Climate change threatens Cali crops

Rising temperatures associated with climate change could have dire implications for California’s agriculture industry.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency identified climate change as a major risk factor for the nation’s agriculture, taking particular concern with California in a 2010 report, according to SFGate.com.

Stuart Weiss, a scientist with the Creekside Center for Earth Observation in Menlo Park, estimates temperatures in the Napa Valley will rise by 1.8 degrees over the next 30 years, a huge increase for the temperature-sensitive crops in the state’s wine country. Aside from hotter, drier weather, possible changes include an increase in inland salt as sea levels rise and ocean water pushes into the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

California produces 95 percent of the United States’ apricots, almonds, artichokes, figs, kiwis, raisin grapes, olives, cling peaches, dried plums, pistachios and walnuts.