MSU professor of geography Jeff Andresen spoke about the impact of climate change on agriculture on a panel for the Michigan Agri-Business Association’s 81st winter conference.
“In recent years, we’ve seen a string of weather events that have had a direct impact on agriculture in Michigan, ranging from early freezes impacting cherries and apples to extreme flooding,” Andresen explained.
Andresen, along with several other experts, discussed how energy, economics and climate trends affect agriculture. Agriculture is Michigan’s second largest industry.
MSU research estimates the agriculture industry contributes $91.4 billion to the economy annually. The industry continues to grow and has nearly doubled in economic impact since 2005.
“The conversation on climate and agriculture that took place today is important for planning for the future as we will continue to deal with changes in climate, precipitation and growing patterns,” Andresen said.
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