General agriculture covers a wide gamut of topics from raising fish to keeping bees, to growing sunflowers, to keeping lamas.  We provide education/information in all areas of agriculture not covered in agronomy. We also educate the general public about agriculture in our community.

Individual problem solving is available to Northampton County residents

Call our office (610-746-1970) for information or to schedule an appointment.

Climate change could affect Pennsylvania agriculture in several ways. Higher levels of carbon dioxide may lead to an increase in photosynthesis and thus crop yields, a phenomenon known as the car-bon dioxide "fertilization or enrichment" effect. Carbon dioxide is an indispensable component in photosynthesis. Higher levels of carbon dioxide could also reduce transpiration (evaporation from plant foliage), which would reduce water stress facing crops during droughts. Studies by MARA's research team and others suggest that carbon dioxide fertilization could have a significant effect on important crops such as corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. Com yields in Pennsylvania could rise 5 - 10 percent by the year 2030 as a result of the carbon dioxide fertilization effect.

Changes in temperature and precipitation would have additional impacts on crop yields. If summer heat waves became more common or more intense, crop production could suffer. Increases in snowfall could worsen spring flooding in some years, delaying planting. Increases in fall precipitation could delay harvesting or lower the quality of harvested grains. On the other hand, a rise in spring and summer rainfall could increase crop yields. Although Pennsylvania receives abundant rainfall in most years, water is still a limiting input in the production of many crops. Increases in spring and summer precipitation would ease this constraint on production. The net effect of all these changes is difficult to say, but studies by MARA's research team and others suggest that it would be small. In the case of corn, the net effect of changes in temperature and precipitation might be a 2 - 3 percent increase in Pennsylvania yields by the year 2030.

We know much less about how climate change might affect weeds or crop and livestock pests and diseases. The same carbon dioxide fertilization effect that benefits crops could increase the growth of many weed species. Warming could lead to a northern expansion of warm-season weeds and parasitic nematodes and insects, presenting Pennsylvania farmers with a different set of pest challenges than they face today. However, Pennsylvania agriculture is more diverse in the growing conditions and the types of crops and livestock produced than agriculture in many other parts of the U.S. or other countries, which should make it less vulnerable to devastating disease or pest epidemics.

Livestock can also be affected by climate change. Heat waves can increase livestock mortality, lower livestock yields, and reduce reproductive capacity. However, increases in summer temperatures will probably not threaten the economic viability of the Pennsylvania livestock industry. After all, much livestock production occurs today in southern states that are far warmer than Pennsylvania. North Carolina has become a major pork and poultry producer, while Florida and Texas are emerging as important dairy production states. Climate change could have an indirect effect on livestock production if forage yields or quality were to change. However, studies suggest that the carbon dioxide fertilization effect and increases in spring and summer precipitation could lead to increases in forage yields.

Both crop and livestock farmers have many options for dealing with problems created by climate change. Agriculture is an industry already very familiar with rapid, never-ending change. Crop farmers can adapt to climate change by altering the mix of crops grown, seed varieties, planting and harvesting dates, crop rotations, tillage practices, fertilization practices, and pest management practices. Livestock farmers can change breeds, feeding rations, veterinary practices, and heating and cooling systems. In particular, indoor livestock facilities can be adapted in many ways to higher temperatures, by adding fans, insulation, and improved ventilation.

Climate change is a global phenomenon that will affect agricultural production worldwide. As global agricultural commodity markets respond, prices facing Pennsylvania farmers will change. Economic studies are mixed on the effects of climate change on farm commodity prices. Some find that climate change will lead to increases in global food supplies, causing farm prices to decline by 5 - 10 percent. Others find that climate change will reduce globbal food supplies causing farm prices to rise by 10 percent.

Taken from Penn States Farm Economics Newsletter Issue #2, 2001

The information provided on this site is for Northampton County residents and may not be the same as that offered by other counties.  If you are not a Northampton County resident, you should contact the Cooperative Extension office (in Pennsylvania or other US States) located in your county.