agriculture
Photo credit: Felix Meyer, flickr
Climate change is going to impact the livelihood of farmers, and by extension the economy of the entire region. Primary agricultural outputs for the Eastern Shore of Maryland include corn, soybeans, and hay, in addition to growing and processing chickens [1]. According to a 2012 summary for agriculture in Maryland, poultry and eggs produced in Wicomico County ranked second for market value of agricultural products sold out of all 23 counties in the state [2]. The total value of all agricultural products sold also ranked second in the state, corresponding to a value of $236,321,000 [2]. This value is up 19% from agricultural market values in 2007, which were $197,828,000 [2]. This value is increasing in spite of the fact that average local temperatures are increasing and precipitation is becoming more unpredictable.
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The largest commercial industry in Maryland is agriculture, "employing about 350,000 people, primarily in the north-central and Eastern Shore regions" [4]. About one-third of the land in Maryland, or 2 million acres, is farmland [4]. Climate change will intensify or increase the unpredictability of existing stressors on farms in the state, including drought frequency, winter flooding, pests and disease, and ozone levels, all of which will increase costs to farmers and consumers [4]. Maryland is also home to and known for its poultry industry. There are about 304 million chickens on Maryland's Eastern Shore, and "by market value, poultry is Maryland's highest value agricultural product" [4].
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