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Using a Climate Index to Measure Crop YieldResponse

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 January 2015

Ruohong Cai
Affiliation:
Program in Science, Technology and Environmental Policy, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
Jeffrey D. Mullen
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
John C. Bergstrom
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
W. Donald Shurley
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
Michael E. Wetzstein
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
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Abstract

Using principal component analysis, a climate index is developed to estimatethe linkage between climate and crop yields. The indices based on threeclimate projections are then applied to forecast future crop yieldresponses. We identify spatial heterogeneity of crop yield responses tofuture climate change across a number of U.S. northern and southern states.The results indicate that future hotter/drier weather conditions will likelyhave significant negative impacts on southern states, whereas only mildimpacts are expected in most northern states.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 2013

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