Climate Change and Montana Ag (Ep. 5312)

How do we measure climate change, and how big is the change? How will climate change affect production agriculture? The Montana Climate Assessment is a product of the Montana University System's Institute on Ecosystems, in collaboration with the Montana Climate Office, Montana Water Center and Montana State University Extension. The assessment, the first in a planned series, focuses on climate trends and their consequences for three of Montana's vital sectors: water, forests and agriculture. Measurable factors like snowpack and precipitation, along with high and low temperatures, affect stream flow and the growing season, which in turn have a big effect on crop choices and production techniques. Dr. Bruce Maxwell, Co-chair of the Institute on Ecosystems, will discuss changing our ecosystems and the current assessment of Montana's climate, and how it will affect Montana's agriculture. We'll also discuss ways to learn more about climate change and its effects, and ways to get involved in Montana.