How will global warming effect US agriculture.?

Answer 1

The following is from the current EPA website (link below). It should be read keeping in mind that the Bush Administration is staunchly skeptical of global warming and didn't even admit that it existed until quite recently. With that in mind I suggest that you take special note of the last all-caps line (my emphasis) of the assessment and think about the implications very carefully.

The way I understand that last clause is that everything above is a deliberately rosy and incomplete glossing over and that we should expect the worst.

"Potential U.S. Impacts

The economic effect of climate change on the U.S. farm sector and consumers depends on:

Climate Change effects on global agricultural production.

Geographic pattern of temperature and precipitation changes.

Regional and local rates of climate change.

How changes around the world affect export supplies and import demands in other global regions and the United States.

A number of approaches have been used to estimate the impact of climate change on agriculture. One important approach addresses the question: What will agriculture be like in a given changed climate? It assumes future values for climate parameters for assessments. The climate scenario is generally derived from computer-executed Global Climate Models (GCMs) with specified forcing mechanisms (e.g. double CO2 levels). Another approach is based on "thresholds" and attempts to define the limits of an agricultural system to tolerate changes in climate. This approach asks: What type, magnitude, and rate of change would significantly effect the existing agricultural system?

The conclusions from the various studies and approaches, using a range of methodologies, can be summarized as follows:
Initial assumptions are critically important-garbage in, garbage out (GIGO) is an ongoing concern.

Agriculture (crops and livestock) is clearly sensitive to climate change in both positive and negative ways.

Climate change will most likely bring regional shifts in production and increased demand for irrigation; if extreme weather events were to become more frequent, the outlook for agriculture could become much less favorable.

Projected impacts depend strongly on the severity of the climate change scenarios, as well as possible changes in climate variability.

- Studies tend to show worsening effects as the various temperatures approach the high end of the projected range for a 2x CO2 climate scenario.

Initial estimates of negative impacts of climate change on agriculture are likely to be overestimated without more consideration of:

- Economic adjustments and the broader economic and environmental implications of such changes;

- Greater sectorial flexibility and adaptation potential indicated in research results;

- CO2 fertilization effects.

When such factors are considered, impacts on U.S. agriculture may be small, perhaps slightly negative or slightly positive (at least for a doubling of CO2).

- But regional impacts may be significant (with some regions gaining and some losing).

Better climate change forecasts are key to improved assessments of the impacts of climate change on agriculture.

Agriculture is a sector that can adapt to climate change, but MANY FACTORS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE ASSESSMENTS THAT COULD DRASTICALLY CHANGE THE ABOVE-RATHER BENIGN-CONCLUSIONS.

Answer 2

It has good and negative impact. The negative impact is relatively small to this point but it doesnt mean we should not care about it!

Since people talk about global warming, it is also the need to address the issue of global dimming as well! Global dimming can be found where CO2 is higher created a low tempreture and formed big clouds which normally heavy and reduce the light from shining to the surface of the Earth. Therefore, some places have decreased in tempreture while some increased in tempreture because of the cloud and acid rain.

Another problem with an increase in CO2 by global warming is that certain plants need certain temperatures in order to grow. For example: Florida produces a large number of oranges, when global warming occurs, what will orange farmers do? Florida is near the equator, and is already very hot, so when global warming occurs it will be even hotter. The oranges won't be able to grow very well. Global dimming creates acid rain which normally disturb the PH/nutrition in the water,sea, lakes, river,plants, vegetation and etc.

On the contrary, agriculture/crop in the northern United States and Canada could benefit from warmer temperatures- 1/2 celcius higher, while agriculture in the southern United States could be harmed. On the other hand the storm caused by mixture of hot and cold tempreture, will break the heads off and ruin the wheat. Another problem with drought and storms is that right after a drought the plants would be very weak because the 'top' soil is decreasing.

The report concludes that "climate change is not expected to threaten the ability of the United States to produce enough food to feed itself through the next century. However, regional patterns of production are likely to change." It also concludes, "the form and pattern of change are uncertain because changes in regional climate cannot be predicted with a high degree of confidence." The report also discusses that farmers will have to adopt several means to adapt to any potential change in regional conditions to produce quality of fruits, wheats and vegetables .

Answer 3

Vegitation pattern of many plants will change. Flowering seasons of many flowers will be altered because of global warming. Some parts of the country will get very heavy rainfall while other regions can be completely dried out.

Answer 4

Well, Mr. Bush will relinquish reigns of power in a couple of years from now. Thus, his contributions to global warming with wars here and there will get diverted to US soil as he is a farmer by occupation. No problems at that too, as he will harvest boiled vegetable !

Answer 5

The net effect will probably be small, but the growing areas for certain crops will move, grow and shrink as regional climates change over time. Sensitive crops like grapes and cherries will be most affected.

Answer 6

have you ever taken into consideration that the phenomenon called global warming doesnt exist? i know that sounds pretty radical... but i read this book by michael crichton 'state of fear' and in it he presents a pretty solid case saying that global warming doesnot exist.... i even did some research on my own and now i just believe that its all just plain nonsense... check out this site for some details supporting my views....


http://www.heartland.org/article.cfm?art...

Answer 7

Serious impact. If the Earth's temperatures rise to a point where our rich farm land becomes arid and untillable, farmers won't be able to grow crops. And if farmers can't grow crops, there will be no food (contrary to contemporary blind-sightedness, food does NOT come from a supermarket; it comes from the Earth). And if there's no food, we can't eat. And if we can't eat, we will DIE!

Answer 8

Dramaticly! The "breadbasket" will become practically saharian.