Question

How did dust storms make it difficult to farm in the Great Plains?

Answer 1

The wind stripped the topsoil, the most fertile part of the soil away making the land less productive.

Explanation:

Before European settlement, the plains still had "Loess" soil left after the ice age glaciers receded. This very fertile soil was a major benefit to farming. The black loam on the surface took centuries to establish. Wind erosion aided by tree removal and tilling the soil for sowing of crops allowed this asset to blow away.

Planting trees for wind breaks and other efforts helped limit this loss.