Resilient Agriculture: Weather Ready Farms

Climate Change: Extreme Events

The projection for the Great Plains and Midwest is for extreme events, such as heavy downpours, flooding, heat waves, and drought, to increase in the future. Although these events are common in this region, an increase in frequency could put extra stress on farms already feeling plenty of pressure from these losses.

Strong winds “green - snapped” one variety of field corn. Photo Credit: Hans Schmitz

REFERENCES Conant, Kluck, R.T., Anderson, M., Badger, A., Boustead, B.M., Derner, J., Farris, L., Hayes, M., Livneh, B., McNeeley, S., Peck, D., Shulski, M., & Small, V. (2018). Northern Great Plains. In Reidmiller, D.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, K.L.M. Lewis, T.K. Maycock, & B.C. Stewart (Eds.), Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume II U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA, pp. 941 – 986. doi: 10.7930/NCA4.2018.CH22 Walsh, J., D., Wuebbles, K., Hayhoe, J., Kossin, K., Kunkel, G., Stephens, P., Thorne, R., Vose, M., Wehner, J., Willis, D.. Anderson, S., Doney, R., Feely, P., Hennon, V. Kharin, T. Knutson, F. Landerer, T. Lenton, J. Kennedy, and R. Somerville, 2014: Ch. 2: Our changing climate. In Melillo, J. M., Richmond, T.C., & Yohe, G.W. (Eds.), Climate Change Impacts in the United States: The Third National Climate Assessment, U.S. Global Change Research Program, 19-67. doi:10.7930/J0KW5CXT

Climate Change: Pests

Pest management is a persistent challenge in cropping systems. Weeds, insects, and diseases are common pest challenges, and the impacts are often influenced by weather conditions. Changing weather conditions will alter the frequency, type, and intensity of pest pressure. For example, the increase in humidity in the Midwest has created favorable conditions for diseases and pathogens. Also, warmer temperatures and an extended growing season have enabled the northward expansion and increased likelihood for overwintering

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