AgWeb published an interesting article on August 6 discussing the changes that farmers have seen in their local climates and how they are adapting to them. As the Midwest has warmed, farmers are planting corn an average 0.4 days per year earlier than were back in 1981, and soybeans 0.49 days per year earlier (this means over 30 years, the corn is going in 12 days earlier and soybeans 15 days earlier than in 1981). This is due to a combination of warmer, earlier springs, different hybrids, and changing management practices. Corn is also being grown farther north into Canada than ever before. In the future, the shifting patterns of production may affect infrastructure needed to bring the crops to food production centers. Other farmers are adapting to increases in heavy rain, which has increased erosion in susceptible areas. Farmers are managing this by planting more cover crops and doing more conservation tillage. For the complete story, click here.
