Location: Agroclimate and Hydraulics Research Unit
Project Number: 3070-11130-007-002-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2018
End Date: Jul 31, 2023
Objective:
• Understand, monitor, and predict variations and changes in climate conditions affecting agro-ecosystems of the Southern Great Plains.
• Assess the impacts of extreme weather and climate events, such as drought and wildfire, on Southern Great Plains agriculture.
• Improve the delivery of timely and authoritative climate services to agricultural stakeholders in the Southern Great Plains.
Approach:
The Southern Great Plains is home to extensive and diverse agricultural production systems that are at risk from the impacts of extreme weather events, climate variability, and climate change. An improved understanding of climate-induced risks to production agriculture in this region, including both monitoring and prediction, is essential for enhancing system management and promoting long-term resiliency. This improved understanding will require (1) high-priority research into the dynamical drivers of climate variations and changes in the region; (2) assessment of critical climate-based impacts on regional agricultural production and attendant ecological and economic systems; and (3) development and delivery of robust and sustained regional climate services to impacted stakeholders and agricultural decision-makers. This project will facilitate progress in all three of these areas by advancing ARS science and services in collaboration with the Cooperator's scientific expertise and program capacity.