I recently read the book The Worst Hard Times by Timothy Egan. I recommend it. The original plains were about 14" of thick grass roots evolved over several millions of years. If you dug down below this in the hottest driest years, there was cool, moist soil. The grass, the buffalo, the aquifer, the weather patterns all formed this perfect landscape where life thrived. It is unique in all of earth's history.
My grandparents farmed during this time in Nebraska. They eventually gave up and my grandpa ran for country clerk and they moved to the 'city' of Oshkosh, with running water and electricity. The farming practices improved to include crop rotation and wind belts, until irrigation pivots came to be, then it all was up for grabs. Currently there are some farmers who practice dryland farming, and in droughts, those crops often fare better. My brother lives in the area still. Everyone knows reliance on the Ogallala aquifer is not sustainable. The Green Revolution of the 50s and 60s devastated the family farm due to the necessity of external inputs, and constant debt. It's a vicious circle few are able to get out of.
My nephew learned about drylands farming and other soil building practices like living mulches, so there is some progress, albeit small.
