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Agriculture is perhaps the sector where the effects of climate on productivity and operations are most obviously felt. Quite often we get seasons with too much or too little rain, too much or too little heat, a spring thaw that arrives too late or a frost that arrives too early.
Warmer year-round temperatures and greater variability and predictability of precipitation, particularly in the winter months, will present farmers with new opportunities and new challenges.
The opportunities
![]() (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) |
The challenges
Less rainfall at different times could mean farmers would need more irrigation in southwestern Ontario, particularly on drought-prone soils and for shallow-rooted crops such as potatoes. Milder winters with less consistent snow cover are likely to lead to an increase in injury damage to over-wintering crops in some areas.
![]() (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) |
Did you know?
Adopting practices such as no-till farming, can reduce fuel and labour requirements, soil erosion from both wind and water, and investment in capital while at the same time increasing long-term productivity.
References
Smith, J.V., Lavender, B., Auld, H., Broadhurst, D., and Bullock, T., 1998: Adapting to climate variability and change in Ontario; in Volume IV of the Canada Country Study, Climate Impacts and Adaptation; Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, 117 p.
2006-10-06 |