As the California drought drags on, and its agriculture, upon which so much of the nation depends, continues to suffer, our thoughts go out to the farmers there who are struggling just to stay viable so they can farm another year. We must also consider our own changing weather patterns here in Western Washington and the issues we will face in the future as our climate changes, whether or not it is caused by human activity.
We may not suffer as severely as our neighbor to the south, but scientists’ projections for our region are still alarming. Some of their predictions are:
- Earlier spring runoff, causing water shortages in
late summer. - Depletion of aquifers.
- A surge in new pest and weed populations in
response to more warmth. - Flooding in low-lying areas.
- Declining yields and higher production costs.
- Increased likelihood of severe weather events
and wildfires. - Warming water conditions, affecting fish and
algae blooms.
Water will be a huge issue in coming years. This year we barely reached the irrigation cutoff date (September 15) before the river level dropped below the level where irrigation is permitted. We need snow early in the winter to form a decent snowpack. Late snow remains relatively “fluffy” and melts early. Storage for irrigation water will be a big deal in the future.
What should farmers plant when the climate is changing? What varieties can we count on? Seed that is adapted to our region will become precious, but plant growth patterns will change, too. What should farmers select for?
Organic farmers are accustomed to adapting to nature. But the challenges that we all will be facing will require not only adaptations on the part of farmers, but also from the communities they feed.