Crops Grown in the United States

AP Human Geography

Agricultural Geography

A Look at Cropland as a Whole:

% of Land in Farms

The 100 Degree Meridian: Separating Humid from Dry

Corn – the “Corn Belt” = Iowa and Illinois

Soybeans – similar to corn, many uses – milk, meat substitutes, dressings, cosmetics, tofu,

paint thinner

Winter Wheat – centered around Kansas; planted in autumn, strong roots through winter,

harvested in early summer

Spring Wheat - centered around North Dakota; winters too harsh, so plant in spring and harvest

late summer

Dairy – “Dairy Belt” around Great Lakes (Wisconsin to NY, VT, and

Maine)

Turkeys and Chickens (Broilers) – Appalachians, on worst land

Sorghum – top of the plant used for molasses, bottom used for animal feed

Rice – needs water to grow!!

Cotton

Tobacco

Tomatoes

Also New Jersey and Delaware for “truck farming”

Herding and Ranching

Cattle ranched throughout the U.S.

Sheep in the western U.S. and Alaska

Peanuts

Sugarcane

PLUS Hawaii

Oranges/Citrus

Grapes

Produced for wines in

• California

• New York (including Long Island)

Sugar Beets