Crop Vulnerability to Weather and Climate Risk: Analysis of Interacting Systems and Adaptation Efficacy for Sustainable Crop Production

Emile H. Elias, Robert Flynn, Omololu John Idowu, Julian Reyes, Soumaila Sanogo, Brian J. Schutte, Ryann Smith, Caitriana Steele and Carol Sutherland
Additional contact information
Emile H. Elias: United States Department of Agriculture Southwest Climate Hub, Jornada Experimental Range, 2995 Knox Street, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
Robert Flynn: Agriculture Science Center at Artesia, New Mexico State University, Artesia, NM 88210, USA
Omololu John Idowu: Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
Julian Reyes: United States Department of Agriculture Southwest Climate Hub, Jornada Experimental Range, 2995 Knox Street, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
Soumaila Sanogo: Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
Brian J. Schutte: Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
Ryann Smith: Natural Resources Conservation Service, 3530 W. Orchard Ct. Visalia, CA 93277, USA
Caitriana Steele: United States Department of Agriculture Southwest Climate Hub, Jornada Experimental Range, 2995 Knox Street, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
Carol Sutherland: Extension Plant Sciences Department, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 23, 1-25

Abstract: Climate change is increasing mean and extreme temperatures in the Southwestern United States, leading to a suite of changes affecting agricultural production. These include changes in water, soils, pathogens, weeds, and pests comprising the production environment. The aim of this synthesis is to describe the anticipated leading agricultural pressures and adaptive responses, many of which are near-term actions with longer-term consequences. In the semiarid Southwestern United States, climate change is expected to increase water scarcity. Surface water shortage is the leading reason for recent diminished crop yields in the Southwest. Drought and lack of water represent the leading regional weather-related cause of crop loss from 1989 to 2017. Thus, water scarcity has been and will continue to be a critical factor leading to regional crop vulnerability. Soils, pathogens, weeds, and insects are components of the agricultural production environment and are directly influenced by near-term weather and long-term climate conditions. Field crops, vegetable crops, and perennial crops have unique production requirements and diverse management options, many already used in farm management, to cope with production environment changes to build climate resilience. Farmers and ranchers continuously respond to changing conditions on a near-term basis. Long-term planning and novel adaptation measures implemented may now build nimble and responsive systems and communities able to cope with future conditions. While decision-support tools and resources are providing increasingly sophisticated approaches to cope with production in the 21st century, we strive to keep pace with the cascading barrage of inter-connected agricultural challenges.

Keywords: weather and climate; vulnerability; agriculture; adaptation; Southwestern United States; pests; crops (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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