Heat VS Crops:  The Battle Begins

Heat stress can suppress estrus cycles and lower conception rates in cattle.

Abstract: Heatwaves are no longer climate anomalies; they are the new normal. As India enters an era of prolonged, intense, and unpredictable thermal extremes, its rural backbone is showing signs of distress. In this episode of Death by Fahrenheit, the conversation journeys through sun-scorched deserts, struggling farms, and overheated cowsheds to unravel the real-world consequences of rising temperatures. With reflections rooted in lived experience and field-based expertise, the episode unpacks how surging heat is redefining the rules of agriculture and livestock management across India[1]. From disrupted physiology of field crops to faltering milk yields, from failing fruit orchards to overheated poultry farms, the story of rural India in a warming world is told through science, empathy, and shocking hard-earned wisdom. This dialogue calls for rethinking climate responses, investing in early warnings, and rediscovering the strength of indigenous systems.