How were grasshoppers a problem during the 1930s?

During the 1930s, particularly in the United States, grasshoppers became a significant agricultural problem due to a combination of drought conditions and the economic pressures of the Great Depression. These swarms devastated crops in the Great Plains, compounding the difficulties faced by farmers already struggling with soil erosion and declining prices. The sheer number of grasshoppers, which could consume vast amounts of vegetation, led to widespread crop failures and exacerbated food shortages. As a result, many farming families faced severe financial hardship and displacement during this challenging period.