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This is the International Year of Soils. A number of stories have been written about the importance of healthy soils in stabilizing climate and improving yields of crops. University of Tennessee at Knoxville scientists recently released a study showing that the soil in the region encompassing the Dust Bowl in the 1930’s is still degraded,…
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Now that we are getting into the colder months, you can expect to see more atmospheric optical effects related to ice crystals high up in the sky, although it’s so cold up there that some of them can occur any time of year. One of the most common and spectacular of these is the halo,…
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Have you ever planned an event or meeting and then worried about the impact of weather on whether or not you might have to cancel it? I’ve had to cancel workshops at the last minute due to ice storms in the past, and it is always tough to make the call in enough time to…
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Modern Farmer reported this week that recent studies of the effectiveness of permethrin, a pesticide commonly used to combat mosquitoes, is less effective in warmer conditions than expected. This has implications for future summers, since trends towards warmer temperatures are likely to make conditions in the Southeast and elsewhere more favorable for longer mosquito seasons…
Posted in: Climate and Ag in the news -
US Department of Agriculture Secretary Vilsack posted a new blog entry to the USDA web site this week. In it he discusses the challenges and opportunities agricultural producers have in feeding a growing number of people on earth in the future. As you might expect, farmer, ranchers and foresters play a critical role in producing…
Posted in: Climate and Ag in the news -
Rainfall across Georgia in November was wetter than average for most of the state, with the exception of the southeast portion of the state. Some areas in the mountains received more than ten inches above normal precipitation, hindering farmers who are wrapping up the harvest season and preparing for winter. Temperatures in Georgia were several…
Posted in: Climate summaries -
One of the consequences of changes in climate such as drought is an impact on the soil structure and the agricultural infrastructure on which it sits. The Guardian posted an article a few days ago describing the impacts of continued massive pumping of groundwater in California on the surface topography, where land is sinking at…