Josiena Frank

ENGL 102 061

Project 1

19 March 2022

What Are the Effects of Farming on Climate Change in the United States?

For the last 50+ years, agriculturalists have been studying how different farming

techniques, machines, and systems can change the ecosystem around them. For instance, U.S.

agriculture emitted an estimated 698 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2018: 12.3 percent

as carbon dioxide, 36.2 percent as methane, and 51.4 percent as nitrous oxide (“Climate Change

Overview”, 2020). According to a recent study, it was stated that agriculture is the leading source

of pollution in many countries (“WWF Impacts”, 2022).

Within this annotated bibliography are a variety of scholarly and non-scholarly journal

articles that identify and explain how farming impacts climate change. These sources were

chosen not only for their extensivity but because their subject matter is relevant to today’s

society. Different aspects of farming addressed in this bibliography include cattle farming,

irrigation systems, fertilizer, and animal production (e.g., Koneswaran, 2008; Hiablie, 2018) as

well as the subsequent effects such as CO2 emissions, water pollution, ozone depletion, and land

use (e.g., Mosier, 2006; Hiablie, 2018).

All of these sources assiduously explain the relationship between the climate crisis and

agriculture methods along with options for building a healthier environment.

Hiablie, S., Battagliese, T., Stackhouse-Lawson, K. R., & Alan Rotz, C. (2018). A life cycle

assessment of the environmental impacts of a beef system in the USA. The International

Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 24(3), 441–455. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-018-

1464-6

“A Life Cycle of the Environmental Impacts of a Beef System in the US” (2018) by

Senorpe Hiablie and Thomas Battagliese claims that cattle production is the largest contributor to

a majority of impact categories. They were able to determine this by studying how the cattle, the

food they consume, and the meat packaging process affect global warming, energy demand,

water emissions, land use, and ozone depletion potential (Hiablie et al., 2018). The objective of

this research project is to identify the different elements within cattle farming that negatively

influence the environment. This source is intended for scholars who want to learn about the

relationship between climate change and the beef system.

Senorpe Hiablie is the Assistant Research Professor for the Institutes of Energy

Environment at Pennsylvania State University and a current research member at the US

Department of Agriculture. Thomas Battagliese, currently the Senior Manager of BASF’s

Nutrition and Health business, seeks to enhance production sustainability in relation to the

environment. Their research is in a journal composed of renowned researchers and

environmentalists. Results from their research illustrate the various aspects of cattle farming that

affect the surrounding environment.

Koneswaran, G., & Nierenberg, D. (2008). Global Farm Animal Production and global warming:

Impacting and mitigating climate change. Environmental Health Perspectives, 116(5),

578–582. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.11034

In “Global Farm Animal Production and Global Warming: Impacting and Mitigating

Climate Change” (2008), Gowri Koneswaran and Danielle Nierenberg argue that immediate

changes need to be made to agriculture practices for a healthier environment. They support this

argument by researching egg, milk, meat, grain, and fertilizer production in relation to CO2

emissions (Koneswaran & Nierenberg, 2008). The purpose of this journal issue is to educate

others on how agriculture affects global warming as well as gain their support. Koneswaran and

Nierenberg utilize a formal tone and address scholars who are interested in agriculture or climate

science.

Gowri Koneswaran, previous co-editor of Beltway and senior editor at Jaggery, is currently

an avid researcher of animal welfare and environmental protection. Danielle Nierenberg,

president of Food Tank and founder of Nourishing the Planet institute, works with farmers to

improve food quality across the world. Their issue is included in a scholarly journal related to

environmental health sciences. Information from their analysis pertains to how animals and

agriculture affect climate change.

Mosier, A. R., Halvorson, A. D., Reule, C. A., & Liu, X. J. (2006). NET global warming

potential and greenhouse gas intensity in irrigated cropping systems in northeastern

Colorado. Journal of Environmental Quality, 35(4), 1584–1598.

https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2005.0232
 In their journal entry titled “Net Global Warming Potential and Greenhouse Gas Intensity

in Irrigated Cropping Systems in Northeastern Colorado” (2006), Arvin Mosier and Ardell

Halvorson imply that less tilling and moderate use of fertilizer is beneficial for environmental

preservation. They backed their thesis with scientific evidence by conducting a two-year-long

trial where they set up chambers in Colorado to measure fluxes in carbon dioxide (Mosier et al.,

2006). Mosier and Halvorson not only want to provide quantitative data to researchers but to

emphasize the importance of changing the cropping systems in the US. Due to the tone and

diction of this journal entry, the intended audience consists of those who are studying greenhouse

emissions and the different types of farming methods.

Arvin Mosier, a research chemist for the USDA Agricultural Research Service, studies

agriculture management and food production in the United States. Ardell Halvorson, also a

researcher at the Agricultural Research Service, studies soil science and environmental science.

Together, their research was included in the reputable Journal of Environmental Quality. Data

from their research is beneficial for determining which irrigation methods are least harmful to the

environment.

Nocco, M. A., Smail, R. A., & Kucharik, C. J. (2019). Observation of irrigation‐induced climate

change in the Midwest United States. Global Change Biology, 25(10), 3472–3484.

https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14725

Mallika Nocco and Robert Smail suggest that groundwater-source farming contributes to

climate change in their journal entry “Observation of Irrigation-Induced Climate Change in the

Midwest United States” (2019). They were able to quantify their thesis by measuring
temperature changes near farms for 31 months in Wisconsin. The researchers intend to use their

study to encourage farmers and agronomists to examine the possible dangers of using

groundwater for their crops (Nocco et al., 2019). Based on the authoritative diction, this

information is meant for scholars and those researching sustainable agriculture.

Mallika Nocco, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor and Cooperative Extension Specialist in

Soil-Plant-Water Relations. Robert Smail currently works at the Wisconsin Department of

Natural Resources in the Forestry Sector. Their research is published in a peer-reviewed journal

called “Global Change Biology”. Observations and facts from their study demonstrate how

irrigation systems impact global warming.

World Future Council. (2012, October 21). How does agriculture contribute to climate change?

World Future Council. https://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/how-does-agriculture-

contribute-to-climate-change/

In the non-scholarly article “How Does Agriculture Contribute to Climate Change?”

(2012), the author claims that aspects of farming including soil erosion, water pollution, and

biodiversity loss have a direct correlation to climate change. They support their argument by

explaining each contributing aspect with facts from other researchers and studies. The purpose of

this article is to inform the public that farming and agriculture do in fact contribute to climate

change. The tone and wording of this article suggest that it is targeting a general audience with

any educational background.

 Although the author is unknown, the publisher (World Future Council) has a board of

councilors and ambassadors who strive to pass on a healthy environment to future generations. A

majority of the staff are doctors, professors, and Ph.D. students. Information provided in this

article helps identify and explain the basic agricultural influences on climate change.