The images coming out of the Upper Midwest and High Plains region of the U.S. this spring are reminiscent of the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Relentless wind coupled with dry conditions have led to severe soil erosion, and the situation was made worse in areas lacking cover crops. The drifting topsoil covered roads, filled ditches and gave fertile fields a desert-like appearance. Drought persisting through the winter in North and South Dakota, and the northern half of Minnesota, made the fields particularly vulnerable when the winds arrived. The Foster County Soil Conservation District in North Dakota reported that a dust storm on March 29-30 resulted in topsoil losses of 12 inches or more in some areas. Soybean fields, including no-till acres, were especially vulnerable to the windy conditions, according to the district.