Abstract
Recent studies relating to the human use of the atmosphere have emphasized the need for investigations into the economics of weather and climate. They reveal that little attention has been given by meteorologists to the non-scientific gains of their profession. Of the many gains, those affecting the agricultural community are of primary importance. The technique of assessing the gains associated with monetary variations in agricultural production is examined through the use of an “agroclimatological model” for several agricultural products in New Zealand.
The most significant partial correlations were examined, the subsequent analysis indicating the importance of climatic variations on various aspects of agricultural production, and their effects on agricultural incomes. The major finding of the analysis is the significance of climatic factors in their influence on butterfat production, a “significant” climatic variation such as a “wet” January, for example, being “worth” about $N.Z. 2 million to the dairy farmers in South Auckland—New Zealand's premier dairying area.
