What triggered the Dust Bowl?

In the late 1800s, settlers heading west were drawn to the expansive, grassy lands of the semi-arid plains in the Midwest and southern United States. They established farms there.

For decades, they thrived, but by the 1930s, fierce winds, severe drought, and dust storms swept across nearly 75% of the country between 1931 and 1939 [source: Library of Congress]. This period became infamous as the Dust Bowl.

The Dust Bowl caused immense ecological, economic, and human suffering in the U.S., which was already struggling under the Great Depression. While the economic downturn from the Great Depression contributed, it was far from the sole factor at fault.

What triggered the Dust Bowl?

The Dust Bowl was fueled by a mix of economic decline, prolonged drought, abnormally high temperatures, harmful farming practices, and the resulting wind erosion.

The events that led to the Dust Bowl started in the early 1920s. A recession following World War I drove farmers to adopt new mechanized farming techniques to boost their earnings. Many invested in plows and other equipment, and from 1925 to 1930, over 5 million acres (2 million hectares) of previously untouched land were plowed [source: Kershner]. With mechanization, farmers saw record crops during the 1931 season.

However, the excess wheat production, combined with the Great Depression, caused wheat prices to plummet. The market became oversaturated, and with many people unable to afford it, farmers couldn't recover their costs. In response, they expanded their fields to increase profits, replacing the native prairie grass with wheat and leaving fields fallow.

However, plow-based agriculture in this region led to an unforeseen consequence: the fertile topsoil was carried away by winds, leaving the land barren, exposed to drought, and unsuitable for farming.

Then, as if by cruel chance, the rains ceased. By 1932, 14 dust storms, referred to as black blizzards, had been recorded, and within a single year, this number grew to nearly 40.

Millions fled the area. The federal government rolled out aid programs, but it wasn’t until 1939, when the rains returned, that relief was finally experienced.

Effects of the Dust Bowl

When a severe drought struck the Great Plains, approximately one-third of the farmers abandoned their properties and moved west to California, hoping to find work as migrants. Referred to as Okies — a term for any impoverished migrant from the Dust Bowl, even though only 20% came from Oklahoma — they left behind the desolate fields and economic hardship.

Many of these families had previously enjoyed financial stability and modern amenities like indoor plumbing, but after investing in expensive mechanized farm equipment and experiencing multiple crop failures, they were burdened by debt and faced foreclosure on their properties.

California was not eager to welcome the flood of Okie migrants. With job opportunities scarce and migrant workers far outnumbering the available positions, tensions escalated between Californians and the newcomers, and public health issues arose as the state's infrastructure struggled to cope.

The New Deal

In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced the first of several mortgage and farming relief acts as part of the New Deal, designed to reduce foreclosures and support struggling farms during the drought. However, by the end of 1934, approximately 35 million acres (14 million hectares) of farmland had been destroyed, and the topsoil on 100 million acres (40 million hectares) was blown away [source: Dyer].

Under the 1934 Taylor Grazing Act, the U.S. government designated 140 million acres (57 million hectares) as protected federal lands. This act regulated grazing and planting practices to promote land restoration and conservation efforts.

In addition, during the early 1930s, the government established the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), one of the New Deal's most successful programs. Over three million young men volunteered to work in forestry and conservation efforts with the CCC. Known as Roosevelt's 'Forest Army,' they planted trees, dug ditches, and built reservoirs — all of which contributed to flood control, water conservation, and the prevention of further soil erosion.

Between 1933 and 1935, the government introduced numerous programs and agencies to assist those affected by the Dust Bowl, including initiatives such as the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act, the Resettlement Administration, the Farm Security Administration, the Land Utilization Program, and the Drought Relief Service.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA), launched under the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act, is one of the most famous New Deal initiatives. As a work relief program, the WPA employed over 8.5 million individuals to build infrastructure such as roads, bridges, airports, public parks, and buildings.

The Soil Conservation Act of 1935

It took millions of tons of dust and debris blowing across the Plains all the way to Washington D.C. in what became known as 'Black Sunday' to spur Congress into action, leading to the passage of the Soil Conservation Act and the creation of the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) under the Department of Agriculture.

The SCS (now the Natural Resources Conservation Service) encouraged sustainable soil management and farming techniques, offering financial support to farmers who adopted these practices. The lasting impact of the Service's initiatives, such as irrigation, crop rotation, and no-till farming, can still be seen across the Plains today.

Another Dust Bowl?

The Dust Bowl of the 1930s did not shield the United States from the threat of another ecological disaster. Over 30% of North America is classified as arid or semi-arid land, with roughly 40% of the contiguous United States (17 western states) at risk of desertification [source: Alexander].

While sustainable agricultural practices and soil conservation efforts have the potential to prevent another Dust Bowl, experts remain uncertain whether these strategies will be sufficient if the region faces another prolonged and severe drought.

No-till Farming

Tilling is the process of turning over the soil's upper layer to remove weeds and incorporate fertilizers and pesticides. However, this practice also allows carbon dioxide, an essential soil nutrient, to escape from the topsoil.

No-till farming is an environmentally friendly approach that helps retain nutrients in the soil. Crop residue and organic matter are left on the surface, which improves the health of the topsoil, reduces water runoff, and minimizes soil erosion.