USDA: Jan. 13 webinar: Overview of Climate Effects in Agriculture and Forests
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Next month, USDA’s Office of Energy and Environmental Policy and the Agriculture, Forestry, and Climate Science Working Group will launch a year-long monthly webinar series that aims to equip USDA employees and key Cooperative Extension personnel with the scientific foundations of climate change as they apply to USDA’s mission and daily work. The series features leading scientists from within and outside USDA who will provide the latest scientific information and respond to questions about climate change and the application of science to decision-making on working lands. This series is designed to be of use to USDA conservation, resource management, commodity and service staff, including technical experts as well as those not familiar with climate science.
Join us on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, 1:00-2:00 p.m. EST, for an Overview of Climate Effects in Agriculture and Forests.
Speakers: Drs. Emile Elias (ARS, Southwest USDA Climate Hub), Dave Peterson (FS, senior scientist emeritus), Dennis Todey (ARS, Midwest USDA Climate Hub), and Jim Vose (FS, senior scientist emeritus)
Climate change impacts are already evident in many U.S. forests, ecosystems and agroecosystems. Additional effects and opportunities to mitigate those effects are being brought about by increased frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events (drought, heavy rainfall, heat waves) and associated disturbances (wildfires, insect outbreaks). Ecosystem services and agricultural productivity can both be maintained in most locations through timely implementation of risk assessments and climate-smart management. The long-term goal is to ensure that U.S. agriculture, food production, forests and ecosystems are more resilient to both climate and non-climate stressors now and in the future.
The webinar will be live and participants will be able to submit questions to the presenters.
Registration is required and is open only to USDA personnel and invited Cooperative Extension professionals. The pilot webinar in this series, titled “Climate Change 101: The Foundational Science,” featured NOAA expert Dr. Keith Dixon. February’s webinar will discuss Climate Extremes in Agriculture and Forests. The full list of this series sessions is available on the registration site.
If you have any questions, contact ccpooce@usda.gov. We look forward to seeing you at the webinar.