Currently, the growing season in the southwest Yukon is only a little more than 800 growing degree days, long enough to grow hay or green feed but not long enough to ripen most grains. It takes about 1000 growing degree days to mature a crop of wheat, and about 900 to mature a crop of barley. With an overall increase of two to three degrees, the season in the southwest Yukon would approach the 1000 days needed to ripen wheat. Of course, temperature isn't everything, Smith says. There are so many other variables that go into producing a crop.
Moisture is an important factor.
The climate projections show an increase in rainfall, but that would likely be more than balanced by increased rates of evaporation. Smith says it's hard to say exactly how much moisture would be available for crops. Things would get drier, and irrigation would become increasingly important. I think that's the safest statement. The quality of the soil is also an important factor.