Sensitivity of icelandic agriculture to climatic variations

Haymaking and grazing in summer and winter are fundamental to Icelandic agriculture. This paper shows that the growth of grass depends very much on the climate, particularly the temperature, and that winter temperatures are especially important. The climate of Iceland is highly variable, and the long-term variations are great in comparison with most other European weather regions. This may be attributed partly to the role of the sea ice, which lags behind the variations in atmospheric temperature. From observations in this century it is possible to compute the potential livestock in the country as a function of temperature, and this computation is tested with historical data. A possible response to climatic variations, by varying the use of fertilizer to counteract the impact of cold preceding winters, is discussed. The paper also discusses the growth of barley and forests, which is barely possible in the cold climate and reacts strongly to climatic variations and changes.