Climate change due to human-induced increases in greenhouse gases over decades is a significant global problem. Climate variability has always had a significant impact on food production. Food production is well adjusted to the mean temperature of the region and can withstand fluctuations in temperature. However, agricultural ecosystems are not well adapted to the hazards arising from climatic variability.

High temperatures exacerbate the effects of drought, damaging crops, and farming establishments. Low temperatures, frost, and heavy snowfall decrease production and destroy crops. Phenomenal rainfall and flooding cause areas of productivity to be inundated and waterlogged. Drought directly impacts agricultural production as it reduces plant growth and animal production. The reasons behind all of these things are the impact of climate variability which can be changed.

Reducing tillage, expanding crop rotations, farming cover crops, and incorporating livestock into crop production systems have proven to reduce agriculture’s own footprint and capture excess carbon from other industries. This captured carbon is then converted into plant material and/or soil organic matter, increasing soil health and enhancing food production on the land in the future. Input costs are often cut as well because of these practices.

Pursuing a sustainable production system means that farmers must enter into uncharted territory without any guarantees of quick success, but as we all know, things take time. It’s hard to imagine anything being fixed by a blink of an eye.