Many Vermont farmers are already making changes to their practices in order to reduce their contributions to greenhouse gases.

Climate change is impacting Northeastern agriculture on a regional basis in differing ways and at varying magnitudes.

Effects are largely dependent upon the dominant production methods and systems within a given area, as well as the localized shifts in climatic factors. Similarly, future effects will be governed by the degree of climate change that occurs, as well as the extent of adaptations and resilience measures adopted by producers. Past observations and future projections of climatic trends can help inform producers and service providers and aid in planning and developing effective management strategies. Towards those ends, we offer:

  • A brief summary of observed climate trends in Vermont
  • The most up-to-date modeled projections available. and
  • Potential impacts on Vermont agriculture.

Observed

Joshua Faulkner On-Farm Research
  • It is getting wetter. There has been a 9" increase in average annual precipitation over the past century.1
  • Northern Vermont is becoming wetter at a faster rate than southern Vermont.1
  • Very heavy precipitation events are more common, increasing 71% from 1958-2012 in the Northeast.2
  • There was a 2.5°F (approx.) increase in annual average tem-perature in VT over the past century.1
  • The Vermont growing season has increased by 3.7 days/decade3
  • Winter extreme minimum temperatures have become less cold across the Northeast.1

Projected

Researching strategies to help farmers adapt.

Projections are all for the Lake Champlain Basin for the 2040-2069 time span.4

  • Increase in annual precipitation by almost another 3 inches
  • An increase in annual mean temperature of 5.6°F, with aver- age winter temps increasing by 6.7°F
  • Heat index will increase by almost four-fold (degree days)
  • Growing season will increase by four weeks
  • Expect 18 more days per summer that are over 90°F, and 32 fewer days where the avg. temperature is below freezing
  • During the month of July, crop water needs will regularly be greater than incoming rainfall
  • A decrease in maple sap production by seven days per year

Potential Impacts

Irrigation will be an important strategy for farmers in a changing climate.
  • Increased erosion and loss of nutrients from fields
  • Increased likelihood of damaging floods
  • Wet soils resulting in reduced yields, increased compaction, and sub-optimal timing of field operations
  • Increased need and demand for irrigation
  • Increased pest and weed pressure
  • Reduced yield/quality of cool-season crops
  • Increased risk of heat stress in livestock
  • Increased risk of spring frost damage for fruit growers
  • New opportunities and crops with extended growing season

References and Resources

Irrigation will be an important strategy for farmers in a changing climate.
  1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, :
  2. Karl, T. R., J. T. Melillo, and T. C. Peterson, 2009: Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. T.R. Karl, J.T. Melillo, and T.C. Peterson, Eds. Cambridge University Press, 189 pp.
  3. Galford, G.L., A. Hoogenboom, S. Carlson, S. Ford, J. Nash, E. Palchak, S. Pears, K. Underwood, and D.V. Baker, Eds. 2014. Considering Vermont's Future in a Changing Climate: The First Vermont Climate Assessment. Gund Institute for Ecological Economics, 219 pp.
  4. Guilbert, J., B. Beckage, J.M. Winter, R.M. Horton, T. Perkins, and A. Bomblies. 2014. Impacts of projected climate change over the Lake Champlain basin in Vermont. J. Appl.Meteorology and Climatology. 53:1861-1875.

Interested in knowing more about the Center's work or do you have a question we haven't answered here?  Contact us via email or  802-656-5459 and we'll do our best to help.

Vermont farmers are implementing both mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Contact

  • Farming & Climate Change Program Coordinator Joshua Faulkner at (802) 656-3495 or
  • Sustainable Agriculture Outreach Specialist Suzy Hodgson at (802) 656-4557 or suzy.hodgson@uvm.edu.