Future Farmers of America (FFA) and food consumers take note. Floods and catastrophes attract the headlines and often receive Federal Disaster Relief, but climate change is about much, much more. In several states important to the nation’s food supply the weather has been way off. Sure there’s been flooding, but sometimes it’s just too wet or dry and too this and that. In this region, a drought last fall followed by a hard winter kill and now fields too wet and soggy to plant are a “perfect storm” that occurred over months - not days - and the failed crops are most likely outside the general guidelines for disaster aid. It’s not just hay and row crops. Seed potatoes have rotted, apple scab and fire blight thrive in wet conditions and threaten orchards. Sweet corn, peas and canning crops are also down. Farms will be going under and food prices will soar.
The Future Farmers of America and university agricultural programs should be proactive and prepare for changing conditions.
See also: Inclimate 18: Planting Zones, Inclimate 44: Early Spring and InClimate 46: Agricultural Programs