Federal government to double compensation for farmers as climate change drives up livestock forage disaster costs.

The federal government is increasing its costs to compensate farmers when pastures for their livestock go dry, potentially doubling in the coming decades. The Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service has reported that climate change is driving up costs for the livestock forage disaster program. The government can expect to pay billions of dollars annually, depending on how sharply greenhouse gas emissions rise. This comes as persistent drought continues in parts of the Southwest and Northwest, while conditions are improved in much of the Plains states compared to a year ago. The trend of more dry periods than wet ones is expected to continue, with severe droughts expected to occur more often.