Climate Change could potentially affect Idaho agriculture

The U.S. economy is expected to be hit by climate change by the end of the century costing billions of dollars. So what does that mean for Idaho’s agriculture?

The wave of hurricanes and wildfires that plagued the U.S. are just one direct consequence of climate change.

The most recent wildfires in California are part of a system of global warming that is going to get worse by the end of the century.

According to a new 1600 page report issued by the trump administration, extreme weather has cost the U.S. almost 400 billion dollars and by the end of the century, the U.S. could potentially be 12 degrees warmer.

Agriculture carries 25% of the burden of the total economic impact of climate-related disasters.

In Idaho, the annual number of wildfires has more than doubled since the 1970s key crop like potatoes doesn’t thrive well in heat which saw a decline of 10 to 15% this year alone.

The combination of wildfires and drier conditions call for an increase in irrigation just as competition for more water gets worse.

The report was ordered by Congress and would likely debate the government planning in the coming years. however, this administration is different from those from the past.

President Trump has described climate change as a hoax and recently tweeting “brutal and extended cold blast could shatter all records- whatever happened to global warming?

Not only would potato crops be affected, but other crops could potentially see damage too if the lower summer stream flow eliminates available irrigation water.