1. Rural Geography

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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’)

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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