Twentieth century droughts and agriculture: Examples from impacts on soybean production in Kentucky,USA |
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Authors: | Kortney E. Craft Rezaul Mahmood Stephen A. King Gregory Goodrich Jun Yan |
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Affiliation: | .Jefferson Community and Technical College, 200 W Broadway, Louisville, KY 40202 USA ;.Department of Geography and Geology, Western Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights Blvd., Bowling Green, KY 42101-1066 USA ;.Department of Agriculture, Western Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights Blvd., Bowling Green, KY 42101-1066 USA |
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Abstract: | Drought is a significant natural hazard that slowly evolves over time. Because of its character, drought is difficult to monitor and impacts are often poorly documented. Agriculture is one of the most sensitive sectors that are prone to drought. The objective of this research is to assess the impacts of drought on soybean production and revenue in Kentucky. Soybeans are one of Kentucky’s most important commodities. In this study, impacts of 1930–1931, 1940–1942, 1952–1955, 1987–1988, 1999–2000, and 2007 droughts were considered. It was found that over the recent years, up to 56 % of the revenue from soybeans was lost due to drought. During the first half of the twentieth century, revenue loss reached up to 77 %. This research is valuable to the general public as well as planners and policy makers. Proper documentation of impacts of past droughts will help identify drought vulnerabilities and results in better risk management and mitigation. |
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Keywords: | Soybean Drought Agriculture Impact assessment |
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