Unique challenges and opportunities for northeastern US crop production in a changing climate

Abstract

Climate change may both exacerbate the vulnerabilities and open up new opportunities for farming in the Northeastern USA. Among the opportunities are double-cropping and new crop options that may come with warmer temperatures and a longer frost-free period. However, prolonged periods of spring rains in recent years have delayed planting and offset the potentially beneficial longer frost-free period. Water management will be a serious challenge for Climatic Change (2018) Northeast farmers in the future, with projections for increased frequency of heavy rainfall events, as well as projections for more frequent summer water deficits than this historically humid region has experienced in the past. Adaptations to increase resilience to such changes include expanded irrigation capacity, modernized water monitoring and irrigation scheduling, farm drainage systems that collect excess rain into ponds for use as a water source during dry periods, and improved soil water holding capacity and drainage. Among the greatest vulnerabilities over the next several decades for the economically important perennial fruit crop industry of the region is an extended period of spring frost risk associated with warmer winter and early spring temperatures. Improved real-time frost warning systems, careful site selection for new plantings, and use of misting, wind machine, or other frost protection measures will be important adaptation strategies. Increased weed and pest pressure associated with longer growing seasons and warmer winters is another increasingly important challenge. Pro-active development of non-chemical control strategies, improved regional monitoring, and rapidresponse plans for targeted control of invasive weeds and pests will be necessary.

Cultivar coefficient stability and effects on yield projections in the SPUDSIM model

“…The second was to explore the extent to how such sensitivity in coefficient values affects the magnitude of model yield predictions when conducting what‐if scenarios for these two previously unstudied cultivars. Agricultural production is being effected from current changes in historical weather patterns in this region (Wolfe et al., ), and accurate forecasts of future impacts on yield are highly relevant to identify adaptation needs. Determining the difference in yield projects to varying climate forecasts as a result of calibration methods is thus of significant importance in this research area.…”

Potential Fertilization Capacity of Two Grapevine Varieties: Effects on Agricultural Production in Designation of Origin Areas in the Northwestern Iberian Peninsula

“…Vine growing is closely associated to climatology, which means that climate change effects have become of great concern, promoting new research lines focused on the adaptability of the different grapevine varieties to the new scenarios [1,2]. As temperature increases, rainfall patterns will change and wine production will, therefore, need to adapt at short-term future [3].…”

Increasing risks of apple tree frost damage under climate change

“…Horticultural crops, e.g., apple trees, are sensitive organisms, and their yield strongly depends on each year's climatic conditions. Apple trees are especially vulnerable during their blossom period when a few frost days can lead to vast yield reductions (von Storch and Claussen 2012). Moreover, the internal clock of apple trees that triggers blossom depends on various factors as the temperature history during winter and spring and the change in day length.…”