Abstract
In the history of agriculture, the United States’ Corn Belt has been one of the most altered and intensely cultivated regions in the country. In the spring of 2019, the region was inundated with extreme rainfall. These rain events led to severe flooding causing damage to levees, communities and agricultural lands, totaling billions of dollars in damage. This thesis will focus on the complexities of the flooding in Missouri. This thesis has two aims. The first, to explore the history of agriculture and levee flood management in the region, and the second to interview farmers impacted by flooding in Jackson County, Missouri. Information from interviews conducted in the county will be used to assess both sides of the flood management debate and recommendations for sustainable best practices will be made.