The United States, Chapter 9, Section 3 The Midwest, Leaving the Farm Mt. Rushmore Omaha The United States, Chapter 9, Section 3 The Midwest, Leaving the Farm Kansas City

To help carve out the land, farmers made use of new inventions and innovations, like the steel plow and barbed wire, along with. . .

…the windmill and electric drill

Small family owned farms were common up through the 1980s.

It was common for small family owned farms to grow several different kinds of crops.

During the 1980s, the demand for farm products decreased due to a country-wide recession. First Farm Aid performers, 1985

Most family owned farms cannot afford either. Large agricultural companies can afford to buy expensive land and expensive equipment needed for large profits. Most family owned farms cannot afford either.

Large corporations make the large profit by employing fewer workers Ansel Adams

Computerized creamery, milking parlor Computerized calf feeding Corporate farms can afford the use of computers and machinery, which cuts back on the number of workers they employ.

Midwest cities like Chicago began as centers of processing and transportation

Cities like Chicago allowed farmers from surrounding areas to bring their harvest and livestock, to be processed and shipped to markets.

Over time, the Twin Cities has had its fertile farmland replaced with suburbs.

A mixed-crop farm grows several different kinds of crops.

A recession is a decline in business activity and economic prosperity.

A corporate farm is a large farm that is run by a corporation.