U.S. Agriculture in a New Climate Reality

Agriculture is extremely sensitive to weather and climate. Air temperature, precipitation, air humidity, solar radiation and wind are the main climatic factors that determine many parameters of agricultural production, on which the quality and volume of the yield depend. Each geographic region is unique in its combination of natural and climatic conditions, so the range of consequences of global climate change is very diverse - from increased production to the loss of crops and livestock. For agriculture, damage from climate change is realized in soil degradation, a decrease in its fertility and productivity, crop failure, and pest infestation. Among the positive consequences are an increase in the duration of the growing season, an increase in productivity and an expansion of crop area. In the United States, a strategy for adaptation of agricultural production has been developed to reduce the climate change risks. The recommendations of this strategy are based on modern achievements of agricultural science, innovative technologies that allow to reduce and even minimize the negative impact of climatic factors on agriculture, and prevent related financial losses. The Department of Agriculture provides assistance to farmers affected by weather anomalies, crop insurance against adverse weather conditions, and the extension of the adaptation strategy. It also finances scientific research and development on this topic. The global climate change is considered not only as one of the one of the greatest human development challenges facing the world, but also as a chance to move the industry to a new stage of development. The scale of the climate change problem is enormous, as they extend beyond agricultural production to other sectors of the US food system that are critical for food security. This raises concerns in the scientific community and increases interest in many alternative agricultural practices, including conservation agriculture, vertical farms, and organic agriculture.

climate change, agricultural production, soil degradation, adaptation measures, food security