Author
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Baker, Jeffrey |
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Submitted to: Agricultural Systems
Publication Type: Review Article Publication Acceptance Date: 2/12/2004 Publication Date: 2/20/2004 Citation: Baker, J.T. 2004. Book Review: Effects of climate change and variability on agricultural production systems. Agricultural Systems. Interpretive Summary: Potential future climate change could include increases in air temperatures, changes in rainfall patterns as well as possible increases in extreme weather events. These kinds of climate changes could have major impacts on agriculture and world food supplies. This paper is a review of the book entitled 'Effects of Climate Change and Variability on Agricultural Production Systems' with Otto C. Doering, III, J.C. Randolph, Jane Southworth and Rebecca A. Pfeifer (Eds.) Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2002. pp. 275. In this book, the authors use computer models of the earth's climate and models of agricultural crops to make projections of future agricultural productivity in five northern Midwest states in the US. One of the major goals of this book is to explore potential farm management options available to farmers in the event that climate changes were to occur. In this study, the authors examine the effects of options like shifting planting dates and the use of different crops to overcome the negative effects of a changing climate on potential future economic situations of farmers in this region. Technical Abstract: This paper is a review of the book entitled 'Effects of Climate Change and Variability on Agricultural Production Systems' with Otto C. Doering, III, J.C. Randolph, Jane Southworth and Rebecca A. Pfeifer (Eds.) Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2002. pp. 275. A large part of this book describes computer simulations for 10 representative sites or farms located across five northern Midwest states. Similar studies are also reported for Australia and Argentina. The authors use the HadCM2 GCM in two modes: climate forcing of all greenhouse gasses as an equivalent CO2 concentration and combined equivalent CO2 concentration plus the negative forcing from sulfate aerosols. To examine the impact of these potential climate changes on agricultural crops, the authors use crop simulation models developed for three crop species: corn, wheat and soybean. One of the major goals of this book is to explore potential mitigation options available to agriculture should climate change occur. Potentially successful mitigation options suggested by these simulations included changes in planting dates, cropping systems and crop species selections. This book deals with a broad range of issues from on-farm economic and risk analysis to potential future levels of soil erosion. |
