Rising temps could harm corn--Researchers propose converting land for pasture cattle raising
Predicted temperature rise in the next 30 years could lead to periods of extreme heat in the Corn Belt and damage corn production and raise prices. Researchers from Bard and the University of Tennessee published an article proposing cutting subsidies for ethanol production and instead using land for pasture-raised beef. According to the report, the conversion of 24.7 million acres of land from corn production to grazing pasture would create a 36% decline in carbon emissions from agricultural land use in the U.S. (Philpott).
Source: 1). Tom Philpott, "To Kick Climate Change, Replace Corn with Pastured Beef," Mother Jones, Apr 25, 2012. http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2012/04/our-corn-driven-agricult... 2). Chad Hellwinckel, and Jennifer G Phillips, "Land use carbon implications of a reduction in ethanol production and an increase in well-managed pastures," Carbon Management (2012) 3(1), 27–38. http://www.motherjones.com/files/hellwinckel_phillips_carbonmanagement.pdf [verified 4/25/14]