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Do Sunspot Cycles Affect Crop Yields?

Author

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  • Harrison, Virden L.

Abstract

Sunspot activity occurs on a regular cyclical basis. Temperature, precipitation, length of growing season, radiation levels, atmospheric pressure, and high-altitude wind speed in the United States and elsewhere may be related to the single or double sunspot cycle. This study tests the hypothesis that crop yields at the State level are related to various phases of the sunspot cycle. Crops and States included are wheat in Texas and Kansas, corn in Illinois and Nebraska, rice in Louisiana, and cotton in Texas. Statistical analysis was made of data for 1866-1973. Results indicate that (1) lower than average yields are associated with low sunspot activity, especially low activity following the high of the minor sunspot cycle (2) higher than average yields are associated with high sunspot activity, and (3) both the single and double sunspot cycles may give useful information in predictions of yield deviations.

Suggested Citation

  • Harrison, Virden L., 1976. "Do Sunspot Cycles Affect Crop Yields?," Agricultural Economic Reports 307575, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:uerser:307575
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.307575
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    Cited by:

    1. Burakov, D., 2017. "Do Sunspots Matter for Cycles in Agricultural Lending: a VEC Approach to Russian Wheat Market," AGRIS on-line Papers in Economics and Informatics, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Economics and Management, vol. 9(1), March.
    2. Pope, C. Arden, III, 1981. "The dynamics of crop yields in the U. S. Corn Belt as effected by weather and technological progress," ISU General Staff Papers 198101010800008463, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    3. Geigel, Joanne M. & Sundquist, W. Burt, 1984. "A Review And Evaluation Of Weather-Crop Yield Models," Staff Papers 13699, University of Minnesota, Department of Applied Economics.
    4. Fredrik Charpentier Ljungqvist & Peter Thejll & Bo Christiansen & Andrea Seim & Claudia Hartl & Jan Esper, 2022. "The significance of climate variability on early modern European grain prices," Cliometrica, Springer;Cliometric Society (Association Francaise de Cliométrie), vol. 16(1), pages 29-77, January.

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