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| | Mississippi
Agriculture
Agriculture is one of the top industries in Mississippi, contributing nearly $5 Billion to the state's economy. Mississippi is fourth in the nation in corn and cotton production and fifth in poultry production. It also produces rice, soybeans, and vegetables. All of these agricultural products are highly sensitive to changes in temperature and especially sensitive to changes in rainfall patterns and the availability of fresh water for irrigation.
- Where areas of the state become warmer and wetter, fertilization by carbon dioxide could increase yields; yet these same conditions also facilitate the spread and persistence of agricultural pests, requiring increased pest control.
 Under the drier conditions projected for the immediate coastal zone, additional irrigation will be required to maintain the production of cotton, soybeans, sorghum, hay, and vegetables. If sufficient irrigation water is not available, production cannot be maintained at current levels. The fertilization effect from elevated levels of carbon dioxide will increase productivity only with sufficient irrigation.
- Under the drier conditions projected for the immediate coastal zone, rice production is likely to decrease, given its high sensitivity to decreased water availability and increased salinity.
Photo Credits:
Magnolia - Copyright M. Harris, Floridata.com.
Cotton Farm - USDA Photo. | |
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© Union of Concerned Scientists
Page Last Revised: 06/24/08 |
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