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Climate Factor · Climate factor

Wind

Wind affects agriculture in multiple ways — raising evaporative demand and evapotranspiration, risking lodging or physical damage to crops, driving wind erosion on exposed soil, and, at extreme speeds, causing direct structural damage to plants and farm infrastructure.

Dated referenceLast reviewed: 2026-07-12Updated: 2026-07-12
Illustrative diagram · AgricultureID (original)

Moderate wind plays some beneficial agronomic roles: it supports pollination for wind-pollinated crops and can reduce disease pressure by drying leaf surfaces more quickly after rain or dew. At the same time, wind increases the rate of evapotranspiration by removing humid air from around leaves, increases mechanical stress that can cause lodging in top-heavy or weak-stemmed crops, and drives erosion of loose, dry, or bare soil.

Extreme wind events, such as storms, can cause direct physical damage, including broken stems, defoliation, and structural damage to greenhouses or trellising. Chronic wind exposure on open, exposed sites can also stunt or deform plant growth over time.

How wind affects crops

  • Raises evapotranspiration by removing humid air from around leaves
  • Creates mechanical stress that can cause lodging in tall or weak-stemmed crops
  • Aids pollination for wind-pollinated species
  • Can reduce leaf-wetness duration and some associated disease pressure
  • Can cause direct physical damage to plants and structures during storms

Wind erosion

Loose, dry, or poorly covered soils are most vulnerable to wind erosion. Over time, wind erosion can remove topsoil and organic matter, reducing soil fertility if not managed through cover or windbreaks.

Managing wind exposure

  • Windbreaks or shelterbelts using trees or shrubs to reduce wind speed at the field edge
  • Maintaining crop residue or cover crops to protect soil from wind erosion
  • Choosing wind-tolerant or shorter-statured varieties in exposed sites
  • Structural reinforcement for trellised crops or greenhouse structures in windy regions

Wind and water demand

Windy conditions increase atmospheric demand for water by accelerating evapotranspiration, which influences irrigation scheduling: fields exposed to persistent wind may require more frequent or larger irrigation applications to meet the same crop water demand as a sheltered field.

Variability by region and season

Wind exposure, prevailing direction, and storm risk vary greatly by region, topography, and season. This entry gives no universal wind-speed thresholds for crop damage or erosion risk, since these depend on local conditions and crop characteristics.

Relationships

Evidence-backed connections in the knowledge graph.

Affects

Managed with

Related topics

Scope & limitations

Geographic scope: Wind effects on agriculture occur worldwide; prevailing wind patterns, storm risk, and typical intensity vary greatly by region and topography.

  • This entry describes general agronomic effects of wind; it gives no region-specific wind-speed thresholds or erosion rates.
  • It does not forecast storm risk for any specific location or season.

Sources

This article draws on the following authoritative sources. See our sources & methodology for how they are selected.

  1. [1]WMO — World Meteorological Organization (opens in a new tab)

    World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

    Authoritative

    Cited for: Wind measurement and meteorological classification

    Type:
    Intergovernmental organization
    Jurisdiction:
    Global
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12
  2. [2]NOAA — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (opens in a new tab)

    U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

    Authoritative

    Cited for: Storm and wind-risk monitoring

    Type:
    Government agency
    Jurisdiction:
    United States
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12
  3. [3]FAO — Food and Agriculture Organization (opens in a new tab)

    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

    Authoritative

    Cited for: Wind effects on crop water demand and management

    Type:
    Intergovernmental organization
    Jurisdiction:
    Global
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12
  4. [4]USDA NRCS — Natural Resources Conservation Service (opens in a new tab)

    USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

    Authoritative

    Cited for: Wind erosion control practices

    Type:
    Government agency
    Jurisdiction:
    United States
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12

Related topics

Soil Health

Farming Systems