Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER
11
Agriculture
Field Notes
Changing Greens
Figure 11.1
Presho, South Dakota.
Soybeans growing in the semiarid ranchlands of western South
Dakota.
© Erin H. Fouberg.
Driving across the semiarid ranchlands of western South Dakota, I noticed the
presence of a crop in the landscape that was recently found only in the eastern,
moister region of the state: soybeans (Fig. 11.1).
I called a colleague who works in agriculture at South Dakota State University
to ask, “When did the cattle ranchers of western South Dakota start growing soy-
beans?” He replied, “When the soy biodiesel plants started popping up in Nebraska
and Kansas and when genetically modifi ed soybeans made it possible to grow the
crop here.” He explained the development of Roundup Ready soybeans, a particu-
lar genetically modifi ed soybean that can grow in more arid regions of the country.
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