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Rice is important but western agriculture (Wheat) is becoming increasingly precarious, too. Wheat likes long growing seasons sure, but you know what it doesn't
by MAGZine 5y ago
Rice is important but western agriculture (Wheat) is becoming increasingly precarious, too.
Wheat likes long growing seasons sure, but you know what it doesn't like? Too much or too little rain. Extreme climate (hail+wind can basically shear off wheat). Early frost, or late frost.
As the weather warms we experience more variable weather. This could mean more crops that get damaged or destroyed by random freezing events that start to happen in August or late snow/freezing that happens in May/June, after the seed is in the ground.
We'll still be able to farm wheat for sure, just like asian/equatorial countries will be able to farm rice, even as the temperature rises. The ability to produce will certainly decline as weather ravages crops before harvest.
Places that have traditionally been in the goldilocks zone for production are leaving it.
- fragmede 5y agoThe US as a whole, grows 10 million tons a year, putting it at the 11th spot for production of rice. Almost all of that rice is consumed domestically as well. If rice couldn't be grown in the US we'd have similar problems as if wheat couldn't be grown.