The Tri-state climate learning network for row crop agriculture met for its 11th meeting in Tallahassee, Florida this past Monday, February 9th. The meeting's theme was: "WHAT IF" scenarios for row crops in the SE USA. The day-long meeting tried to meet a few goals: discuss future scenarios for row crop production in the SE US based on past trends, potential changes in climate, competing land uses, and water availability; identify possible strategies that different stakeholder groups might use to anticipate and prepare for changes (producers, industries, cooperatives, universities, USDA, etc.); and determine interest in exploring these issues more deeply together.

There were 54 people in attendance, including farmers and ranchers, Extension professionals, and scientists. Participants saw a range of presentations on climate futures, crop responses to climate, land use change and economics in the Southeast, new crops in the Southeast, and water quantity and quality issues. Participants also answered questions using clickers, and showed that they are optimistic, with the majority agreeing that the row crop industry is willing to adapt to climate change. One climatologist from FSU said, "climate change is coming, but it is coming slowly. Technology is also changing and you have new opportunities. Climate change is part of those decisions. It ain't time to sell land and get the hell out." On the other hand a crop modeler from UF notes that, "yes, climate change might be slow, but slow changes can have fast and cascading impacts with implications for other systems...so we need to be prepared."