Illinois is undergoing a rapid change in weather patterns that already has started to transform the state. A major scientific assessment by The Nature Conservancy, in collaboration with experts at the University of Illinois and Northwestern University, foretells long-term, serious effects on cities and rural communities alike from climate change that include periods of extreme heat, increased precipitation and more intense storms, particularly if immediate actions aren’t taken to lessen the threat.
On May 17, 2021, assessment lead authors summarized the report findings in a public webinar. See the Assessment of the Impacts of Climate Change in Illinois (chapter 4) for information on chapter to estimate the effect of projected climate change on corn and soybean yields in Illinois.
For more information, contact Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford at twford@illinois.edu.
1) Liu, Menglin; Gramig, Benjamin (2021): Survey of Cover Crop, Conservation Tillage and Nutrient Management Practice Usage in Illinois and 2020 Fall Covers for Spring Savings Crop Insurance Discount Program Participation. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. https://doi.org/10.13012/B2IDB-5222984_V1
Photo: Storms roll over an Illinois farm. By Rachel Gardner, license