Ask any farmer in the world what will determine the outcome of the season and the vast majority will answer “the weather”. Every year, Mother Nature can bring unexpected benefits or challenges that farmers must adapt to to manage their business and produce the food the world depends on.
Added to this are the continuing effects of climate change, which are making managing weather patterns even more difficult. Examples include increased droughts, more intense storms, and new pest migrations due to warming temperatures.
Weather Impact on 2022 Harvests
Last year’s rainfall was poor in many areas, forcing farmers around the world to endure very dry and hot conditions, including record-breaking temperatures. This situation had a significant impact on crops. In particular, 75 % of farmers in the United States reported drought-induced reductions in crop yields, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
In Spain, prolonged heat waves combined with the long drought forced farmers in the La Viñuela reservoir to remove trees from their avocado crops so that the few remaining trees would have enough water.
In addition to the heat waves and drought conditions, farmers also faced restrictions on water pumping, not to mention the high cost of the fuel needed to pump the water.
What’s the Forecast?
The probability of more weather extremes remains high, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which stated studies indicate “that extreme weather events such as heat waves and large storms are likely to become more frequent or more intense with climate change.”
In more than half the country, dry conditions are expected to remain throughout 2022, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In fact, close to 50 percent of the country is in a persistent drought that will continue through December, NOAA said. That includes all of Nevada, Utah, and Oklahoma; almost all of California, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana; and a good portion of Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado.
Concerning the weather and the challenges it will bring next year, growers realize the importance of remaining efficient in managing their costs while improving their crops’ health and enhancing quality and yield in the process.
That’s where innovative agricultural technology and knowledgeable partners can help.
At Stoller®, we are here to share our deep understanding of plant health and multiple solutions that can improve grower operations to make their operations more sustainable.
Contact us for more information on how we can help you increase the yield and quality of your crops.