Weird Agricultural Science

A columnist for The Seattle Times reports the modest increase in temperatures has had an impact on agriculture, particularly in northern regions. Hat tip to Instapundit for the link.

Rising temperatures are breathing new life into northern agriculture. Farm economists say that the net result will be a vast expansion in America’s food-growing capability.

A century ago, corn was not a viable crop above North Dakota’s southern third. But an average temperature rise of 2.7 degrees over that period has let North Dakota farmers grow feed corn up to the Canadian border. The growing season there is three weeks longer. In farming, that’s huge.

A growing season is the elapsed interval between the last killing frost in the spring and the first killing frost in the fall. The alleged three week extension thereof may be an exaggeration. Still, it has to be good news for Canada, eh?