USGBC MA EPMA Meeting Presentation – July Meeting
Written By Jennifer Laponte
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Planning for unpredictable weather and climate patterns is important when determining ideal crop production. There are many farms throughout Central Massachusetts and in the past couple of years has been subject to harsh weather in the growing season. With the crop yields at risk due to drought in 2016 and heatwaves in 2018 farmers ought to prepare their crops for harsh weather in future seasons.
My map and research will explore resilient areas in order to prepare for better crop yields. Through analysis using NAIP satellite imagery, MassGIS Data: Digital Elevation Model (1:5,000), MassGIS Data: NRCS SSURGO-Certified Soils, MassGIS Data: Crop Evapotranspiration and Potential Evaporation Grids this will show how farmers can prepare. The process will primarily be to find fertile and barren agricultural land and to compare it with the soil type and other geographical features to determine the best areas to grow crops. The results will hopefully help farmers plan for more severe weather in the future in order to produce higher crop yields.
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