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Global Climate Change Digest
A Guide to Information on Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depletion
Published July 1988 through June 1999

FROM VOLUME 6, NUMBER 6, JUNE 1993

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS...
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS: AGRICULTURE

Item #d93jun60

"Comparison of the Effects of Different Climate Change Scenarios on Rangeland Livestock Production," J.D. Hanson (USDA-ARS, POB E, Fort Collins CO 80522), B.B. Baker, R.M. Bourdon, Agric. Systems, 41(4), 487-502, 1993.

An existing rangeland ecosystem model was modified and a cow/calf production system simulated under different climate scenarios predicted by GCMs. The effect of climate change on livestock production is very complex and results depend on the particular GCM scenario simulated.

Item #d93jun61

Two items from Clim. Change, 23(1), Jan. 1993:

"Farm Programs and Climate Change," J.K. Lewandrowski (Econ. Res. Serv., USDA, 1301 New York Ave. NW, Washington DC 20005), R.J. Brazee, 1-20. Outlines a simple portfolio model describing producer decision making, and uses this framework to assess how specific U.S. federal farm programs might affect adaptation to climate change under three climate scenarios. In each scenario the present structure of farm programs discourages adaptation.

"The Potential Effects of Climate Change on Summer Season Dairy Cattle Milk Production and Reproduction," P.L. Klinedinst (Dept. Agric. Meteor., Univ. Nebraska, Lincoln NE 68583), D.A. Wilhite et al., 21-36. Application of existing algorithms to climate scenarios from three GCMs shows milk production declines of up to 20% in the southeastern and southwestern U.S., and declines of up to 35% in the eastern and southern U.S.

Item #d93jun62

"The Dust Bowl of the 1930s: Analog of the Greenhouse Effect in the Great Plains?," C. Rozenweig (NASA Goddard Inst. Space Studies, 2880 Broadway, New York NY 10025), D. Hillel, J. Environ. Qual., 22(1), 9-22, Jan.-Mar. 1993.

Uses statistical methods, crop growth models and GCM climate scenarios to conclude that the Dust Bowl experience of the 1930s may be considered a preliminary analog of possible future climate conditions for the southern Great Plains, with the important difference that the higher projections of warming produce more severe consequences than did the Dust Bowl.

Item #d93jun63

"The Drought of 1988, the Global Warming Experiment, and its Challenge to Irrigation in the Old Dust Bowl Region," J. Opie (Ctr. Technol. Studies, New Jersey Inst. Technol., Newark, N.J.), Agric. History, 66(2), 279-306, Spr. 1992.

One of a collection of articles derived from a conference, History of Agriculture and the Environment, held June 1991 in Washington. Examines the future vulnerability of the Ogallala aquifer in the U.S. plains states, which helps provide food for all the world but is being used up at 10 times the replacement rate.

Item #d93jun64

"Temperature Effects on Rice at Elevated CO₂ Concentration," J.T. Baker (Agron. Dept., Univ. Florida, Gainesville FL 32611), L.H. Allen Jr., K.J. Boote, J. Exper. Bot., 43(252), 959-964, July 1992.

Experiments in outdoor, sunlit, ambient chambers show that while future increases in atmospheric CO₂ are likely to be beneficial to rice growth and yield, potentially large negative effects on yield are possible if air temperatures also rise.

Item #d93jun65

Two items from World Resour. Rev., 4(4), 1992:

"Alleviation of Global Climate Change Impact via Simulation-Based Decision Support Systems in Agriculture," J.M. McKinion (USDA-ARS, POB 5367, Mississippi State MS 39762), 406-418. Examines the use of crop models, geographic information systems and other techniques in combination with GCM simulations for predicting climate impacts as a basis for policy decisions.

"The Impact of Weather and Climate Change on Wheat Yields in the United States," T.A. Barry (Dept. Agron., Univ. California, Davis CA 95616), S. Geng, 419-450. Combines GCM output with a dynamic weather simulation model and a crop model to evaluate impacts on crop production. Results show that wheat yield variation is greatly intensified by weather variation, to a greater extent than shown in previous studies.

Item #d93jun66

"Cotton Crop Response to Global Climate Change," K.R. Reddy (Dept. Agron., Mississippi State Univ., Mississippi State MS 39762), H.F. Hodges, J.M. McKinion, ibid., 4(3), 348-365, 1992.

Experiments in sunlit temperature- and CO₂-controlled chambers examined in detail how elevated CO₂ levels result in higher cotton yields, if temperature is optimum. Cultivars or species tolerant to high temperatures will be highly desirable in the future.

Item #d93jun67

"The Impact of Climate Change on Rice Variety Selection in Thailand," S. Panturat (Dept. Math., Srinakarinwirot Univ., Bankok 10110, Thailand), A. Eddy, J. Sci. Soc. Thailand, 17(1-2), 3-30, Mar.-June 1991.

Applies a rice growth model to climate change scenarios. Recommends a national policy that would direct rice breeders to consider possible climate change, and cooperative efforts between the agricultural extension services and farmers which would highlight the interactive effects of variety selection, climate change and cultural practice.