WEATHER THAT AFFECTS AGRICULTURE: Your food, clothing and shelter

DROUGHT

• A drought is defined as a long period without rain.

• The Dustbowl occurred between 1930-1937– Caused by a drought and

poor farming practicesKansas Farm House, 1932

TORNADOS AND EXTREME WINDS

• Tornados are violent windstorms that form funnel clouds which are destructive.

• Extreme Winds are wind storms that have high speeds.– Crops may not be

harvestable after extreme winds storms or tornados

EXTEME TEMPATURES• FREEZING

– Frost is solid water vapor that forms crystals that can vary in many forms• Tomatoes are a plant that

cannot survive being exposed to frost

• A plant that can survive a frost are radishes

• EXTERME HEAT– High temperatures that begin at

100 degrees Fahrenheit / 38 degrees Celsius• Causes plants to wither,

burn up, and die

FLOODING

• When there is to much rain, streams and rivers may overflow, which is known as flooding

• When there is to much water – Crops may die from too

much water– Crops maybe ruined and

no longer usable to feed animals or people

LIGHTNING

• Lighting is produced by electrical charges in the air and usually accompanies a thunderstorm

• Lightning may cause– Fires– Electricity going to go out

• Most farms have electrical generators that run on fuel to produce electricity in cast of power loss

HURRICANE

• Hurricanes are tropical storms that are formed over the ocean and have high winds that cause lots of damage when they make land (landfall)

• Three main crops that are in the path of hurricanes and may be damaged are– Cotton– Pineapple– Sugarcane

AFFECTS ON PRODUCERS (FARMERS)

• Farmers– Destroyed crops and

livestock means no income

– Repairing of farm buildings (expense)

– Reshaping of land (expense)

– Buying new supplies (expense)

AFFECTS ON CONSUMERS (YOU)

• You– Shortage of crops and

livestock means higher food prices at the grocery store

• Possible Environmental concerns– Soil erosion– Reduced water quality – Reduced air quality