Farmers on the Great Plains began to lose their crops during the Depression because:

During the Great Depression, farmers on the Great Plains began to lose their crops due to a combination of economic and environmental factors:

1. Economic downturn: The Great Depression, which started in 1929, led to a severe economic downturn all over the world. This resulted in a significant drop in crop prices, making farming unprofitable. Many farmers could not afford to harvest their crops, leading to crop loss.

2. Overproduction: In the years leading up to the Depression, farmers were producing more food than could be consumed. This overproduction led to a surplus of crops, which in turn led to falling prices. When the Depression hit, these already low prices dropped even further.

3. Drought: The 1930s also saw severe drought conditions in the Great Plains. This region became known as the Dust Bowl. The drought, combined with poor agricultural practices at the time, led to widespread soil erosion. The resulting dust storms destroyed crops and made farming nearly impossible in many areas.

4. Debt: Many farmers had taken out loans during the prosperous 1920s to buy more land and modernize their equipment. When crop prices fell, they were unable to repay these debts. Many lost their farms to foreclosure, leading to even more crop loss.

5. Lack of government support: During the early years of the Depression, there was little government support for struggling farmers. It wasn't until the mid-1930s that programs were introduced to help farmers recover.

These factors combined to create a perfect storm of crop loss for farmers on the Great Plains during the Depression.