Grasslands

Grasslands often lie between deserts and temperate deciduous forests. This is due to the amount of rain which grasslands receive each year. There is normally more precipitation near the forests. Thiscreates more fertile soils than the grasslands which are near the desert and receive less precipitation. Although generally fertile, grasslands lack trees, away from streams and other bodies of water. Most of the plant life on the prairies are composed of perennial bush and sod forming grasses which are able to survive the occassional fires which sweep through them. These grassy areas are mainly occupied by grazing animals such as the American Bison and Antelope. Which have been driven off by ranchers and farmers, because they compete with livestock for food. The lack of trees in combination with fertile soils make the grasslands of the world prime agricultural areas. It was this abundance of exceptional soil which led to the overuse of Americas Great Plains during the 1930’s creating the legendary dust bowl. We realize now that proper management of grasslands is essential to the productivity of America’s agriculture, and conservation is a primary concern to every farmer and rancher.