SfL Report Assesses Challenges Posed by Changing Climatic Conditions in Missouri

Business News/Analysis, Farming/Growing, Feedstocks, Field/Orchard/Plantation Crops/Residues, Infrastructure, Missouri, Opinions, Policy, R & D Focus, Sustainability

October 30, 2018

Print This Article Share it With Friends

(Solutions from the Land) Solutions from the Land (SfL) commends Missouri agriculture and forestry leaders who looked into the future, examined what science is telling them is coming from changing climatic conditions and extreme weather events, and explored opportunities to improve resiliency and ensure the economic viability of the state’s agricultural and forestry sectors for decades to come.

In a report released today, SfL summarizes a facilitated dialogue, with collaboration involving leading farmers, ranchers and foresters, and business, academic, research and government partners. These stakeholders shed light on not only the challenges the changing conditions – including hotter temperatures, longer periods of drought and more extensive flooding – are posing to food and forestry production in the state, but on the impacts they will continue to have.

The Missouri Smart Agriculture Work Group was asked to assess the state’s agriculture and forestry sectors’ preparedness to meet the changes and challenges forecast by climate scientists. The Work Group also discussed the tools, practices, technologies or programs that producers need to adapt to the changing conditions, manage and respond to risks, and improve the resiliency of their operations.

It’s a formidable job, given the ongoing trials Missouri ag and forestry producers are facing: low commodity prices, rising input costs, volatile global market structures, changing consumer preferences and regulatory uncertainty, among others. Many of these challenges will be exacerbated by the impacts of extreme weather events and changing climatic conditions. The Work Group provided a forum for discussing and evaluating adaptation measures, including soil conservation systems, risk management tools and infrastructure modifications, among others.

…

The work in Missouri is part of a larger dialogue that SfL is conducting on climate smart agriculture strategies and practices across the country. SfL advocates for the evaluation of and compensation for the full range of products and services the nation’s agriculture and forestry sectors can deliver. In addition to safe, affordable and abundant food, feed and fiber, the sectors can offer clean energy and ecosystem services such as water filtration, flood control, enhanced biodiversity and carbon sequestration.

Ethan Miller, a row crop and livestock producer from Centralia and a member of the Work Group, points out that Missouri has a great agricultural tradition. “While farmers, ranchers and foresters in our state may have challenges ahead, they also offer nearly half the solution opportunities that society is asking for, and that is the untold story.” READ MORE

Missouri Smart Agriculture: Exploring a Path for Agricultural Resiliency in Missouri (Solutions from the Land)

SOIL SOLUTIONS: Climate-Smart Farming in the Show Me State (Climate Central)

Missouri Smart Agriculture Dialogue (Solutions from the Land)

Comments are closed.

Advanced BioFuels USA