12 The Julian News
June 14, 2017
Questions & Answers
About Our Environment
Dear Earth Talk: How are farms
and farmers dealing with climate
change?
-- Michael Harris, Lorton, VA
Agriculture may well be one of
the industries hardest hit by the
effects of global warming. The
non-profit Natural Resources
Defense Council (NRDC), a
leading environmental advocacy
group, reports that warming-
related drought and flooding is
already behind tens of billions of
dollars in American agricultural
losses annually. Given this
growing threat, more and more
farmers are looking to incorporate
tools and techniques--let alone
switch up what crops they
grow--to be prepared for the big
environmental changes already
underway.
According to Washington
State University's Center for
Sustaining Agriculture & Natural
Resources (CSANR), some of
the most promising warming-
friendly farming technologies and
practices include conservation
tillage (stirring up the soil less),
precision agriculture (which
employs information technology
to monitor crop development,
refine soil inputs and optimize
growing conditions), improved
cropping systems (refining the
sequence of which crops follow
each other on a given piece of
land), and anaerobic digestion
of organic wastes (via capturing
methane waste and turning it
into useable energy).
NRDC has been working
on sustainable agriculture for
decades, and recently launched
its Climate Resistant Farms
campaign to focus on helping
farmers roll with the punches
of global warming through
implementation of some of these
new techniques. The group
works directly with farmers to
• !.
develop and share some of these
best practices regarding soil
health and water use.
"Climate change and
extreme weather will likely have
detrimental impacts on crop
production, but farmers can
use cover crops and other soil
stewardship practices to make
their farms more resilient to the
climate change impacts already
being felt and those likely to
come in the years ahead," reports
NRDC. "Such practices can also
help to reduce and capture the
greenhouse gas emissions that
contribute to climate change."
NRDC analyzed the carbon
capture and water-holding
benefits of soil stewardship
methods to increase soil organic
matter in the 10 highest-value-
producing agricultural states in
the U.S. They found that "using
cover crops on just half of the
acres devoted to the nation's two
most ubiquitous cropsmcorn
and soybeans--in those top 10
states could help capture more
than 19 million metric tons of
taxpayers--offer discounts to
farmers who implement cover
crops "just safe drivers can get
discounts on their car insurance."
"While the program was
created to help farmers manage
risk, premiums are set using
a formula that fails to equip
them for the challenges of
climate change," states NRDC.
"Instead, the program spurs
farmers to make risky production
decisions." NRDC points out that
besides saving taxpayer dollars
in insurance payouts, expanding
climate-friendly agricultural
practices helps "ensure a reliable
food supply for the nation even
in the face of more extreme
weather and climate risks."
CONTACTS: CSANR, csanr.
wsu.edu; NRDC, www.nrdc.org.
EarthTalk® is produced by
Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss
and is a registered trademark
of the nonprofit Earth Action
Network. To donate, visit www.
earthtalk.org. Send questions to:
question@earthtalk.org.
Midway Farms in Warsaw, ~rginia has employed conservation tillage
systems and soil quality improvement practices to save water and stay
resilient against the threats of climate change.
Credit: Chesapeake Bay Program, FlickrCC.
carbon each year and help soils
retain an additional trillion gallons
of water."
But despite the benefits,
fewer than seven percent of
U.S. farms plant cover crops,
while only one percent of total
cropland nationally has them.
NRDC would like to see the
Federal Crop Insurance Program
(FCIP)--which is backed by U.S.
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• FISHING REPORT •
Howdy! From
Lake Cuyamaca
"Dusty Britches" here
along with "Squat" and "The
Graduate". Weather has been a
factor here.., hot days, then high
winds, and now high winds with
a touch of precipitation.., then, a
forecast of warming back up into
the 90's by the end of the week.
We had the "San Diego 100"
mile endurance run over the
weekend. A bunch of healthy
looking folks springing around
as if they were on pogo sticks.
Some slept on the ground,
some in their cars on the
highway, some actually got
rooms to ensure a good night's
sleep before the big day. Lots
of hub-bub the days before in
preparation of the event. When
all the dust settled they had 261
starters with 173 finishing, 88
drops, and only 14 no shows.
Kris Brown produced the overall
best time plodding out the course
in 16 hours:59 minutes:48
seconds. Coming in second
was Michael Carson running
it in 18 hours: 01 minute; 57
seconds: and Buck Blankenship
was overall third with a time of 20
hours: 26 minutes: 02 seconds.
Teresa Kaiser was the first lady
to cross the .finish line in 22
hours: 22 minutes: 51 seconds,..
Teresa was number 8 overall.
This event takes considerable
organization to pull off. Just the
communication and logistics for
the accountability Of each runner
is a huge challenge to know
where they are in the course,
estimating their time from one
point to another...' what to do and
how to find a runner that hasn't
checked in to an aid tation along
the way. Then what to do when
a runner drops out! of the rUn
and how to evacuate and care
for them if they are injured. Aid
stations by the mile were located
at Lake Cuyamaca (start), Paso
Picacho (2.5), Chamber's Park
(12.5), Sunrise-1 (21), Pioneer
Mail-1 (28.2), Pine Creek (36.2),
continued bn page 14
Irl
Diamond Tom is an eight years young Miniature Schnauzerwho
weighs 221bs. He arrived to the shelter as a stray and no one has
come to claim this sweet boy. He is a friendly, mature guy who will
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puppy training. Diamond Tom doesn't shed too much but will require
regular grooming to maintain his handsome coat. Meet him by asking
for ID#1281921 Tag#C444. He can be adopted for $35.
Keenan is an eJeven month old male orange tabby who weighs
71bs. He arrived to the shelter as a stray but with his handsome face,
he won't be a stray for long. Keenan is a playful, curious guy who will
bring you hours of entertainment with his antics. He will adapt quickly
to a new environment and feel right a home in no time. Meet him by
asking for ID#A1783837 Tag#C734. Keenan can be adopted for $58.
All adoptions will include vaccinations, spaying/neutering (upon adoption),
a microchip and free Vet visit. Dog fees also include a I yearlicense. Diamond
Tom and Keenan are at our Central County Shelter, 5480 Gaines Street, San
Diego. The Shelter hours are 9:30AM to 5:30PM, Tuesday through Sunday
or visit www.sddac.com for more information.
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