understanding and inspiration. The tours are designed to make you feel ‘as if you were there.’

This material is based upon work supported by the NH Agricultural Experiment Station, through joint funding of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award numbers 1006928 and 1017760 and the state of New Hampshire.

Founded in 1887, the NH Agricultural Experiment Station at the UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture is UNH’s original research center and an elemental component of New Hampshire's land-grant university heritage and mission.