Pam Knox
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The University of Vermont published the results of a study of farmers in the Northeast and what they think about risks due to changes in climate that have occurred over time and may occur in the future. In this study, Vermont farmers identified many site-specific risks that they associate with weather fluctuations and climate change.…
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Food & Wine produced a story earlier this week about how the weather in the wine-growing regions of Italy this year has caused serious decreases in the yield of the wine grapes. According to the story, “Coldiretti (the Italian farmers association) blames the low yields on what it called “bizarre” weather, with many areas experiencing…
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Here’s an odd and interesting story about how scientists in Mussolini’s Italy used the protein casein in milk to make an artificial wool-like fiber that could be turned into clothing. This new milk fiber was dubbed lanital (a compounding of lana, meaning wool, and ital, from Italia). You can read about it and watch a…
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While dry weather is not a problem for most parts of the Southeast this year, in the past it has caused problems for livestock producers. This year the problems are worst in the upper Plains where drought has expanded rapidly. Drovers Newsletter has a good reminder of how blue green algae, nitrates and prussic acid…
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As of 11 pm, Tropical Storm Franklin has formed and is headed for the Yucutan peninsula of Mexico. It may become a hurricane before it makes landfall. No impacts are expected for the Southeast. You can read more at https://www.nhc.noaa.gov. I also use https://www.spaghettimodels.com for additional geeky tropical weather information.
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One of the most notable climate records for July 2017 was the new global record for the hottest single month, which was set in Death Valley, CA. Their average temperature for the month was 107.4 F, the highest at that site since records began in 1911, and the highest single month value measured anywhere on…
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As I walked out in the yard today I noticed that my vinca ground cover is losing all of its leaves. Even though it has not been that hot (for early August, anyway), the lack of any appreciable rain has taken its toll on the plants. I usually only see those conditions during a drought.…