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Midwest Agricultural Economy: Breadbasket of the Nation

Explore the fertile Midwest region with its rich humus soil, varying growing seasons, and robust farming technology. Learn about the evolution of farming from family enterprises to big businesses and the impact on global food production. Discover how Midwest towns thrive economically, link with cities, and benefit from a bustling commodities market.

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Midwest Agricultural Economy: Breadbasket of the Nation

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  1. UNIT 2 SECTION 5 MIDWEST

  2. Agricultural Economy • Most of Midwest is flat • Humus is a rich soil, great for farming • Long hot summers, with adequate rainfall

  3. Regional Variations • Variations contribute to what is grown • Ohio gets twice as much rainfall as S. Dakota • Kansas growing season is over 200 days • Growing season near Canadian border about 120 days

  4. Nations Breadbasket • Midwest farms are some of most productive in the world • High wheat output has led to Midwest being called nations bread basket • This output also allows for sizable amounts of exports

  5. Farms and Change • Farms started out as modest family enterprises. • Today farming is big business. • Machinery has driven these changes.

  6. Technology and Farming • 1800’s farm crops are getting larger • 1834 Cyrus McCormick patented a mechanical reaper • As more technology developed food production improved

  7. Linking Farms and Cities • Midwest towns grow economically due to farming • Dairies and grain elevators are center of business activity • Chicago Mercantile Exchange, world’s busiest commodities market.

  8. Soils of North America • Tundra Soils-where cold year round • Northern Forest Soils-cool wet climates • Prairie Soils-cool dry climates • Mountain Soils-Topsoil usually thin • Desert Soils-dry areas with few plants • Tropical Soils-wet, tropical climates

  9. Transportation and Industry • Many cities grew along the rivers or great lakes due to trade • Cleveland, Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, and Minneapolis. • Railroads soon took over from water transportation.

  10. The West

  11. Beautiful landscape • Snow capped peaks • Canyons • Massive glaciers • Volcanoes

  12. Water • Availability of water shapes the vegetation in the west • Much of West is arid or semiarid • Washington West Coast is very wet

  13. Natural resources • Minerals: gold, silver, uranium, other metals • Other resources: Oil and Natural gas • In the gold rush of 1800’s most did not strike it rich • Other resources: lumber and commerical fishing

  14. City Growth • Transcontinental RR contributes to Western City Growth • 1880’s lower fairs to Los Angeles contributed to more growth • Huge aqueducts created to supply water to Los Angeles

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