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GRAPE GRO WING Forum: Climate Adaptation a Must Event addresses challenges, solutions for agriculture By Jon Tourney crop production in California's agricul- tural sector than regulating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. That was the general takeaway from a Nov. 16 forum that addressed future climate risks to the state's agriculture and food system, hosted by the California State Board of Food and Agriculture, which provides recommendations to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and the governor. Board president Craig McNamara, a walnut producer and owner of Sierra Orchards in Winters, Calif., described the forum as a complementary meeting to the Governor's Conference on Extreme Climate Risks and California's Future, held Dec. 15 in San Francisco. The educa- tional forum addressed the challenges of both climate change and extreme weather events for California agriculture. Speak- ers represented state water planning and management agencies, emergency man- agement and state and federal ag agencies, along with members of the ag industry and academia. McNamara said the meet- ing tied into the "California Agricultural Vision" plan, issued in December 2010, which identified "agricultural adaptation to climate change" as one of 12 important strategies for ag sustainability. In opening comments, CDFA secretary S and former president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG), Karen Ross explained, "This is an important topic for agriculture— not only for how it will be impacted, but also for how it can be part of the solution in areas such as managing waste streams, contributing to new renewable energy technologies and in preserving open space. We have farmers who are on the ground every day, managing the land and dealing with the environment, and they can lead the way." 100 Wines & Vines JAnUARY 2012 acramento, Calif.—Planning, education and research to adapt to climate change and prepare for extreme weather events could be a more favorable strategy to sustain California State Ag Board president Craig McNamara and CDFA secretary Karen Ross host a forum about climate risks for California agriculture. methane and nitrous oxide, accounting for 6% of total state GHG emissions. Ag activities that contribute to GHG emissions include use of off-road equip- ment, fertilizer and pesticide applica- tions as well as energy use. Although the ag sector is expected to do its part with more efficient energy, water and resource use, it could also help offset impacts of other sectors with carbon sequestration and land preservation and restoration programs. Potential impacts Potential impacts of climate change on agriculture include: • Temperature increases: increased plant heat stress during the growing season, decreases in nighttime cooling (diurnal temperature change is a factor in grape development/quality), and reduced win- California agriculture and forest production release the three main green- house gases—carbon dioxide (CO2 ), ter chill hours in dormancy (required for fruit and nut trees to produce proper yields and quality in the spring). • Water: reduction in water supplies, less precipitation, reduced soil mois- ture, higher evapotranspiration, ris- ing sea levels, increased water salinity and further depletion of groundwater resources. • Decreased crop yields. • Changes in ozone levels and air quality that affect crop production. • Invasive species: Globalization and trade will continue to bring new inva- sive pests into California regardless of climate change, but higher temperatures could enable expanded distribution of insect and weed pests, plus enable in- sects to produce more annual life cycles. Lucinda Roth, state climate change specialist with the U.S. Department of Ag- riculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Fresno, Calif., provided an overview of climate change challenges