<P> Early settlers discovered that the Great Plains were not the "Great American Desert," but they also found that the very harsh climate--with tornadoes, blizzards, drought, hail, floods, and grasshoppers--made for a high risk of ruined crops . Many early settlers were financially ruined, especially in the early 1890s, and either protested through the Populist movement, or went back east . In the 20th century, crop insurance, new conservation techniques, and large - scale federal aid all lowered the risk . Immigrants, especially Germans, and their children comprised the largest element of settlers after 1860; they were attracted by the good soil, low - priced lands from the railroad companies . The railroads offered attractive Family packages . They brought in European families, with their tools, directly to the new farm, which was purchased on easy credit terms . The railroad needed settlers as much as the settlers needed farmland . Even cheaper land was available through homesteading, although it was usually not as well located as railroad land . </P> <P> The problem of blowing dust didn't come from farmers growing too much wheat but from the rainfall being too little for growing enough wheat to keep the topsoil from blowing away . In the 1930s, techniques and technologies of soil conservation, most of which had been available but ignored before the Dust Bowl conditions began, were promoted by the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) of the US Department of Agriculture, so that, with cooperation from the weather, soil condition was much improved by 1940 . </P> <P> On the Great Plains, very few single men attempted to operate a farm or ranch; farmers clearly understood the need for a hard - working wife, and numerous children, to handle the many chores, including child - rearing, feeding and clothing the family, managing the housework, feeding the hired hands, and, especially after the 1930s, handling the paperwork and financial details . During the early years of settlement in the late 19th century, farm women played an integral role in assuring family survival by working outdoors . After a generation or so, women increasingly left the fields, thus redefining their roles within the family . New conveniences such as sewing and washing machines encouraged women to turn to domestic roles . The scientific housekeeping movement, promoted across the land by the media and government extension agents, as well as county fairs which featured achievements in home cookery and canning, advice columns for women in the farm papers, and home economics courses in the schools . </P> <P> Although the eastern image of farm life on the prairies emphasizes the isolation of the lonely farmer and farm life, in reality rural folk created a rich social life for themselves . They often sponsored activities that combined work, food, and entertainment such as barn raisings, corn huskings, quilting bees, Grange meeting, church activities, and school functions . The womenfolk organized shared meals and potluck events, as well as extended visits between families . </P>

How did steam power improve agricultural production in the us prior to the civil war