Climate Column

By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy Climate Column readers know that there are many things farmers can do to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), housed within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), offers farmers technical and financial support to abate climate change and become more climate … Read More

By Kiana Brockel, NFU Intern On the Climate Column, we have discussed farm practices that can mitigate climate change and make farms more resilient to its effects, as well as government programs that assist farmers in implementing these practices. The support programs are important, but farmers may not be able to adopt many practices with … Read More

By Tom Driscoll, Director of NFU Foundation and Conservation Policy, and Jake Stukenberg, NFU Intern Here on the Climate Column, we have discussed the impacts climate change will have on your farm as well as management decisions you can make to cope with these changes. Longtime Climate Leaders know that there are many climate impacts … Read More

By Alexis Dunnum, NFU Executive Assistant Land management practices have the capacity to either mitigate climate change or to exacerbate its negative impacts. As landowners, farmers have the opportunity to participate in conservation efforts and directly protect the land, water, and wildlife. However, owning and managing property is not the only way to ensure lands … Read More

By Janan Lenzy, Information Systems Coordinator The proliferation of weeds on farmland can impede the growth of crops and forage. As the climate continues to change, longer seasons and warmer temperatures will likely encourage the propagation of invasive species. There are a number of methods by which farmers and ranchers can combat weed pressures. Here … Read More

By Janan Lenzy, NFU Intern Previously on the Climate Column, we have discussed how troublesome weeds can be for agricultural operations, particularly as the climate continues to change. Although tillage can be an effective method of weed control, there are substantial drawbacks that may dissuade some farmers from implementation. One possible alternative to tillage is … Read More

By Janan Lenzy, NFU Intern Climate change been the cause, both directly and indirectly, of various challenges for agricultural producers. This list includes extreme droughts and floods, irregular growing seasons, animal and crop disease transmission, and pest migration. Another seemingly perpetual issue exacerbated by climate change is weed growth. Weeds are invasive plant species genetically … Read More

By Janan Lenzy, NFU Intern Bees contribute to the economy and health of the environment. In addition to their notoriety for honey production, bees also provide the versatile substance known as beeswax, and they are imperative to 30 percent of the world’s crop production, pollinating many fruit, vegetable, and flower species, as well as 90 percent … Read More