Though the Great Plains and the Canadian Prairie are still independent to some extent, and retain the individual character shaped by the agricultural subsistence and natural landscape, there are modern obstacles to contend with to retain freedom and remain afloat. The threat of unruly and unpredictable climatic changes have affected the farmers of the region who migrated to The Great Plains and Canadian Prairie and had been accustomed to the predictability of the Midwestern climate. The region was essential in supplying the agricultural products that were direly needed during WWII, and has since been exploited for its bounty. Nonetheless, sustainable options exist.
The Great Plains flat landscape (www.greatplainslcc.org)
Gascoyne, North Dakota (en.wikipedia.org)
History's Effects on Demography & Settlement
The region's last ice age glaciers retreated about 12,000 years ago. The Plains Native Americans were semi-nomadic, hunters and gatherers, practiced basic agriculture, and hunted wooly mammoths and buffalo. The Spanish introduction of horses and firearms to the region vastly impacted the lifestyle of the Native Americans, and though it aided their livelihood for a time, their traditions and culture was greatly eroded by this. Lewis and Clark were instrumental in discovering the abundant wildlife and geographical elements of the region. They called it "The Great American Desert", for they found the region to be dry, and devoid of much vegetation. The area was ideal for cowboy culture however, which was connected to cattle ranching, and which has endowed the nation with an iconic image of masculinity, nationalism, and rugged independence.
The rugged appeal of cowboys was immortalized by Hollywood films. Here is James Dean playing a cowboy. (classico.culturenik.com)
John Wayne (en.wikipedia.org)
Climate & Geography
The flat topography and dry climate has been ideal for the growth of several agricultural products. Though the climate of The Great Plains and Canadian Prairie is often dry, and precipitation is scarce, irrigation permits agriculture. Additionally, the topsoil of the area is very fertile.
Pivot agriculture in Great Plains (landscapearchipelago.com)
The Primary sector has been instrumental in the economic survival of the Great Plains and Canadian Prairie. Though traditionally, agricultural products from the region were shipped to the Eastern United States, today, Asian economies are greatly invested in the success of Great Plains agriculture. The transportation of the goods, which is largely dependent on fossil fuels, will need to be replaced with a more environmentally viable solution if the agricultural sector is to survive. Most farmers are no longer independent or own family farms. Instead, many farmers rely on agricultural subsidies, off-farm jobs, and corporate contracts. The industry is becoming increasingly corporatized and insistent on the largest amount of yields with the lowest amount of costs. Unfortunately, one of these consequences is the diminishment of the Ogallala water table. Since it has been over pumped, irrigation connected to it is no longer possible. Climate change is also a serious concern for the inhabitants of the region because crops will be affected by the greenhouse effect. Crops grown in the region are: Wheat, corn, canola, sorghum, cotton, sunflowers. Livestock grown in the region includes: cattle and hogs.
Sustainability
Since the Great Plains utilizes an unsustainable amount of water at the time, measures will have to be taken to remediate this. Calgary, for instance, has begun water conservation plans to move in this direction. Sustainable agriculture, which would involve practices that respect and work in agreement with the land's natural provisions are also necessary. Renewable energy sources such as wind turbines present ample opportunity to turn around the region's overuse of fossil fuels.
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