Activity
5: Farming in the Southeast Region
Agriculture is important to the Southeast region. Agriculture is the number one industry in North Carolina and Mississippi. Farmers in the Coastal Plains grow rice and vegetables. The fertile soil and mild temperatures are ideal. Agriculture in Florida is also an important industry. Florida farmers grow fruits and vegetables, field crops and citrus products. Florida is a major producer of citrus fruits. The Coastal Plain gets a lot of rain each year. This allows farmers to grow rice. In fact, Arkansas grows more rice than any other state in the U.S.
In the 1800's cotton was the most important crop grown in the Southeast region. In fact, the region was known as the Land of Cotton. Cotton plantations were very popular. After years of using the same fields to grow cotton, the soil became weak and farmers had to grow new crops. A black scientist named George Washington Carver wanted to finds ways to improve farming in the Southeast. Peanuts became the the new cash crop. George Washington Carver found 300 uses for peanuts. Today, Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina and Virginia successfully grow peanuts.
Farming on the Piedmont is more difficult. Farmers in
Georgia grow peaches.
Georgia is known as the peach state. Other farmers in the Piedmont raise
poultry. Arkansas, North
Carolina and Virginia are important poultry producers. Tobacco is one
of the Piedmont's biggest cash crops. North
Carolina, Kentucky and South Carolina grow the most tobacco.