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!!
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
Sugarcane
PLUS Hawaii
Grapes
Produced for wines in
• California
• New York (including Long Island)