Sustaining California Agriculture in an Uncertain Future

Pacific Institute / by Heather Cooley, Juliet Christian-Smith and Peter Gleick
http://www.pacinst.org/reports/california_agriculture/final.pdf
[Summary] This report… argues that California’s future is increasingly uncertain. Competition over limited water resources continues and climate change is increasing climate variability. With existing technologies, management practices, and educational and institutional resources, we can reduce agriculture’s vulnerability to water supply constraints and improve [...]

Energy and Water : Preliminary Observations on the Links between Water and Biofuels and Electricity Production

Government Accountability Office
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09862t.pdf
[Summary] Water and energy are inexorably linked — energy is needed to pump, treat, and transport water and large quantities of water are needed to support the development of energy. However, both water and energy may face serious constraints as demand for these vital resources continues to rise. Two examples that demonstrate the [...]

Climate Change : The Role of the U.S. Agriculture Sector and Congressional Action

Congressional Research Service
http://opencrs.com/document/RL33898/
[Summary] The agriculture sector is a source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which many scientists agree are contributing to observed climate change. Agriculture is also a sink for sequestering carbon, which might offset GHG emissions by capturing and storing carbon in agricultural soils. The two key types of GHG emissions associated with [...]

Estimates of Carbon Mitigation Potential from Agricultural and Forestry Activities

Congressional Research Service
http://opencrs.com/document/R40236/
[Summary]  In the United States, the agriculture and forestry sectors account for 6%-8% of current estimated total U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually. Combined, these sectors are estimated to emit more than 500 million metric tons CO2 equivalent (MMT CO2-Eq.) each year, most of which is emitted from the agriculture sector. Current estimates [...]

Estimates of Carbon Mitigation Potential from Agricultural and Forestry Activities

Congressional Research Service
http://opencrs.com/document/R40236
[From summary]  High petroleum and gasoline prices, concerns over global climate change, and the desire to promote domestic rural economies have greatly increased interest in biofuels as an alternative to petroleum in the U.S. transportation sector. Biofuels, most notably corn ethanol, have grown significantly in the past few years as a component of [...]

Selected Issues Related to an Expansion of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)

Congressional Research Service
http://opencrs.com/document/R40155
[From summary]  The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA, P.L. 110-140) requires ever-larger amounts of biofuels produced from feedstocks other than corn starch, including sugarcane, oil crops, and cellulose, and promotes the development of these fuels. EISA requires the use of 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels annually in 2022, of [...]

The Environmental Food Crisis: the Environment’s Role in Averting Future Food Crises

UN Environment Programme
http://www.grida.no/_res/site/file/publications/FoodCrisis_lores.pdf (pdf)
http://www.grida.no/publications/rr/food-crisis/ebook.aspx (ebook)
A new rapid response assessment report released by UNEP warns that up to 25% of the world’s food production may become lost due to environmental breakdown by 2050 unless action is taken. Prepared by the Rapid Response Assessment Team at UNEP/GRID-Arendal and UNEP-WCMC, the report provides the first summary by the [...]

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) : Status and Issues

Congressional Research Service
http://opencrs.com/document/R40197
[Summary]  The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary program that provides farmers with financial and technical assistance to plan and implement soil and water conservation practices. EQIP is the largest agriculture conservation financial assistance program for working lands. EQIP was first authorized in 1996 and was most recently revised by Section [...]

2007 Census of Agriculture

US Dept. of Agriculture
http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/index.asp
US summaries state and county reports now available. Data in PDF. Complete agricultural censuses available from 1992. Historical ag. census reports available in PDF from 1840 to 1950.

Macro-micro Feedback Links of Water Management in South Africa : CGE Analyses of Selected Policy Regimes

World Bank / by R. Hassan, J. Thurlow, T. Roe, X. Diao, X., S. Chumi and Y. Tsur
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/IW3P/IB/2008/11/04/000158349_20081104093521/Rendered/PDF/WPS4768.pdf
[Summary]  The pressure on an already stressed water situation in South Africa is predicted to increase significantly under climate change, plans for large industrial expansion, observed rapid urbanization, and government programs to provide access to water to millions [...]