Expand or improve water systems to match water demand and supply

Increasing temperatures will likely increase water demand through enhanced evaporation from soils and transpiration from plants. Agriculture in the Midwest is likely to be affected where increased temperatures are not offset by a corresponding increase in precipitation, causing moisture stress, dry spells, and drought (Hatfield et al. 2014). In addition to practices to increase soil water retention and adjust plant crops or animal breeds to match drier conditions (described earlier), it may be necessary to expand infrastructure to increase the amount of water available to plants and animals. Because of the cost associated with many of these practices, efforts to increase the extent, capacity, or efficiency of water systems may be best suited to high-value or less water-intensive commodities (Wolfe et al. 2011; Blanc and Reilly 2015).

Altering infrastructure is a strategy that supports the entire menu of adaptation responses. Because infrastructure generally has a high cost and long life span relative to other farm practices and activities, there is a greater need to consider the long-term implications of these investments. Changes and upgrades in farm infrastructure represent a specific opportunity for agricultural producers to consider deliberately expected future climate conditions, risks, and opportunities that could affect farm productivity and sustainability. Changes in infrastructure can be used to resist the effects of climate change and maintain current practices in place for a longer period of time, such as through the use of increased irrigation to offset reductions in precipitation. On the other end of the spectrum, altering infrastructure may facilitate a transition to entirely new systems, such as through the purchase of new facilities or equipment necessary for the production of a new, future-adapted commodity.