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A major way climate change is impacting agriculture is through the production of crops. Changes in temperature and the frequency and intensity of extreme weather could have significant impacts on crop yields. As an example, in 2008 the Mississippi river flooded onto the surrounding farmland just before the harvest period for many crops. This caused an estimated loss of about $8 billion worth of crops and livestock. As climate change progresses natural disasters such as this one are predicted to become more common and impact more areas. Crops are also predicted to be affected by diseases and harmful bugs that are becoming more frequent as climate change progresses. As an example, the recent locust plague in central Queensland acres of crops according to a recent ABC article.
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