What challenge does climate change pose to agricultural practices?

Climate change significantly alters growing seasons, which is a major challenge for agricultural practices. As temperatures rise and weather patterns shift, the traditional timing of planting and harvesting can be disrupted. For instance, certain crops may require different planting dates or growing conditions than they did in the past, leading to potential mismatches with local climates that can affect yield and crop viability. Additionally, these changes can force farmers to adapt their strategies, such as selecting new crop varieties better suited to the new conditions, thereby impacting their overall productivity and sustainability in the long run.

The other options do not adequately represent the impact of climate change on agriculture. While soil fertility can be affected by various environmental factors, climate change does not universally decrease it; instead, soil can be influenced positively or negatively depending on multiple variables. Climate change does not increase available water supply; in fact, it often leads to droughts and inconsistent precipitation. Finally, rather than enhancing pest resistance, climate change can actually worsen pest problems by creating more favorable conditions for pests and diseases, thereby increasing the challenges faced by farmers.