Farming Through Climate Change

by Irely Knox

This morning Forts Ferry Farm was enveloped in a layer of smoke. The air weighed heavily on the neat rows of flowers and vegetables, across the trees that hug the borders of the farm. The haze blurred the usually crystal-clear landscape and clouded the sky. The smell of smoke overwhelmed the familiar aromas of the land: herbs, fresh air and soil.

As I write this, on June 7th, 2023, there are 423 active wildfires in Canada, 246 of which are out of control. Since the start of the wildfires around six weeks ago, smoke has begun to pollute Canada and the US. In the past few days the air quality in upstate NY, where Forts Ferry Farm is located, has rapidly declined. Due to the poor air quality, the crew was unable to work outside and had to instead find indoor tasks to complete.

Climate change has contributed to the start of the wildfires by causing irregular weather patterns including drought and long periods of heat. As climate change progresses, farmers are increasingly challenged by irregular weather patterns. This may entail periods of drought as well as heavy precipitation. Too much rain is harmful to crops because it causes the nutrients and organic matter in the soil to erode. On the other hand, drought forces farmers to irrigate more frequently, increasing both the monetary and environmental costs of agriculture. Not being able to work outside for one day is not a big deal, but environmental events are only increasing as climate change worsens. A holistic approach to climate change mitigation is necessary for maintaining good quality of life for farmers. Mitigation of climate change is also important in order to make growing food affordable and accessible.

Ironically, agriculture is a major contributor to the greenhouse gas emissions that are contributing to climate change. Soil management practices that increase soil nitrogen content such as fertilizer application can result in the emission of nitrous oxide, which is a greenhouse gas. In general, poor soil management practices are one of the greatest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture, so it is important to find ways to manage soil sustainability. Livestock farming, especially cattle, is a major contributor to methane emissions. Proper manure management is essential in decreasing the carbon footprint of livestock farming. Manure management contributes to 11% of total agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions from manure are variable based on different manure management practices. The use of certain soil amendments like lime or various fertilizers can also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, but not as prominently as the previously mentioned contributors. Tilling the soil also releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Since carbon is stored in the soil, when farmers agitate the soil during the process of tillage, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.

Since agriculture is such a big contributor to climate change, it is important to understand where our food is coming from and the practices that were used during its production. Food and the way that it is grown directly affects the people that grow it and the environment that it is grown in. Supporting local, sustainably grown food is the first step towards building a food system that is mutually beneficial to humans and the environment.