This article appears in the October 2004 Center for Rural Affairs newsletter and can be found at http://www.cfra.org/newsletter/current.htm

Risk for Agriculture in Climate Change
Biggest winner in a carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere may be farmers’ weeds

In a significant shift, the Bush Administration has issued a new report attributing hotter global temperatures over the last 30 years to atmospheric gases released by human activity – and suggesting troubling consequences for agriculture.

The report is based on the growing body of federal research on climate change. That research cites a challenge for farmers under higher concentrations of carbon dioxide – intensified weed problems. Carbon dioxide is the leading greenhouse gas and is released by burning fossil fuels, removing forests, and breaking down organic matter.

Plants grow better in a carbon dioxide rich atmosphere. But the study found that weeds benefit more than most crops and thus will become more competitive as carbon dioxide levels increase.

The report reminds us how much farmers and ranchers have at stake in climate change. Earlier studies predicted increased extreme weather events and shifts in rainfall. Farmers and ranchers face serious risks in climate change – arguably more than any other industry with the possible exception of the insurance industry.

Yet, some agricultural organizations have rallied farmers and ranchers to oppose efforts to address climate change, fearing efforts to curb emissions would lead to increased fuel and fertilizer costs. That is short sighted.

Farmers and ranchers have a profound interest in addressing climate change. Further, it is a mistake to conclude that any action to address climate change will necessarily impose burdensome short-term costs on farmers and ranchers.

Several years ago, the Center for Rural Affairs convened a task force of farmers and ranchers to study the issue. Their report Climate Change and Agriculture concluded that agriculture could contribute to reducing greenhouse gases through measures that don’t impose high costs, but to the contrary save money – better fertilizer management and fuel conservation. (Climate Change and Agriculture is available on our website.)

They saw new opportunities for farmers and ranchers to be paid for building soil organic matter (carbon), as a means of reducing the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere. In addition, rural areas are enjoying some new economic activity from the growth of wind power generation as an alternative to fossil fuel powered electric plants. You can find the Bush Administration report at www.climatescience.gov 

Contact: Chuck Hassebrook, [log in to unmask] for more information.