Abigail Suttles
Dr. Muhammad Nuwaz
As climate change drives increased temperatures, rising sea level, more intense flooding, prolonged drought periods, and higher frequency of severe storms, its effects are felt across all levels of the agricultural sector. Changing climate and weather patterns greatly disrupt crop cycles, soil fertility, and water availability, all of which are essential for corn production. Consistent agriculture production is paramount not only for the food system and the economy but also for livestock feed and ethanol production. This study uses the panel data from 1980 to 2023 for the Corn Belt region and analyzes the impact of climate change on corn production across ten major corn-producing states within the United States. Through the application of a fixed and random effect model, the finding concludes that climate change across various phenological stages of crop production has a significant impact on corn yield. Temperature and precipitation impact across planting, growing, and harvesting stages have been varying both in magnitudes and directions. Additionally, a significant impact exists between climate change and corn yield when we control for economic cost and economic revenue. Fertilizer components, measured by nitrogen, potash, and phosphate also have significant but varying impacts on corn yield. In climate-agriculture literature, this study provides the idea to explore and analyze possible climate adaptations in the corn belt region of the United States and suggest policies to promote a climate-resilient agriculture economy.
Keywords: Climate Change, Corn production, Fertilizer, and Panel Data
JEL Classification: Q54, Q15, D24