Kris Swartz, a farmer in Wood County, Ohio, says he's seeing more rain and hotter temperatures than he did 30 years ago when he started farming.
Over the summer, mini droughts and intense thunderstorms frequented Ohio, leaving farmers like Swartz worried about the seasons to come. These volatile weather conditions are due to climate change. For Ohio farmers, they bring dynamic and extreme levels of precipitation and higher temperatures - but also the possibility of longer growing seasons.In a perfect season, Swartz would start planting corn the last week of April and finish planting by May 15.
Generally, Ohio will experience more rainfall and the events will be more extreme as climate change progresses."On average, throughout the year, we'll have more inches of rain, but we're also going to have bigger single rainfall events where you get like an inch or more of rain in one event," Wilson said.If farmers plant too early in the spring, they risk drowning their crops in the rain or the soil becoming too compact and clay-like to sustain their crops.
Hotter temperatures can harm crop yields, according to a 2016 Environmental Protection Agency report."The warmer weather can e a problem," Wilson said,"but it also can be a good thing. It can lengthen the growing season, and maybe you have opportunities to even double crop." On August 2, 2014, a toxic algal bloom on Lake Erie caused Toledo to issue a"Do Not Drink" advisory that lasted for three days. The bloom caused unsafe levels of the algal toxin microcystin, a potent liver toxin and possible carcinogen, in the drinking water plant's treated water.
Warmer weather means longer growing season. Should be a plus.
Climate change... You meant chemicals from a train car. 🌻
United Kingdom United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: axios - 🏆 302. / 63 Read more »