Overview
The Earth's temperature is rising as a result of increased
atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (see Basic
Information on Climate Change from EPA). This is what
we know about the situation as it relates to agriculture:
- Climate change will affect crop and livestock yields
worldwide, which will lead to changes in food and fiber
consumption, prices of agricultural commodities, and
farm incomes.
- Agriculture is a source of methane and nitrous oxide
emissions, two prominent greenhouse gases. Changes in
agricultural practices could potentially reduce emissions
of these gases.
- Agriculture also has a potential role to play in
reducing the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide
through increased sequestration and possibly through
provision of biofuels.
- Although the United States has not yet made a binding
commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, researchers
and policymakers have begun to think about possible
greenhouse gas policies, such as a nationwide carbon
cap-and-trade system. Researchers have begun to examine
how the agricultural and forestry sectors might be included
in this system.
The ERS climate change research program builds on extensive
expertise on the economics of land use, land management,
technology adoption, conservation program design, and
biofuels production and distribution. ERS research is
underway to estimate the likely responses of farmers to
carbon storage policies and to assess the likely impacts
of policies on the carbon balance, land and water use,
and agricultural markets. Landowner responses to carbon
policies are a key factor in establishing the costs of
greenhouse gas offsets from agriculture.
Highlights
The Role of Agriculture in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Economics of Sequestering
Carbon in the U.S. Agricultural Sector
The Use of Markets To
Increase Private Investment in Environmental Stewardship
Increasing
Feedstock Production for Biofuels: Economic Drivers, Environmental
Implications, and the Role of Research
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