Southwest farmers use drastic cooling methods to help their livestock adapt to climate change
Outside Phoenix, Arizona, Beth and Tim Wilson use sprinklers to cool down their 300 pigs. Neighboring their farm, a bison ranch shades and mists its livestock to keep them comfortable. Southwestern farmers have incorporated different cooling methods like fans and showers to ensure the safety of their animals, many of which are raised indoors. Rising temperatures have forced many farmers to adapt to changing climates in the hottest desert in North America, writes Counter contributor Chris Malloy for The Guardian. Animal farms make up one-third of the Southwest’s agricultural revenue. In some parts of the state, Arizona reached record temperatures this summer. The question remains: How much heat can farm animals handle, and at what cost?
