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Natural Resources Canada > Earth Sciences Sector > Priorities > Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation > Climate Change in Canada
The tides of change: Climate change in Atlantic Canada Down on the farm
There is uncertainty about how agriculture in Atlantic Canada would be affected by climate change, making it a difficult plan. For optimistic farmers, climate change might be good thing; for pessimists, the future looks gloomy!
Winners
Longer summers would lengthen the growing season; losses from winter kill of forage and fruit would be less, and fall harvesting would be easier.
A longer, warmer growing season means higher yields of warm weather crops (corn, soybeans, grapes).
With warmer temperatures, vineyards could be more common.
(Photograph courtesy of Agriculture and Agrifood Canada) |
Cows
(Photograph courtesy of Agriculture and Agrifood Canada) |
And losers...
Dry lake bed, Okanagan Vally, B.C.
(Photograph courtesy of O.Westby) |
Longer and warmer summers could result in more drought and greater need for irrigation.
Warmer winters may increase insect pests. Warmer weather in the growing season may allow more generations of pests to develop.
The greatest concern for agriculture in Atlantic Canada may result from a trend towards more extreme weather events; they could increase both in frequency and intensity. There might be more storms, hail, floods, and droughts. These could damage crops and livestock, and also hydro power generation and power lines on which farms rely.
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