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Report: climate change could impact Indiana crops

A new report says projected changes in Indiana’s climate could impact crop conditions, the types of crops that can be planted, and livestock health.

Laura Bowling, a professor at Purdue University and an author of the report, says corn and soybean yields are expected to decline because of increasingly warm conditions over the next several years.

“Up to 16-20 percent yield decline for contemporary corn varieties and somewhat less of a decline projected for soybeans,” she says.

She tells Brownfield precipitation is expected to increase, but not when farmers need it the most.

“We’re looking at more rain in the winter and spring and less in the summer and fall,” she says.

Bowling says livestock will also be negatively impacted by the warmer temperatures.

“Our projections are very clearly showing a large increase in the number of days per year that animals are likely to be uncomfortable,” she says. “Generally we consider above 86 degrees Fahrenheit to be the start of stress in animals.”

The report says that by mid-century, animals could experience heat stress on 87 to 99 days out of the year.

Purdue University’s Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment team released the report.

Audio: Laura Bowling, Purdue University