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Abstract
Potential impact of climate change on crop production in The Netherlands is explored at farm
level by means of a whole farm portfolio analysis. Projected joint crop yield distributions
were derived from crop growth models, whereby the projected impact of weather conditions
was compared with historic data. A typical Dutch arable farm with potatoes, sugar beet and
winter wheat on poor sandy soils was analysed in accordance with sets of historic and
projected weather conditions. Projected crop yields and ultimately farm income increased due
to more favourable climate conditions, even when the risk of poor performance of a particular
crop due to extreme weather conditions increases. Commonly expressed expectations as to
increased risk of crop failure and income loss due to climate change thus could not be
confirmed. This is attributed partly to the fact that poor yield years often can have positive
effect on farm income due to increased crop prices in times of relative commodity shortages
but can also be attributed to the fact that potato, sugar beet and winter wheat show different
vulnerabilities with respect to weather conditions. Portfolio analysis appears to be therefore a
suitable instrument for analysing effects of climate change at farm level.