The Blue and Green Seminar

The Blue and Green Seminar

The Blue and Green seminar is a presentation on models for rainfed and irrigated agriculture on the landscape. The facilitator, Sarah Goslee, is a researcher for the USDA Agricultural Research Service. Exploring different models developed using the data at her disposal, the researcher looked into various aspects of farming in the country. Factors such as climatic conditions and soil characteristics are some of the primary considerations of the models developed. Picturing the United States as a landscape for agriculture, the facilitator explores the various models investigating the changes that have occurred in rainfed and irrigated farming of selected crops as well as the changes that might happen shortly. The models are based on the areas where these crops, for instance, corn, are currently grown.

By large, the arguments and facts presented by the facilitator are aimed at an academic audience. Mainly, the use of statistics, in-depth research, and prediction models are widely believed to belong to academic circles. However, as the author notes, some of the data in the presentation may not be broadly accepted as credible in an academic discussion. For instance, most of the models assume that areas, where a rainfed crop is grown, have the ideal ecological conditions for that crop (Liebman and Davis 181; Imran 299). It is worth noting that this may not be the case always. In some instances, just because a crop is not produced in an area does not mean that the region is unsuitable for the activity.

From a more academic perspective, the study should be geared towards collecting data on the areas that satisfy the ecological requirements of a particular crop. This data can then be presented together with an overlay of the regions where the plant is currently cultivated on rainwater only.

The facilitator interestingly requests for any individuals within the audience who can help in the collection of more relevant data to communicate with them; this can be taken as an admission that the presentation is based on insufficient research. It is also pointed out within the presentation that there is a need for more investigations regarding the irrigation potential of different regions, including the availability of water for this activity. Questions arise towards the end of the presentation on whether the possibility of evaluating the infrastructure allowing for rainfed farming in areas that are indicated to allow for this in the future. Data regarding economic and infrastructural developments could be suitable for this presentation. Moreover, most of the crops considered are perennial; the facilitator should look into the addition of data regarding horticultural vegetables and fruits.

One of the most exciting parts of the presentation is the projection of the areas where cotton can be grown in the United States in 2070. According to the research conducted, a large part of the county will be suitable for the growth of non-irrigated cotton in the coming years. The data depends on the climate and soil characteristics of areas where non-irrigated cotton is done currently, and the projection of the changes that may take place in the country. The model for wheat farming gives such a projection as well; more areas will be suitable for wheat production in the near future. For most of the other crops, the changes in soil and climate make many areas unsuitable for rain-fed crop production.

The information gathered from the event, and especially the presentation by the facilitator, is very useful in my field of study. In particular, the facilitator explores the main factors that influence the existence of various crops in a different region, as well as what necessitates irrigation; for instance, highlighting the soil characteristics and climate values such as levels of fluctuation of precipitation and temperature. Besides, the facilitator also highlighted the various aspects of different states depending on the climatic conditions, the history of these values as well as the projected changes. From the data presented, most of the areas where irrigation is practiced are those with warm and dry climates and those with hot and wet climates. This information is applicable when initiating research regarding the different climatic conditions and water availability around the United States. Additionally, the facilitator indicates that there are areas where unirrigated agriculture can be practiced, but the models do not allow for the detection of the same.

The seminar sets the stage for more research regarding the future of agriculture in the United States, especially in the divisions of rainfed and irrigated farming. The blue and green discussion is a rather broad topic to cover in a single debate. Therefore, the debate presented can be deemed as a sufficient review of the current situation in the agricultural sector. Nonetheless, this should only be taken as a foundation for further research and modeling on the same topic. More data should be corrected to back the discussions. Besides, factors that may have been ignored when making predictions, including topography and economic activities, should be taken into consideration. Overall, the event was quite informative and exciting for any individual with sufficient geographical knowledge.