Weather during the growing season is critical for corn and soybean yields. Adjusting for weather in an analysis of historical U.S. corn and soybean yields is important for determining underlying trends and future yield expectations. Models for U.S. corn and soybean yields provide estimates of the effects of weather on yields for those crops, allowing an analysis of those effects to be used to derive weather-adjusted trend yields. The corn model also includes planting progress by the middle of May. The estimated models indicate that reductions in precipitation below its average result in larger declines in yields than the gains in yields resulting from increases in precipitation of equal magnitudes above its average. The yield models are used to track effects of high temperatures and drought on U.S. corn and soybean yields in 2012 and to provide estimates for expected 2013 yields. Further, the models provide a framework for assessing changes in expected yields due to planting progress and weather developments. Figures and tables. This is a print on demand report.

Summarizes the science of climate change and impacts on the United States, for the public and policymakers.

Water stress and heat stress are considered to be two primary factors that limit crop production in many parts of the world. Global warming appears to be increasing the water requirements of plants. Understanding the impact of water deficit on plant physiological processes and efficient water management are of great concern in maintaining food production to meet ever increasing world food demand. The book addresses various climatic soil and plant factors that contribute to the water use efficiency in plants subjected to water stress. It covers all issues related to soil, plant and climatic factors that contribute to the crop responses to water stress. The books advances the knowledge in improving and sustaining crop yields in ever increasing unpredictable climatic fluctuations This book uses crop simulation models for response of crops to limited water under various management and climatic conditions.

Climate change poses many challenges that affect society and the natural world. With these challenges, however, come opportunities to respond. By taking steps to adapt to and mitigate climate change, the risks to society and the impacts of continued climate change can be lessened. The National Climate Assessment, coordinated by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, is a mandated report intended to inform response decisions. Required to be developed every four years, these reports provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date evaluation of climate change impacts available for the United States, making them a unique and important climate change document. The draft Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4) report reviewed here addresses a wide range of topics of high importance to the United States and society more broadly, extending from human health and community well-being, to the built environment, to businesses and economies, to ecosystems and natural resources. This report evaluates the draft NCA4 to determine if it meets the requirements of the federal mandate, whether it provides accurate information grounded in the scientific literature, and whether it effectively communicates climate science, impacts, and responses for general audiences including the public, decision makers, and other stakeholders.

The mid-Atlantic coastal plain, where the FSP is located, has higher than average variability in corn and soybean yields compared to the most productive agricultural regions in the US. Precipitation is the primary driver of crop yield variability in this region and drought is often responsible for low yields.