Wait, what?: IPCC author says that Iowa farmers are seeing longer growing seasons, more summer rain that allows planting at higher densities, and fewer hot spells?

Ag Professional - Iowa State seminar addresses climate change, effects on ag - Newsroom

His message for the USDA is that Iowa farmers are seeing changes in the growing season (he'll show chart after chart making the case) and are adapting their crop production practices:

• • The growing season is longer and so planting is earlier, with longer-season hybrids and later harvests.
• • Springs are wetter and so farmers are using larger machinery to complete harvest in smaller windows of dry weather.
• • More summer rain allows planting at higher densities.
• • Wetter springs and summers mean more drainage tile is being buried under fields.
• • Fewer hot spells mean plants can grow closer together and there are fewer pollination failures.
• • Higher humidity means more spraying for pests that prefer moist conditions and longer grain drying in the fall.
• • Drier falls mean delaying harvest to take advantage of natural drying in the fields.

The bottom line is the potential for higher yields.