Group 9– Taylor Langford, Cody Stallings, Zane FlemingAGCM 3103Ann BusbyMarch 13, 2014The History and Influence of Dust Bowl Journalism on American CultureThe Dust Bowl of the 1930s will forever be considered one of the greatest man-made disasters will ever impact America. With the ever-increasing drought, lack of rain and excessive plowing of wheat lands, agriculture has become more than a job, it has become a killing. However, through photography, journalism and song, we have been able to show others what can result from agricultural mistakes and pave the way for future generations. This article will discuss the Dust Bowl, how the government helped the cause through journalism, and what journalism has done for agriculture then and now. The Dust Bowl occurred in the 1930s and lasted for nearly a decade, from 1931 to 1939, giving it its infamous title of "Dirty Thirties." .” Great Plains farmers plowed their prairies very deeply to maintain a wheat crop, but unlike previous years of adequate rain, the drought brought little or no water relief. The farmers became concerned and continued to dig deeper and deeper, eventually removing a very significant layer of soil that kept the soil intact. The plains winds didn't help, they kicked up the exposed ground and created dust storms that swept through Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. These dark, dusty storms would suffocate livestock and humans, to the point where breathing would be restricted and death possible. The storm destroyed people's homes, farms and way of life, making it difficult to provide for their families. As the dust storms continued, the families finally loaded up and headed west to California in search of a new life and opportunity... middle of paper .. .... 44 personal and colorful letters, songs and books, people now had a better understanding of what was happening in the Midwest. America was forever changed by the actions of journalists and photographers. It gave people a new perspective on life and how quickly it can be blown away. The most important thing for farmers and ranchers was that it gave us time and new farming techniques. Now we can irrigate our farms and provide the moisture needed for successful harvests. The way we till today has evolved over time to ensure we keep our soil richer in the ground for better agricultural production. Additionally, it gave us impetus for more photography and writing to better establish local and global news. Even though Americans had to go through such changes, it paved the way for us to where we are today and showed us new ways to better provide for our families as well as those around us..