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Welcome to the Animal Agriculture in a Changing Climate Western Region e-newsletter containing current news and relevant information regarding agriculture and climate change that you might have missed.
Be sure to visit www.animalagclimatechange.org for new information and resources including current videos, fact sheets and new blog posts from our friends in the Midwest and Southeast.
If you haven't done so already, register for a fall session of the free Animal Agriculture and Climate Change online course! Scroll to the bottom of the page or visit the website to find more information.
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Ag Producers Concerned about Climate Change
The Central Great Plains Climate Education Partnership conducted focus groups throughout Kansas to gain a better understanding of farmer perceptions and attitudes towards climate change education. Results indicate concern about climatic changes, even if producers are unsure that "human caused climate change" is occurring. Participants indicated they would like access to information through Web-based programs that allow them to manipulate variables relevant to their area and situation. Participants prefer locally relevant information and identified Extension agents as trusted educators.
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The California Drought
The drought website has been expanded, including California Farm Water Success Stories. The series of case studies and interviews documents how agricultural water stewardship practices are at work on-the-ground, at the farm and irrigation district level. Video interviews offer first-person insights from these innovative water managers. In addition to the success stories, the Pacific Institute and other members of the California Roundtable on Water and Food Supply have launched an Interactive Database and Map which contains dozens of case studies and is searchable by location, production type, irrigation method, and stewardship practice.
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Climatic Changes Require Smart Manure Management
Smarter manure management begins with an understanding of the climate trends in your area as precipitation and temperature are critical parameters for good manure management. What are historic trends in rainfall and temperature? What seasons are getting drier or wetter? Do these climate trends impact the windows of time for manure application?
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Risky Business: Adding Climate Change into Business' Decision Making Process
The Economic Risks of Climate Change in the US- Ag Sector (Risky Business, Executive Summary)
Shifting agricultural patterns and crop yields, with likely gains for Northern farmers offset by losses in the Midwest and South:
*As extreme heat spreads across the middle of the country by the end of the century, some states in the Southeast, lower Great Plains, and Midwest risk up to a 50% to 70% loss in average annual crop yields (corn, soy, cotton, and wheat), absent agricultural adaptation.
*At the same time, warmer temperatures and carbon fertilization may improve agricultural productivity and crop yields in the upper Great Plains and other northern states.
*Food systems are resilient at a national and global level, and agricultural producers have proven themselves extremely able to adapt to changing climate conditions. These shifts, however, still carry risks for the individual farming communities most vulnerable to projected climatic changes.
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Anniversary Of President Obama's Climate Action Plan
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Animal Agriculture and Climate Change Online Course
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Know of anyone who should receive this email? Please contact:
Liz Whitefield
Washington State University
Livestock Nutrient Management Program
e.whitefield@wsu.edu
253.445.4562
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