A Super El Niño Threatens Our Food System. Here’s How Farms Can Prepare
Planting cover crops or perennial plants can protect soil amid potential flooding. Congress must act to protect these practices
TL;DR
- A strong El Niño poses risks to agriculture and food security, potentially causing significant crop loss.
- Farms that have built up carbon-rich organic matter in their soil are more resilient to extreme weather, soaking up and holding moisture effectively.
- Keeping roots in the ground year-round through cover crops or perennial plants is key to improving soil structure and water management.
- These practices increase water infiltration and availability to plants, and can reduce flooding downstream by absorbing heavy rainfall.
- Despite benefits, farmers face short-term income risks due to current US crop insurance systems that favor traditional commodity crops.
- Changes to crop insurance and support for cover crops and perennials are crucial elements being debated in the farm bill.
- Investing in these resilient farming practices is essential for the future of the food system.