[SustainableTompkins] Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture in the Northeast

[Sylvester Johnson]

Tuesday 4/3/2007 If anyone wants to carpool, Sylvester will pay for  
the gas. –Sylvester Johnson, ContactSJ at mac.com, 539-6193
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County, 7:00-8:30 pm, Dr.  
David Wolfe will speak about “The Impact of Climate Change on  
Agriculture in the Northeast” at Cornell Cooperative Extension of  
Cayuga County, 248 Grant Ave., Auburn. Free and open to the public.  
For info call 315-255-1183.  (Note: This talk was originally  
scheduled for March 5, but was cancelled due to extreme weather.) Dr.  
Wolfe is Professor of Plant Ecology in the Dept. of Horticulture at  
Cornell University. He is a leading authority on the effects of  
climate change and rising atmospheric carbon dioxide on plants,  
soils, and ecosystems. He will talk about the effects of climate  
change that are already being observed in the northeast, such as  
earlier bloom dates for fruit trees. For crop farmers, it is likely  
that there will be changes in weed and insect pests as ranges shift  
northwards, as well as changes in rainfall patterns. Concerning  
livestock, Dr. Wolfe writes, “Summer high temperature stress could  
negatively affect the health and productivity of dairy cattle and  
other livestock important to the NE economy.” In addition to  
describing the possible impacts on agriculture, Dr. Wolfe will share  
his ideas on how farms can adapt to a warmer world. For further  
information visit the Cornell climate change website at  
www.climateandfarming.org.