Stevens Point Forum To Examine Intersection Of Climate Change, Agriculture

A forum in Stevens Point on Saturday will look at the effects of climate change and global warming on Wisconsin’s farm economy.

The forum, titled Global Warming and Wisconsin Agriculture, is sponsored by a diverse line-up of groups that include the Citizens Climate Lobby, the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers and several churches.

The panelists include Tony Schumacher, a meteorologist for Wausau’s ABC network affiliate WAOW, who says projections over the next 50 years show an increase of three to seven degrees.

“We’d probably have a climate at that point more similar to places like Kansas or Missouri, or southern Illinois,” he said. “You know, they still grow some pretty good crops down there. It would probably be a little hard on the dairy industry, because cows do not like it hot.”

Another panelist, author and potato farmer Justin Isherwood, said it’s hard getting the message across to his fellow farmers that climate change will likely have a profound impact on agriculture.

“The rest of the guys really don’t want to touch global warming, and that’s the sad state of where agriculture in its bulk form is now,” said Isherwood. “But kicking and screaming, we’ve got to be there.”

The panel also includes representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The forum on Global Warming and Wisconsin Agriculture takes place Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Portage County Public Library in Stevens Point.