Beth and Bart
I think that what both your accounts highlight is that relying on one type of crop is a dangerous business, as is the assumption that all circumstnces will remain the same.
Over the last 150 years or so (until the last half century) there were many mixed farms so enabling climate vagaries or blight to be rescued by one or other crop. I am nervous of our over reliance on single crops and especially that there is only a Plan A-to cope wit a slightly warming climate, when history tells us that nature will, sooner or later, decide to hit us with something altogether less mild and benign. A slight decrease in temperatures and subsequent reduction in crop yields and growing period could cause many problems.
tonyb