FARMERS ATTITUDES TOWARDS ENVIRONMENTAL-CHANGE, PARTICULARLY GLOBAL WARMING, AND THE ADJUSTMENT OF CROP MIX AND FARM-MANAGEMENT

There is a consensus amongst most climatologists that 'global warming' will become apparent, Simulation of warming scenarios has demonstrate d that there would be impacts on crops already produced in an area, wh ile the possibility may exist for the introduction of new crops into a reas previously unsuitable for them, Although the primary impacts of a warmer climate on crops have been studied, there has been little cons ideration of farmers' attitudes towards the effects of climate change on their farms, The attitudes of farmers/farm managers towards the env ironment and climate change are examined in this paper, which uses the examples of two crops (vining peas and navy beans) to explore the ada ptations farmers may make to climate change. Farmers predict a combina tion of positive and negative impacts from global warming, but most th ink that logistical changes will enable them to adapt to climate chang e, and most would also consider the possibility of introducing new cro ps such as navy beans.