Rural Geography

Starter In groups, come up with two points on the physical landscape and two on the climate of the Great Plains

Learning intentions: To learn about rural change in the Great Plains, USA I will be able to: Make a table showing the changes in farming, the reason for this and provide examples of each

Changes Increased farm size Reason More and more people left the Great Plains Land was bought by remaining farmers in an attempt to increase output Example All states in the Great Plains, such as North Dakota

Changes Use of new technology – e.g. precision farming – use of satellite navigation to irrigate and apply chemicals precisely and laser levelling of the land Reason More efficient – saves money and water Reduces soil erosion Example Kansas, Texas

Changes Improved farming methods – e.g. contour ploughing, strip cultivation, intercropping, irrigation Reason To try and reduce soil erosion which devastated the region in the 1930s and still causes problems Example The dust bowl area of Oklahoma

Changes More animals are now being kept Reason Frequent droughts make crop growing unreliable With more animals, more grass is grown which stops soil erosion Example North Dakota

Changes Different types of crops grown – e.g. sunflowers, millet Reason Farmers are now growing crops that are better suited to dry conditions Example Kansas (‘the Sunflower State’)

Changes More money from the government– e.g. the Conservation Reserve Program (farmers paid to take land out of crop production) Reason Ensure higher standard of living for farmers Ensure the country produces enough food Protect the soil and the environment Example Texas

Changes Growing more biofuels Reason Farmers are given government help to grow biofuels Example All areas but especially the eastern states of the Great Plains

Changes Diversification– e.g. providing accommodation for tourists, bison ranching Reason More profitable Farmers can make money from land taken out of crop production Example Montana. Wyoming.

Task You are writing a report on the Great Plains. Your next section will cover: Changes in farming Reasons for the changes Examples of areas this occurred