What environmental disaster in the 1930s contributed to severe agricultural decline in the Midwest?

The environmental disaster that significantly impacted agricultural decline in the Midwest during the 1930s was the Dust Bowl. This phenomenon resulted from a combination of severe drought and poor farming practices, leading to the loss of topsoil and the inability to grow crops. The Dust Bowl affected areas such as Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and Colorado, where high winds eroded the dry soil, creating dust storms that devastated farmland.

Farmers were unable to sustain their crops, leading to widespread economic hardship and prompting many families to abandon their farms. It is essential to understand that this catastrophe not only had immediate effects on agriculture but also contributed to long-term changes in farming practices and government policies aimed at soil conservation and agricultural reform. The Dust Bowl serves as a critical example of the interplay between environmental conditions and agricultural practices in American history.