Skip to Content
Report an accessibility problem

Sustainability News

View Source | July 16, 2013

Tractor on a farmIn a Future Tense article, David Biello explores the reasoning behind American farmers' climate change disbelief. Most farmers in the U.S. are affected by the changing weather, however, they don't view it as a by-product of climate change, rather something that has been happening since the dawn of time.

It's too bad; farming is the second-largest contributor to climate change, with the increased use of fossil-fueled equipment and nitrous oxide-filled fertilizers. But there has been a shift to more fuel-efficient machinery and low-impact farming techniques not because of climate change, but because of money.

"It's cheaper to farm that way, and you still get the same type of crop, if not a bit better," says Oregon wheat farmer Kevin McCullough.

Future Tense is a collaboration among Arizona State University, the New America Foundation, and Slate.