What were some of the problems of the farmers on the Great Plains?

What were some of the problems of the farmers on the Great Plains?

What were some of the challenges faced by early farmers on the Great Plains? Bitter cold winters, low rainfall, drought and dust storms. Tough, hard soil eroded by fierce winds and dust storms that was generally considered unsuitable for farming.

What kind of threats did farmers face on the Great Plains?

Farmers, who perpetually faced the threat of drought, hail, blizzards, and prairie fires, had long before developed a sense of humor which would help them to survive the hard times of the 1930’s.

What was the biggest problem that farmers faced during the Great Depression?

The Federal government passed a bill to help the farmers. Surplus was the problem; farmers were producing too much and driving down the price. The government passed the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) of 1933 which set limits on the size of the crops and herds farmers could produce.

What were some of the problems that farmers faced during the Depression?

When prices fell they tried to produce even more to pay their debts, taxes and living expenses. In the early 1930s prices dropped so low that many farmers went bankrupt and lost their farms. In some cases, the price of a bushel of corn fell to just eight or ten cents.

Why are the plains so cold?

The region is affected by several different air mass types that possess very different temperature and moisture properties. Air masses that move south over the region, from the dry, often snow-covered interior sections of central Canada, bring cold, dry air across the Plains.

Why was living on the Great Plains difficult?

Conditions on the Great Plains were harsh. Temperatures were extreme with freezing cold winters and incredibly hot summers. Lighting flashes could cause the grass to set alight, causing huge grassfires that spread across the Plains. The land was dry and unproductive making it difficult to grow crops.