It was a devastating year for weather disasters in 2024, and farmers face the consequences.
What is happening?
Natural disasters had a major impact on American agricultural production last year. Summary of how the effect of the dangerous weather on crop losses, entitled “Hurricanes, Heat and hardship: Count the 2024 crop losses”, was ” Published On the farm office website.
“The total losses for crops and pastures (including a thousand) of the major weather and firefighting events, 2024, exceeding $ 20.3 billion, which represents 11.1 % of the total economic impact on NOAA from disasters,” According to To the economist Daniel Monch.
“From this total, $ 10.9 billion of losses was covered by Risk Management Agency programs as of February 2024, while about 9.4 billion dollars remained insured, or decreased outside the limits of policy coverage, or was not eligible under current risk management programs.”
Regarding the economic impact on farmers, drought, excessive heat and existing forest fires were exported to more than $ 11 billion in crop losses. The weather also contributed to approximately $ 120 million in insect losses, plant diseases, wildlife and toxic fungi.
The report indicated that “these numbers significantly reduce the real extent of losses due to the restrictions of insurance coverage, exceptions and reporting challenges.”
Why caused crop losses due to harsh weather?
There was 27 weather And climatic disasters, each of which cost the United States at least one billion dollars as compensation in 2024. Just late The identification of 28 events were determined in 2023. The annual average of the most recent five years is 23 events. The amount of $ 182.7 billion last year was the fourth highest recorder (after inflation).
These disasters have harmful effects on agriculture in the country and food supplies.
“Agriculture is very sensitive to weather and climate,” According to To the United States Environmental Protection Agency. “It also depends heavily on the ground, water and other natural resources that the climate affects. While climate changes (as in temperature, rain, and frost timing) can lengthen the growth season or allow the cultivation of different crops in some areas, it will make agricultural practices more difficult in others.”
Farmers around the world are affected by our growing planet. Researchers from Cornell University say the warmer medium temperatures during the fall alongside the “wrong” springs endangered. The terrible drought in Argentina affects the harvest season in the nation and forces farmers to rethink what the future hides for them. Canadian farmers have difficulty dealing with the longest drought since the era of reputation dust in the 1930s.
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What is done about crop losses like this?
“The effects of climate change on agriculture depend on the rate and severity of the change, as well as the degree that farmers and livestock can adapt. American agriculture has already enjoys many practices to adapt to the changing climate, including crop rotation and integrated pest management.” EPA. “There is a great deal of searching underway to help prepare for climate change.”
We can reduce our facilities bills while reducing the amount of heat trapped gases at the atmosphere. Energy efficiency installation Introduction stoveAnd upgrade to a Thermal pump water heaterAnd turn into LEDS It can help.
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