THE AGRICULTURAL CORE

(CHAPTER 11)

Introduction

• The "agricultural core" is outlined on the map on page 241. • Overlaps in the east with the "manufacturing core” – The early demands of agricultural producers stimulated urban development and growth in manufacturing. • Location is sometimes referred to as the "

Middle West

” – Reflects a carry-over from the days of eastern seaboard dominance •

Culturally

- a region of farms and factories; comprised of a dispersed, rural, white, Protestant population and a clustered, urban, Black and immigrant population. • “

Agricultural core

” refers not to geographical location, but to an area of cultural intensity - small town and rural.

Population Composition

   • Predominantly white culture originating from Northwestern Europe – Germany, The Netherlands, British Isles, and Scandinavia.

Settled by the late 1800s  Shows neither extreme of America's social, political, or economic spectra.

Houses a limited Black population  Economic opportunity was limited, except in major metropolitan areas, during major migration periods.

Much of the agricultural core has declined in population since the 1930s.

Physical Geography

•

Climate

 Entire region receives

>30 inches

of rainfall each year, with the southern margins receiving

>40 inches

.

 Most rain falls during the growing season, from April through November.

 Limited variability in rainfall over a ten year period. Rainfall amounts, frequency, and timing are all beneficial.

  Growing seasons average around five months.

Region experiences a

continental climate

.

Physical Geography



Relief

 Gently rolling - not too flat, nor too hilly  Resists erosion  Enhances proper drainage   There are very few unused areas.

The topography is conducive to

large-scale mechanization

.

Physical Geography



Soils

  Generally of

good quality Two major types



Alfisols

 Generally found east of central Iowa, except for central Illinois and southern Wisconsin.

 Formed under conditions of moderate moisture and associated with coniferous or mixed forests.

 Have a thin surface horizon that is deficient in humus, but the B horizon has not been leached.

Physical Geography



SOILS

(cont) 

Mollisols

 Generally found west of Central Iowa.

 Formed under grasses rather than forests.

 Characterized by a dark brown to black color and are rich in organic matter.

 Have a deep surface horizon and are among the most fertile soils in the world.

Soils

Accessibility Network

• Blessed with a natural system of inland waterways. • The

Great Lakes

, and the

Ohio, Mississippi, and Missouri Rivers

serve all portions of the region and permit the easy and inexpensive shipment of goods. • The network has long facilitated transportation and economic interaction throughout the region and beyond.

Carrying Capacity

• The number of people that an area can support given the quality of the natural environment and the level of technology of the population • Especially significant within the agricultural core because the region has a tremendous carrying capacity and is capable of hosting a much larger population.

Agriculture

•

Major Producing Areas/Products



Corn Belt

  Feed grain & livestock farming-the dominant system Historically, corn has been best suited for the environment and ensured a good economic return.

  Three crop rotation system was developed by 1820.

Advantages of corn

    High grain yields It can be grown close together One can use stalks and leaves as silage Environmentally suited to the climate and soil.

Agriculture



Dairy Belt

 Located in Wisconsin and Central Michigan  Climate prevents feed grain maturation.  Farmers rely on silage, oats, barley, and hay crops to support large dairy herds.

 Produces a large proportion of the country's dairy products  Accounts for 1/2 the total cheese output

Agriculture



Fruit Growing Regions

 Along the shores of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin and Michigan  Cherries and apples  Along the shores of Lake Erie  Grapes

Agriculture

•

Soybean Substitution

 Act as a soil “reconditioner” and increase the nitrogen content   Environmental requirements for soybeans are broad.

Versatile –  Eat the bean directly.   Mill it to produce vegetable oil or meal. Use it as livestock feed.   Serve it as grain.

Use it as a meat or milk supplement.

  Great demand on the world market and is stable Enables a two year rotation

Agriculture

•

Mechanization and Farm Size (TRENDS)

– Increasing emphasis on large scale mechanization – Increasing farm size – Decreasing number of farms in the region

Key Terms

• • •

Silage

– Refers to fodder (livestock feed) – Prepared by storing & fermenting green forage in a silo.

Fallow

– Pertains to agricultural land that has been plowed or tilled but left unseeded during a growing season. – Conserves moisture but also has a restorative effect.

Porkopolis

– A nickname given to Cincinnati by the 1830s – Based on the intensive hog raising activities of the surrounding area in Southern Ohio.

Township and Range System

Township Divided into Sections

Section Divided into Acres 1 SQ MI

THE AGRICULTURAL CORE

(CHAPTER 11)