In a report to be made a part of the National Climate Assessment, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and academic scientists state that by mid-century U.S. agriculture will be experiencing reduced yields of many staple crops and the productivity of livestock operations because of climate change. After studying more than 1,000 reports, the USDA predicts that climate change will end the last 150 years of relatively stable climate, causing average temperatures to increase between 1.8?F-5.4?F and snow and rainfall patterns to shift. Annual crops will be spending more growing days outside the temperature range that produces optimum yield and perennial crops will suffer as the reduction of cold winter days will shorten the necessary dormant period. Warming will also stress livestock, causing increased production costs for meat, eggs and milk. In forests climate change will cause wildfires to double, insect infestations, erosion and flooding to increase as well as drought-induced tree death. Forests will shift northward seeking cooler temperatures and species mixes within the forests will change.