Global warming is now USDA certified

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The Department of Agriculture’s chief economist acknowledges that global warming is occurring and already is having an effect on water resources, land, crops and other areas.

Among the findings of a report released May 27: There are more forest fires (the Forest Service is part of the Agriculture Department), and insect outbreaks in national forests in the South and Southwest. The West has had unusual droughts, the snowpack is down, and the polar bear, newly listed as ‘threatened’ with extinction, is in dire straits from melting ice.

There are precious few upsides in the report, penned by a panel of scientists. For example, the growing season has increased by about two weeks, but weeds are expected to thrive better in a high-carbon dioxide world. Fewer cattle will die in high-plains cold snaps, but that will be offset by the number that will wilt in the summer.

-- Geoffrey Mohan