Mont. farmers release reports, plan 'frank discussions' about warming's impactsPublished: Tuesday, June 9, 2015
The Montana Farmers Union began releasing reports this week that highlight how climate change is affecting agriculture in Big Sky country. "We're just trying to educate people that it is here, and maybe if there is something we can do about it, as people living on farms or people living in cities, we should take a look at it," said Alan Merrill, president of the union. For years, farming organizations have shied away from connecting increasing bouts of extreme weather and drought to climate change, but Merrill said in Montana the time has come to have some "frank discussions." According to U.S. EPA data, since 1900, the average temperature in Montana has increased 2.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Instead of touching on the political debate behind climate change, Merrill said, he hopes to focus more locally on the ways climate change has affected the individual farmer, many of whom keep daily records. For example, he said in central Montana's grain belt, seeds are being sown weeks earlier than they once were and the harvest is coming sooner for crops like winter wheat. The reports are based on research by Montana State University, and community meetings are scheduled over the next few months to open up a dialogue (Tom Lutey, *Billings Gazette* <http://billingsgazette.com/news/farmers-union-publishes-reports-on-climate-change-effects-on-agriculture/article_25574d74-74c9-54ff-a8e4-fa2c564ff097.html>, June 7). *-- BP* _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
