Agriculture

Discussion Leaders: Fred Wertz and Ann Fisher

Notes by Shuang-Ye Wu:

1.  What we learned in the Report?

• Great difference between the percentage of land area and the percentage of the economy occupied by Agriculture.
• Size of primary and secondary agricultural industry.
• Low level of irrigation: only 3% of area is irrigated, because of abundance of precipitation.
• The importance of agriculture: food and fiber PLUS lifestyle, landscape amenities, and wildlife habitat.
• Exposure to variability of climate is especially true for farmers.
• Resilience of the region to climate change—some positive impacts likely in the region’s agriculture.

2.  What is problematic with the Report? (Needs clarification)

• Increased precipitation can be a negative as well as a positive factor in agriculture; explain why nitrogen runoff is so important in MAR (manure rather than commercial fertilizer).
• CO₂ fertilization: more explanation of difference impact on different plant species (e.g., corn vs. soybeans).
• More work is needed on extreme weather events and agriculture.
• Impact of development on farm survival strategies is important
• Can we achieve SEF scenario? Concern about secondary impacts if agriculture decreases.
• Need incentives for farmers to "buy into" the concept
• Skeptics may say there is no global warming
• No estimates of the cost of ventilating animal housing
• The use of bio-technology is controversial.

3.  What to do next?

• Examine use of crop insurance in MARA region: small vs. large farms.
• Include cultural factors, e.g., participation of Amish and other farmers in federal programs.
• Is salt-water intrusion a potential problem for MAR farms?
• How will climate impacts be helped or hurt by likely regulations on livestock wastes?
• Research is needed for better forecasts.