Hoax?

The prevailing winds off the hills around Hackettstown caused the tree's shape.

     So, I understand Faux News' British cousin, The Telegram has now published allegations that climate change is a huge hoax. 
     I didn't real the story because reading most of Rupert Murdoch's drivel is similar to watching Faux News. It lowers the IQ.
    But I know there are people who want to believe the climate isn't changing even as they watch the climate changing. 
     

Farmers are intimately aware of climate change.

 

     What I don't know is why.  
      Even putting aside the fact it makes no sense to claim it's a hoax: no one is profiting from telling the truth about climate change, but huge corporations DO profit from continuing to cause it, it makes no sense.
      Climate change deniers are sitting in the middle of the evidence and they don't want to believe. That makes no sense.
     It could be they just aren't paying attention. 
     The National Climate Assessment, released last spring, details, in 840 pages, exactly how climate change is impacting agriculture. This is not a political document. It is a scientific document.
     Anecdotal evidence comes from farmers as well, so if these climate change deniers want to learn the truth, they just have to consult a farmer.

   

Genesis Farm in Marksboro, NJ

     Extreme weather events that were once rare have become common. These include prolonged periods of heat, unusual numbers of heavy downpours, floods and drought. (See, California)
      Following are six points relating to agriculture from the National Climate Assessment.
     -- Climate disruptions to agricultural production have increased in the past 40 years and are projected to increase over the next 25 years.  By mid-century and beyond these impacts will be increasingly negative on most crops and livestock. (In other words, on the food we all need to survive)
     --Many agricultural regions will experience declines in crop and livestock production from increased stress due to weeds, diseases, insect pests and other climate change change induced stresses. 
     -- Current loss and degradation of critical agricultural soil and water assets due to increasing extremes in precipitation will continue to challenge both rainfed and irrigated agriculture unless innovative conservation methods are implemented. (Farmers in the developed world are implementing these methods. Farmers in the developing world have more trouble with this._
     --The rising incidence of weather extremes will have increasingly negative impacts on crop and livestock productivity because critical thresholds are already being exceeded.
     --Agriculture has been able to adapt to recent changes in climate. However, increased innovation will be needed to ensure the rate of adaptation of agriculture and the associated socioeconomic system can keep pace with climate change over the next 25 years. (Again, advantage the developed world, but who knows how long that will last.)
     --Climate change effects on agriculture will have consequences for food security, both in the United States and globally, through changes in crop yields and food prices and  effects on food processing, storage, transportation and retailing. (Anyone even a little concerned with homeland security, needs to take note that the more problems facing agriculture, the more vulnerable it is.)
 

The Great Meadows Muckland was created by an Eisenhower-era damming of the Pequest River. The extremely fertile soil is especially good for leafy vegetables.

     These are real.
     Talk to any farmer, anywhere.
     Farmers won't speak in these general terms. They will tell you exactly what they have to deal with. It's hard enough to be a farmer in normal times -- if there is any such thing. Imagine what they have to deal with now. 
     Some of the effects of climate change can be mitigated, but we have to act quickly, not pretend there is a debate when the debate doesn't exist. 

Members of a Community Supported Garden harvest the last of the summer vegetables.