Global cooling

[Creepusmaximus]

I'm on a rant. California is not a good place for crops except the sun. They have to irragate the crap out of place to make things grow and long term many people are very worried about the water reserves running out. They always have big problems if they don't get enough snow fall in the mountains. They also built that place on cheap Mexican labor.

 

[samoth]

Your problem is you said "useful farmland". The rain patterns will not be the same everywhere and where the land is not useful for farming right now it will be if temps go up. Also some places that don't get enough rain for crops will get enough and those that get the right amount might not get enough.

I won't pretend to understand agriculture, but you seem to think that everywhere that is currently not ideal for farming will suddenly become so when the climate becomes more unstable and extreme. I see no reason for such an unfounded assertion.

How long does it take for soil and good farmland to become usable? How quickly do current models predict dramatic change? The timeframes are vastly different.

 

[Creepusmaximus]

If gobal warming seriously changes the climate around the world it will take a while. If that change sticks which is questionable.

Doesn't matter, Ag. doesn't take up that much land. I can't come up with a % of land under Ag. use right now but it's not that high. In fact it's almost simply a matter of latitude, position of mountains and large bodies of water. Change in temps just moves that around. As far as rain the west side of any mountian range will be dry compared to the east side.

Look at the Northeast for a quick example. Lots of farmland that is idol because cheaper places beat them on cost of production. Up state NY with a temp rise of 10 degrees would be a very high producing place for crops. Just a matter of labor. Our food is grown in places because it's the cheapest place to produce food not that its the best place.

Corn belt. Just move that 300 miles North. Simple as that.

As far as every inch of planet getting more rain? Don't think that's true but there are many places that are marginal and produce enough crops for the locals. Add 20 inches of rain extra a year and they can become commerical farmers.


All comes down to social economic factors. People aren't going anywhere but they may have to move. Ask people who come here from mexico why they left. Life is better here because the US is rich. Ag. moves and Canada may be the AG rich place. Who knows but the whole gobal warm thing comes down to the US wants to be the biggest exporter of food in the world because it gives us power. Don't do what we want and we'll strave your ass. That is what this is really about. Power.

Some day some virus that can't bestopped is going to kill off something like 30% of the planet any ways. I would be more worried about that.

 

[Creepusmaximus]

Short answer. You can grow commerical crops anywhere you have high temps,sun and enough water. Can grow them on pure sand if you want. Just need enough fertilizer. Think AZ. That's how they do it there.

 

[samoth]

Short answer. You can grow commerical crops anywhere you have high temps,sun and enough water. Can grow them on pure sand if you want. Just need enough fertilizer. Think AZ. That's how they do it there.

What percentage of crops are grown there?

How are billions going to be fed on crops grown on sand? If it was that easy, why do Africa and other 3rd world nations have so many problems feeding their people?

 

[Creepusmaximus]

What percentage of crops are grown there?

How are billions going to be fed on crops grown on sand? If it was that easy, why do Africa and other 3rd world nations have so many problems feeding their people?

They don't have the money to farm like that. They don't have the population with money to buy the food that's farmed like that.

AZ produces a large amount of fruit which isn't isn't a staple crop like wheat or rice something like that. Poor people can't afford more than basic grains.

 

[Creepusmaximus]

Citrus, Fruit and Vegetable

take a look around. I'll see what else I can dig up.

 

[Creepusmaximus]

http://www.azda.gov/CFV/ADA CFV 2005_ annual.pdf

That will give you some numbers.

http://stuffaboutstates.com/agriculture/index.html

 

[gjohnson5]

They don't have the money to farm like that. They don't have the population with money to buy the food that's farmed like that.

AZ produces a large amount of fruit which isn't isn't a staple crop like wheat or rice something like that. Poor people can't afford more than basic grains.

Some of these countries would have government controlled farming area. You're assuming every country is democratic. In Africa this is definitly not the case

 

[EnderJE]

I think this is they underlying issue. People don't care about the future or what doesn't specifically impact them right now.

... but I suppose that's an underlying issue for much, much more than just global warming...

+1

Financial crisis or GW, it's all the same.

That's why I burn tired for my energy and kill endangered animals. I hate the movies coming out of California and hate SNL. If GW hits, both those places are going under!