Sea of Grass: The Conquest, Ruin, and Redemption of Nature on the American Prairie

Environmental journalists Hage (Reforming Welfare by Rewarding Work) and Marcotty have adapted their Minneapolis Star Tribune series into an accessible, in-depth analysis of the impact of agriculture on the central section of North America. Extensively researched and documented, this analysis uses historical and ecological lenses to help readers understand why the prairie was transformed from a diverse ecosystem into an area with vast farms that grow only one or two crops. Hage and Marcotty explain the impact of agricultural practices such as plowing under prairie grasses and other plants whose extensive root structures held the soil in place, and the extensive drainage systems that were created to turn wetlands into farmland. These practices have had both local and far-flung consequences, including tainted wells and the dead zone off the coast of Louisiana. The authors round out their research by interviewing contemporary farmers and ranchers. Farmers’ choices are frequently influenced by federal legislation and the domination of agriculture by a few corporations. Still, readers also meet individuals who are trying new approaches, including reintroducing buffalo to tribal lands. Back matter includes an extensive bibliography.