A super el Niño threatens our food system. Here’s how farms can prepare | Liz Carlisle

THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT DUDE! SOME FARMS ARE STILL GROWING PLANTS ALL WINTER LONG WHILE THE FIELDS NEXT DOOR ARE JUST BARE DIRT AND THAT IS THE SECRET SAUCE! SO LIZ CARLISLE WHO IS THIS PROFESSOR AT UCSB SAYS WE ARE FACING THE STRONGEST EL NIÑO ON RECORD WHICH IS A TOTAL DISASTER FOR FOOD SECURITY EVERYWHERE. CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA ARE GONNA GET SMASHED BUT EVEN THE US MIGHT SEE MASSIVE CROP LOSSES! SHE SAYS WE NEED TO PLANT COVER CROPS OR PERENNIALS TO STOP SOIL FROM FLOODING AND CONGRESS NEEDS TO STEP UP AND SUPPORT THESE RESILIENT FARMS. IT IS LITERALLY ABOUT SOAKING UP WATER SO THE CROPS DON'T DROWN. ANYWAY THAT IS ALL I KNOW, GENUINELY.

SO THE PART THAT GOT ME IS THIS: THERE ARE ACTUAL FARMS THAT STILL GET 80 PERCENT OF THEIR YIELDS EVEN WHEN THE WEATHER IS TOTAL TRASH BECAUSE THEY PLANTED THE RIGHT STUFF! WE HAVE THIS MASSIVE EL NIÑO COMING WHICH FORECASTERS ARE SAYING COULD BE THE STRONGEST EVER AND IT IS GOING TO WRECK FARMS ACROSS THE GLOBE. APPARENTLY THE US WILL HAVE IT BETTER THAN PLACES LIKE SOUTHERN AFRICA OR THE CARIBBEAN BUT WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT DROUGHTS AND FLOODED FIELDS THAT ARE TOO STRESSED TO HARVEST! THE ARTICLE SAYS IF WE SWITCH UP HOW WE GROW FOOD BY USING COVER CROPS WE MIGHT ACTUALLY SURVIVE THE FLOODING. IT IS BASICALLY NATURE HACKING TO SAVE OUR DINNER. ANYWAY WE LIVE HERE NOW APPARENTLY.

Climate experts warn that a record-breaking El Niño could threaten global food security, with researchers suggesting that planting cover crops may help US farms withstand potential crop losses.

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