More Than 27 Million US Poultry Birds Culled Due To Avian Flu
Image Source: Reuters/Stephane Mahe
First detected at an Indiana turkey farm in February, the H5N1 strain of bird flu has since spread to 29 states, infecting millions of chickens and turkeys. It is the second-worst outbreak of avian flu in US history, forcing "free-range" egg producers to keep their birds indoors for months. Similar farm safety measures are in place in Europe, where more than 16 million birds have been culled. The virus's main vector is migratory waterfowl, and risk to humans remains low.
New UN Climate Report Details Affects On Global Agricultural Systems
Image Source: George Rose/Getty Images
According to the latest climate science, "substantive" agricultural production losses are projected for most European areas over the next 80 years. More than a third of southern Europe’s population will be exposed to water scarcity. North America faces similar risks. Recently, the US government halted water deliveries to California’s Central Valley—which produces roughly a quarter of America's food—due to extreme water shortages. The report adds that millions of people are already suffering from acute water and food insecurity, especially in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, the Artic, and on small island nations. The bright spot: higher elevations in northern Europe and North America will see a climate change boon as warming temperatures make it easier to grow crops.
Climate Change Extends Alaska's Growing Season And Potential Profits
Image Source: NRCS Alaska/Flickr
In 2019, temps in Anchorage Alaska reached 90ºF for the first time on record. While global warming has fanned wildfires and destroyed crops in some US states, it may eventually increase Alaska's agricultural revenue. Climate modeling from the International Arctic Research Center suggests that the state's frost-free seasons will soon increase by several weeks, allowing farmers to grow significantly more cucumbers, sweet corn, tomatoes and other warm-weather crops.
The US Corn Belt Has Lost 35% Of Fertile Top Soil Since The 1600s, Scientists Say
Image Source: Dale Strickler
Midwestern corn belt states produce 75% of US corn. In a long-term study, scientists found that this region has lost 35% of fertile topsoil since European colonization. They estimate that the 6% annual reduction in crop yields has resulted in economic losses of $2.8 billion a year. Due mostly to erosion, this soil loss has also resulted in increased water pollution, dust pollution, and carbon in the atmosphere. The study authors say that improved technology and farm practices may help reverse this long-term trend.
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