Climate and Ag in the news
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In a post last week I noted that we are now in a La Niña watch, which means that conditions in the eastern Pacific Ocean are reflecting a developing La Niña as characterized by colder than normal ocean temperatures off the coasts of Peru and Ecuador stretching almost halfway west across the Pacific Ocean. This…
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The weather in the last two growing seasons have not been kind to South Carolina, with tropical flooding rains washing out the plants in both falls. So far this year the storms have moved far enough away to minimize damage to their cotton and they are on track to produce their best crop ever. As…
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While farmers growing corn, citrus, peanuts, pecans, vegetables and many other crops were significantly impacted by Hurricane Irma, livestock producers were also seriously impacted by the storm. Here are a few stories about their experiences. Dairy Herd Management: Florida Dairies Dealing with Aftermath of Irma, Some Dump Milk describes problems with lack of power and…
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The National Hurricane Center has named two new tropical storms in the Atlantic Ocean today. TS Lee is far to the east in the Atlantic Ocean and is expected to weaken and dissipate without getting close to land. TS Maria is headed to the west and could cross the same region of the Caribbean as…
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Following the passage of Hurricane Irma through the Southeast earlier this week, farmers are starting to assess the damage caused by the winds, tornadoes, rain and storm surge of the storm. While it is far too early to make a total determination of the costs of the damage, here are some stories about what farmers…
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Paul Pugliese of the University of Georgia talks about tree damage from Hurricane Irma that occurred across Georgia earlier this week. He describes the types of damage that were seen, including branch breakage and wind throw and uprooting of entire trees. He also includes a section on how you can protect yourself and your property…
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This morning NOAA issued a La Niña watch for the equatorial Pacific Ocean, based in part on strong winds towards the west which are increasing a pool of colder than normal water along the equator. This is a change from last month’s forecast, which indicated neutral conditions would be likely over the winter. The forecast…