Farming for a Better Climate

The Scottish climate is predicted to become warmer with the temperature increase greater in the summer and autumn than in the winter.

Total annual rainfall is unlikely to change significantly but it is predicted to become wetter in the winter and drier in the summer.

There will be more extreme weather events such as storms, floods and heatwaves across the whole country.

SAC studies have shown that cereal crops are now 2-3 weeks more advanced on the 1st June than they were in the 1980's.

Potential benefits for Scottish farming include:

• A longer, warmer growing season
• Higher crop and grass production due to higher carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere, stimulating photosynthesis
• Opportunities to grow a wider range of crops
• Reduced levels of cold weather pests and diseases of crops and animals
• Less frost damage in winter crops and crops in store
• Shorter winter housing period for livestock due to longer grazing season
• Opportunities to grow energy crops and generate renewable energy from wind and hydro schemes
• Anaerobic digestion of slurry and other farm waste to recover methane for fuel use
• Financial incentives in future for carbon capture

An increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide can stimulate photosynthesis leading to increased yields.  Potential yield increases of around 10% in wheat and potatoes are possible due to higher carbon dioxide levels.

• More frequent extreme weather events coinciding with critical points in production cycles, eg lambing, sowing, harvesting
• Threat of new and/or more aggressive pests and diseases in crops and animals eg Orange Blossom Midge of wheat and Bluetongue and Liver Fluke in cattle and sheep
• Introduction and spread of non-native plant species
• Wetter soils reducing opportunities for grazing, manure spreading and cultivation, particularly in autumn
• Increased frequency of heat stress in livestock
• Reduced crop and grass yields due to drought stress
• More need for irrigation particularly in the east of Scotland
• Higher levels of investment required to maintain and improve field drainage systems
• Increased soil erosion
• More storm damage to agricultural buildings and increased insurance premiums
• More spontaneous heathland and heather fires

Scottish farmers have experience of farming in difficult weather conditions and will quickly adapt their farming systems to address climate change.