The summer of 2023 was the warmest meteorological summer on record in North America. Lack of precipitation and high evaporation rates resulted in drought conditions in many parts of the US.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA-US National Security Agency) It was reported that half of the United States was affected by drought or extremely droughty weather last year. While drought statistics and impacts may change from week to week, one thing remains constant: Weather has a significant impact on farmers and affects the price of food.
What does drought mean for farmers?
As soil moisture decreases, crop productivity decreases. Droughts can also disrupt planting and harvesting schedules, resulting in lower yields and making crops more susceptible to pests and diseases.
Dr. Dennis Todey, a climate scientist with the USDA Midwest Climate Hub in Ames, Iowa, said the full impact of last year’s drought is not yet known.
“There are some areas where yields will be significantly lower. However, supply does not appear to be a major issue at this point. Drought conditions have developed later in the season and may be more severe for soybeans. Earlier in the season, conditions were generally manageable for the crop,” he said.
Where irrigation is available, growers can irrigate their food crops, so yields are not as affected. Row crops, such as grains and soybeans, are irrigated less frequently.
How does weather affect shoppers?
Drought can cause prices of meat and dairy products will augment because the cost of animal feed will augment, it said Cleveland.comOhio-based news and information service.
But drought isn’t the only problem. USDA climate monitors are seeing storms with bigger impacts — more damaging winds or hail and heavier rainfall, Dr. Todey said. Such weather affects food supplies and prices at the store.
For example, the prices of vegetables, nuts and berries increased due to flooding in California last year, according to USA today.
A combination of factors including drought, labor costs, the war in Ukraine and trade disruptions have led to record high food prices in 2022. NPR reported.
How do farmers prepare for adverse weather?
Managing extreme events is a challenge for climate scientists, researchers, and agricultural producers. Farmers are proactively investigating and implementing a range of practices, including diversifying cropping systems, selecting crops that are more adapted to drought conditions, and adopting soil management practices, such as including cover crops in crop rotations, to defend the conditions that Mother Nature throws at them.
“Soils are our first line of defense against changing climate conditions,” Dr. Todey said. “Improving soil management needs to be part of every operation. Changing rainfall patterns with larger events and more rain when we don’t have a crop canopy also exacerbate soil loss. Improving soil management, including reducing tillage and cover crops, can help mitigate soil loss issues.”
Weather has a direct impact on how food is grown and can affect its price. Farmers and scientists continue to develop methods to reduce the impact of weather and climate change.
