Climate Assessment

Yesterday, the Administration released the Third U.S. National Climate Assessment, the most authoritative and comprehensive source of scientific information to date about climate-change impacts across all U.S. regions and on critical sectors of the economy.

The report confirms that climate change is not a distant threat — it's affecting us now. Ag Secretary Tom Vilasck released a statement saying this Assessment confirms that climate change is affecting every region of the country and critical sectors of the economy like agriculture. And while he says that farmers and ranchers are very adaptable and resilient:

VILSACK: But they need information. They need to know what works.

For the first time ever, The National Climate Assessment examined the effects of climate change on rural communities. Rural communities are tremendously resilient but will face particular obstacles in responding to and preparing for climate change risks. In particular, physical isolation, limited economic diversity, and higher poverty rates, combined with an aging population, increase the vulnerability of rural communities.

VILSACK: That's why we established the climate change hubs. That's why we've established the soil health campaign. That's why we have soil moisture network that we're establishing to make sure that we are able to analyze and have a better understanding of how much moisture is in the soil, what we need to do to maintain it and retain it and use it most efficiently.

You can see the entire report on an interactive website at www.globalchange.gov.

That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.