Effects of Climate Change and Variability on Agricultural Production Systems

by Doering, Otto C.; Randolph, J. C.; Southworth, Jane; Pfeifer, Rebecca A.

• ISBN13: 9781402070280
• ISBN10: 1402070284
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-04-01
• Publisher: Kluwer Academic Pub

Summary

Evidence shows that global climate change is occurring. Research and debate continue on the role of increasing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases in influencing climate change. Many sectors are or will be influenced by changing climate and climate variability, including increasing global temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and increased frequency of unusual weather events. Agriculture and the world's supply of food and fiber are particularly vulnerable to such climate change. Effects of Climate Change and Viarability on the Agricultural Production Systems provides an integrated assessment of global climate change's impact on agriculture at the farm level, in the context of farm level adaptation decisions. Ten agricultural areas in the Upper Midwest region - the heart of the United States' corn belt - were subjected to climate change and changing climate variability scenarios through simulations of future climate using results from general circulation models. Crop growth models, calibrated to the study sites, were used to simulate yields under varying climate conditions. Farm level production and economic analyses were performed to determine what adaptation strategies might be best utilized to maintain production and profitability for producers under conditions of global climate change and changing climate variability. Similar integrated analyses from Australia and Argentina provide comparisons from different regions. The robust integrated systems methodology for assessing impacts and adaptation opportunities in several different major agricultural regions provides the reader with an example for similar endeavors. Also discussed are guidelines and useful analytical options for input suppliers, agricultural researchers, and agricultural producers to enable risk averting strategies and adaptations as global climate change plays out.

Table of Contents

List of Contributors	vii
Preface	xiii
Acknowledgements	xv
Assessing Global Climate Change's Impact on Agriculture	1	(20)
Otto C. Doering III
J.C. Randolph
Issues and Approaches to Climate Change	21	(22)
Jane Southworth
Overview of Crop Models for Assessment of Crop Production	43	(26)
Joe T. Ritchie
Gopal Alagarswamy
Expert Panels' Contributions to Climate Change Research	69	(16)
Rebecca A. Pfeifer
J.C. Randolph
Climate Scenario Construction for Midwest Analysis	85	(16)
Jane Southworth
Validation of Corn, Soybean, and Wheat Models In DSSAT for Assessing Climate Change Impacts On Midwest Crop Production	101	(26)
D. Gangadhar Rao
Crop Modeling Results under Climate Change for the Midwest USA	127	(32)
Jane Southworth
Rebecca A. Pfeifer
Michael Habeck
Farm-Level Economic Impacts of Climate Change	159	(20)
Rebecca A. Pfeifer
Michael Habeck
Climate Variability Impacts on Farm-Level Risk	179	(14)
Rebecca A. Pfeifer
Jane Southworth
Otto C. Doering
Leah Moore
An Integrated Climate Change Assessment from Argentina	193	(26)
Graciela O. Magrin
Maria I. Travasso
Potential Global Change Impacts on Australia's Wheat Cropping System	219	(30)
S. Mark Howden
Indirect Impacts of Climate Change That Affect Agricultural Production: Soil Erosion	249	(16)
Anne Williams
Fernando F. Pruski
Mark Nearing
Conclusions	265	(8)
Otto C: Doering III
J.C. Randolph
Jane Southworth
Rebecca A. Pfeifer
Index	273