Reduce competition from weedy and invasive species

Climate change is expected to increase the potential habitat for many weedy and invasive plant species, which may increase competition among plants for light, water, and nutrients. Although plant productivity may increase because of the positive effects of carbon dioxide fertilization and longer growing seasons, not all species will be able to take equal advantage of these positive impacts, and the competitive relationships between weeds and crops may change with some weeds gaining a competitive advantage. Reducing competition for resources can enhance the persistence of desired species and increase the ability of systems to cope with the direct and indirect effects of climate change. Management of highly mobile invasive species may require increased scouting and coordination across property boundaries, and it will likely require an increasing budget for control efforts.

Climate change is likely to increase stress on agricultural systems through a variety of direct and indirect effects. Changes in temperature and other climatic conditions will have numerous impacts on agricultural systems. Systems may already be performing poorly because of stressors like insect pests, pathogens, or competing species, which can make agricultural commodities more susceptible to impacts from climate change. Reducing stressors of agricultural commodities that are presently unaffected or indirectly affected by climatic stressors will often increase the ability of the system to cope with future changes in climate.