Agricultural issues with climate change—case studies with 3 soybean pests: Johnsongrass, kudzu bug, and charcoal rot

Abstract

Agricultural production and crop yields are threatened around the world by the emergence and spread of agronomical pests, including diseases, insects, and weeds. Due to changes in precipitation, carbon dioxide levels, and warming temperatures being experienced throughout most of the world, new challenges are emerging for pest management in virtually all major cropping systems. While precise environmental impacts due to climate change are impossible to predict, they will require innovative and new solutions for pest management. In this article, we explore the challenges of 3 problem pest species with soybean: Johnsongrass, kudzu bug, and charcoal rot. Understanding pest responses to climate change is vital for better understanding the new agricultural innovations that will be required to manage them in the future.