Agriculture's Fate under Climate Change: Economic and Environmental Imperatives For Action

Farming, ranching, and other agricultural activities are in a relatively unique position amongst all human-caused sources of global warming. Unlike fossil fueled power plants and vehicles, for example, agriculture will suffer direct economic losses from the impacts of global warming on its products, such as through reduced crop yields. Also unlike other causes of global warming, agriculture can both mitigate global warming and increase revenue through a range of different practices, such as carbon sequestration and investments in carbon-friendly renewable energy. This article explains how global warming affects agriculture, especially in the Midwest and Great Plains, and how agriculture contributes to global warming.

The article also summarizes proposed federal climate change legislation and the Farm Bill's carbon-cutting energy programs. Finally, the article explains why agriculture would do well to support comprehensive action to fight global warming, since the risks of inaction far outweigh any benefits.