Could Conservation Tillage Systems Have Prevented the 1930s Dustbowl?
No one can say for sure, but it seems reasonable that had conservation tillage systems been the norm in the decades preceding the 1930s, one of the world’s worst environmental disasters could have been prevented, or at least moderated. Across the United States, 1934, 1936 and 1939 were extremely hot and dry years. In drought years since the 1930s, direct-seeded crops have fared much better than traditionally seeded crops. In the first year of the devastating 2000-2002 drought in Saskatchewan, crop insurance payouts of $500 million were expected, based on models from traditional cropping systems. Actual payouts were around $300 million. The entire difference is credited to the effects of direct seeding and soil conservation. “With little snow the following winter, direct seeding didn’t help much the second year,” says Blair McClinton, referring to the 2000-2002 drought in Saskatchewan. “We didn’t have any dust storms during that drought although we had plenty of hot, windy weather to ca
