—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Nov: 27.. 1976 . 80 Earth’s climate is never constant EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the 14tb installment in a con tinuing series of stories on the weather and how it affects mankind. Unlike all previous installments, however, this particular article was not written by Dieter Krieg, who has worked on the series since mid August. The following story was submitted by a public relations firm and is thought to be in line with the editor’s series. It therefore is being used as a part of “Weather Report.” There is no doubt about it, climate and weather conditions we have been experiencing are changing - as they always have and always will. According to a recent survey of weather and weed specialists conducted by Stauffer Chemical Company, what this means for agriculture in general and the individual grower in particular is that we can no longer simply assume that the pattern of good weather conditions of the last two decades will continue. Dr. James McQuigg, director of the Center for Climatic and Environmental Assessment for the Environmental Data Service reports, “the wonderful period of good growing weather during the period of 1955 to 1973 is not a constant we can depend on. Weather records over the long term point out that weather is usually much more variable than was the case for that 15-18 year period. “What we see now,” Dr. McQuigg continues, “is not the continuation of this period of good weather, but more like the long term weather pattern of the climatological history we have had for major crop production. The radical difference between 1973 and 1974, for example, was not abnormal, but a variation to be expected within the sphere of normal climatic change.” “Putting it another way,” Dr. McQuigg explains, “there is no such thing as ‘normal’ weather. An average computed over a number of years is just that, an average. It is ex tremely rare for weather data even over a single season to fall within the boundaries of what we define as average. “Most of our technological advances have taken place during this most recent 15 to 18 year period of good growing weather, and were developed to exploit it technologically and agriculturally,” Dr. McQuigg points out. “The fertilizer industry, new seed varieties, new pesticides, systems for better machinery production and other new developments all took place during this providential, but not normal, period. We almost conviced ourselves that this is the way weather was supposed to continue. That was a mistake, and a costly one for many growers during the 1974 season. In spite of our substantial progress, we have a global grain production- Omaha Standard Combination Bodies and Hoists... 1h ■> r* r f ~ n f The Standard of the Industry Without question, the toughest all-hard wood livestock and grain combination body around (available in 40" and 48" side heights). High grade woods and hardware, combined with superior crafts manship assure you of a farm body that will outlast your truck Laminated edge grain fir flooring forms the platform core, while riveted hardwood side stakes line each platform side. Omaha Standard of fers solid or vented sides Vented sides come with vent slats which remove quickly to let livestock breathe easy on the long haul. Standard features on the hardwood body include cross chains, anti-spread bars, double deck rails, metering gram gate and full-height slid ing livestock gate With features like these, it’s easy to see why Omaha Stan dard is the industry leader F arm management affected distribution system which is more, rather than less, sensitive to the impact of large meteorological anomalies than was the esse just five to ten years ago, and it is precisely these irregularities that are more likely to occur in the next decade,” Dr. McQuigg explains. On an individual scale however, the tableg'can be reversed according to Dr. Fred Slife, research agronomist at the University of Illinois. “Because of developments in agriculture such as short season hybrids, improved equip ment and pesticides, farmers can modify the damage potential of weather extremes by an increased ability to react. “The fluctuation in weather patterns we expect,” he they go together. Put on Omaha Standard Combination Livestock and Grain Body to work for you. Durability, dependability and ease of conversion make these truck bodies a solid investment. continues, “even with the equipment presently available, will certainly reduce yields, but growers must therefore be prepared to change their management practices to offset this reduction as much as possible,” Dr. Slife counsels. “An additional area of management control where growers can offset weather risks, for example, would be the use of soil incorporated “Herbicides. The last two years have shown an increased chance of low rainfall during the critical activation stage of surface applied herbicides. By mechanically placing herbicides in the soil by incorporation, the grower removes one more dependence on variable rainfall. Extending this type of management shrewdness to other facets of their operations will enable growers to better deal with possible weather anomalies and reduce the associated risks.” Dr. John Ross, associate director of the Institute for En vironmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin supports Dr. McQuigg’s findings. “The growing seasons were generally exceptionally long during the 1950’s and 60’s and we can look for this decade to be more ‘common’ in length,” Dr. Ross comments. “Here in Madison (southern Wisconsin) we had a good corn year last year, but the growing season was 22 days shorter than growers usually expect. This tendency toward shorter growing seasons increases the likelihood of getting late Spring frosts and early Fall frosts and there is also a greater likelihood of mid-Summer frosts in northern states.” What does all this mean to the individual grower? “Growers should have a strategy that would allow them to respond in a flexible manner to a wide variety of conditions and not get locked into one strategy,” Dr. McQuigg says. “Most growers are pretty much on top of their own situations and they should be aware that even, crop prices are influenc ed by world weather events. Attention should be paid to world-wide weather patterns as well as their own.” “On the whole,” Dr. Ross says, “it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect that climate change could cut into yields by 10 to 15 per cent nation-wide. The individual fanner might look to earlier maturing varieties or strains that are less climate sensitive. If the cooler pattern persists in the north, we may see a more favorable situation for wheat, grassland or livestock production - all less dependent on temperature.” “Growers will have to be more conservative in moving to late season hybrids because we are now pushing these to the limit,” Dr. Ross says. “But risks must be taken, as they are Steel body shown with optional 12" tip tops, which are available on 28", 40" and 52" stetel sides in all lengths {Continued on Page 81] MILLS UCK EQUIPMENT SALES - INSTALLATION - SERVICE 711 Reckord Rd. Failston, Maryland 301-877-9889 Your OMAHA STANDARD Dealer
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers