TOLEDO, Ohio — Spring planting is in full swing, and the seasonal ups and downs in the weather have impacted local farmers.
This spring, we've experienced stretches of dry, sunny, hot weather, but also wet conditions with soaking rainfall. Spring is growing wetter and rising temperatures are putting an increased burden on crops and farmers.
Growing season is becoming hotter and drier, and greater propensity of drought is stifling growth and harvest. So how has climate change impacted local farmers?
Most farmers across the country's midsection have experienced decreased yield and financial stress in recent decades, largely due to climate change. Corn production has declined across the Midwest, but the biggest impacts of climate change have been felt by corn farmers in Missouri, Kansas, and the Carolinas.
In areas where corn is king, the financial implications of this agricultural strain are expected to be devastating for some over the next century. Soy production has also felt the impacts of global warming, and the effects have been most pronounced in Oklahoma and Kansas.
Ohio and Michigan have seen smaller impacts. Climate change is threatening food security across the globe, compounding issues caused by supply chain shortages. Agricultural productivity will continue to decline in our warming world, and studies have suggested that crop yield will drop by an additional 5% or more between now and 2050.
So why has agricultural production declined in recent decades? Higher temperatures have increased moisture demand of crops, causing wilting and lower moisture supply. Both warmer temperatures and greater frequency of drought, direct effects of climate change, are responsible for this agricultural burden.
As temperatures rise and drought proliferates, corn, soy, and other crop yield will likely suffer in the future.
Now that spring planting is in full swing, stay tuned to the WTOL 11 weather forecast to find out when we'll stay dry and when the rain will move our way!