ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights the agricultural aspects of drought amelioration. There are numerous technological options which can be used, singly or together, to ameliorate the stresses which droughts impose on agriculture. Droughts can end with the onset of intensive precipitation. Then the contour and terrace farming methods can be especially important. The major impetus for the widespread systematic planting of windbreaks in the Great Plains began during the drought of the 1930's when President F. D. Roosevelt was convinced of the need for a "shelterbelt" project. Older irrigation systems, such as the so-called "skidtow" thought obsolete by some, may be useful for drought proofing. Good soil stewardship is essential to avoid excessive soil and productivity losses when the inevitable droughts strike. Rainmaking to increase snow pack in the mountainous regions may be more feasible as a drought proofing technique.
