Soil, Storms, and Change

The Plains in Windy Times

In the 1920s, many farmers in the Great Plains grew wheat. During years when wheat prices were high, some farmers plowed up more prairie grassland to plant more crops. Prairie grasses had deep roots that helped hold the soil in place. When the grasses were removed, the soil had less protection from strong winds.

A long drought began in parts of the Great Plains in 1931. The ground became very dry. In 1932 and the years that followed, strong winds carried clouds of loose topsoil across farms and towns. These events became known as the Dust Bowl. Crops failed in many places, and livestock had less grass and water. Some families left their farms and moved west in search of work.

In 1935, the federal government created the Soil Conservation Service. Its workers taught farmers practices such as contour plowing, planting cover crops, and using windbreaks. These practices could slow wind and help keep soil in place. Farmers and government workers did not solve every problem at once, but they began to change how many people cared for the land.

In 1939, rains returned to many parts of the Plains, although recovery took time. Today, farmers in dry or windy places often use practices that keep soil covered or slow the wind. Crop rotation, cover crops, grass strips, and rows of trees can help protect soil. Modern farmers also make choices based on local weather, land, and crops. The Dust Bowl shows how conditions and human choices can combine to shape history.