February 22, 2011

USDA awards grant to focus on effects of climate change on corn-based cropping systems

The USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) has provided a US$20-million research grant to focus on keeping Midwest corn-based cropping systems resilient in the face of future climate uncertainties.

The grant has been awarded to nine land-grant universities and two USDA Agricultural Research Service institutions.

The University of Illinois is one of the universities participating in this project. U of I Department of Crop Science faculty members Emerson Nafziger and Maria Villamil will lead the U of I's research efforts to collect and analyse data over the next five years. This region produces eight billion bushels of corn, which is 64 % of the annual harvest in the US.

"The grant takes a synergistic approach to understanding the effects of climate variability and impacts on the sustainability of corn-based cropping systems throughout the Midwest," said Lois Wright Morton, Iowa State professor of sociology, interim director of the Leopold Centre for Sustainable Agriculture and project director.

Researchers will begin collecting data on carbon, nitrogen and water movement this spring from 21 research sites in eight states. Special equipment will be used to monitor greenhouse gas emissions at many of the sites. The team will integrate field and climate data to create models and evaluate crop management practices.

"The goal is to create a database of plot, field, farm and watershed data that can be combined with climate data to develop scenarios based on different practices," Morton said. "Farmers in the region will have opportunities to participate in on-farm research and evaluate research models. The project will also offer training for teachers and the next generation of scientists to better understand the relationships among climate shifts and agriculture."