Reduce the impacts of pests and pathogens on crops

Even modest changes in climate may cause substantial increases in the distribution and abundance of many insect pests and pathogens (Hatfield et al. 2015; Tobin et al. 2015), potentially leading to reduced productivity or increased plant stress and mortality. Climate change impacts may exacerbate other stressors, site conditions, and interactions among these factors and increase vulnerability to these agents. This approach emphasizes actions to be taken on site within the field, while Strategy 5 (Manage farms and fields as part of a larger landscape) suggests complementary tactics needed across the landscape.

Climate change is likely to increase stress on agricultural systems through a variety of direct and indirect effects (Walthall et al. 2012). Changes in temperature and other climatic conditions will have numerous impacts on agricultural systems (Pryor et al. 2014; Horton et al. 2014). Systems may already be performing poorly because of stressors like insect pests, pathogens, or competing species, which can make agricultural commodities more susceptible to impacts from climate change. Reducing stressors of agricultural commodities that are presently unaffected or indirectly affected by climatic stressors will often increase the ability of the system to cope with future changes in climate.