Table 2 Categories and examples of actionable adaptation insights that arose from the dialog between CES professionals from target counties in the Southeast and their counterparts from analog counties in Texas.
From: Climate analogs can catalyze cross-regional dialogs for US specialty crop adaptation
Insight type | Example insights for the target countries from the analogs |
|---|---|
Changes to management practices | Pest management may need to transition from the current part-of-the-year time frame to year-around management |
Varietal selection | Peach and blueberry producers may need to consider varieties with lower chill requirements |
Priorities for breeding programs | Peach and blueberry varieties with a range of chill requirements are already available, yet breeding programs may need to consider the future climate in variety development to ensure producers can meet key market windows that bear a premium |
Breeding for late flowering is an option to address the increasing vulnerability to blueberries to late frost, though there are likely trade-offs with harvest timing and fruit quality with market implications | |
New opportunities and potential associated challenges | Introduction of pecan production, although the question of what crops could grow in the sandy soils of FL remains |
Introduction of controlled environment agriculture, although extreme weather exposure (e.g., hurricanes) could pose a significant challenge to infrastructure |
