Farming in 1930s America

What happened in farming in 1930s America?

The early 1930s were terrible years for American farmers, who had already faced difficulties in the 1920s.

How did the Depression affect American farmers in the 1930s?

Because people had less money, they bought less food. Demand and food prices fell even further and farmers struggled to make ends meet.

Why were American farmers affected by the dust bowl in the 1930s?

The situation for farmers was made even worse by the dust bowl.

• ❖ Farmers on the Great Plains had over-farmed their land in the 1920s, causing the soil to erode.
• ❖ Droughts in 1930 and 1931 made the problem even worse, turning the soil into dry, crumbly dust.
• ❖ The dust was picked up by strong winds which created dust storms, or 'black blizzards', where the dust was too thick to see through.

Where in America were farmers most affected by the dust bowl in the 1930s?

The dust bowl spread across the American plains, but the name was used specifically for the 5 worst-hit states.

• ❖ Oklahoma.
• ❖ Colorado.
• ❖ New Mexico.
• ❖ Kansas.
• ❖ Texas.

What were the effects of the dust bowl on American farmers in the 1930s?

The dust bowl impacted farmers' ability to earn a living.

• ❖ The dust bowl affected about 17 million farmers. Many were unable to grow crops on their land and they had to pack up and leave their homes.
• ❖ About one million farmers and farmworkers started to move around to states where they might find work, such as California. They became known as 'Okies' and suffered terrible living conditions.