Agriculture in Greenland
Zack Cox-Researcher, Rollin Winter-Editor Tate Smith-Programmer
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Farming in Greenland probably isn’t one of the top ten dreams of youngsters, unless of course they happen to be from Greenland. The short growing season and adverse conditions that limit the options of the farming don’t fit in well with the ‘perfect farm’ ideal. Most of us picture rolling green hills with crops growing in the bottomlands, spotted dairy cows and a few horses grazing on the hillsides, pigs wallowing in a mud hole and chickens scratching around the yard while a lazy hound sleeps in the shade under the porch. Far from the cold wind blowing over the lichens and potato plants while the reindeer scrounge around for the little forage not covered up by snow and ice. However, this may be changing for some farmers in Greenland. The prospect of climate change possibly melting the snow and ice brings hope of more grass and warmer, longer growing seasons to many of the people in Greenland.
The certainty of climate change is no more certain in Greenland than in other parts of the globe. But changing conditions are likely to be more evident in northern regions such as Greenland and Alaska, and as a result more climate change models are being done in these areas (Walsh et al. 2008). However, there are problems with the models being used; the variability of the biases present in each changes with each model and for different aspects of the data reported; sea ice levels versus temperature for example. Some models over estimate the extent of sea ice in winter, influencing the amount of actual melting that goes on in the spring and summer months.
Studies have been done comparing models and showing the strengths and weaknesses of these models in estimating temperature, sea level pressure, and precipitation. The accuracy of these models is tested with historical data, to see if the model was able to predict what really happened (Walsh et al. 2008). They are finding some of the same problems with these models for arctic areas that they had in areas farther south. For example some models are too dry on windward sides of mountains and hills and too wet on the lee side, especially with respect to coastal mountains (Walsh et al. 2008). So basically not much has changed in the technology that enables us to say what is going to happen with respect to climate change and global warming.
One aspect that is sure to be affected my warming is the soil biota of the arctic tundra typical in places such as Greenland. A study done by Beyens et al. (2009) showed the effect of warming on such biota and found it to have significant effect. They simulated a heat wave on varieties of testate amoebae that are typically found in the dry heath tundra of Greenland. The major effect was a change in populations of microorganisms in the soil, mainly the bacterivorous species, which was to be expected due the peak of bacteria that was a result of the heat wave. However, there was no significant impact on the abundance of the testate amoebae.
This, along with others, is one of the possible benefits of a general warming trend in Greenland. Most of the animal agriculture in Greenland is reindeer, and the possibility of melting ice uncovering more grass and a long growing season increasing species diversity of plants available for forage could have significant impacts on producers. Winter intake of growing reindeer calves is critical and usually about 34-61 grams of dry matter per kilogram of body mass a day, in a grazing situation (Storeheier et al. 2003). So, with increased forage and the possibility of increased forage quality, survival of reindeer calves is more likely during winter months.
The reindeer raised in Greenland are obviously accustomed to the cold weather, but icing conditions during the winter can reduce reproductive rates of reindeer females by 49% (Helle and Kojola. 2008). Density also has an effect on reindeer populations, and is also going to be affected by climate change. Higher winter temperatures, more free-thaw periods, and deeper snow are all expected to affect the reproductive and mortality rates of reindeer in arctic environments. However, earlier springs would benefit reindeer populations (Helle and Kojola. 2008). Along with this possible increase in reindeer production it is also possible to see reindeer become a bigger player in the world agriculture market. Studies are being done to explore the virtues of reindeer farther; such as reindeer for dairy productions (Holand et al. 2002).
Like most of the areas expected to be impacted by climate change Greenland has it’s positive and negative aspects, but most of the producers there are excited about the possibilities is could bring. Increasing temperatures could melt the huge glacier that cover the majority of Greenland, but this likely means more grazing lands for reindeer, some sheep and maybe even more cows. Also warmer temperatures could bring longer growing seasons and allow for more diversity in the small crop base that producers can grow there. And maybe there will be a day when a small child hands a report to their grade school teacher explaining all about why they want to be a farmer in Greenland, chasing reindeer and farming the meadows of that far away country.