Corn Belt is a region of the Midwestern United States where corn has, since the 1850s, has been the predominant crop, replacing the native tall grasses. This region has dominated American farming for the past century.
The Corn Belt includes the prairie plains from Ohio westward through Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Nebraska.
Most corn is fed to livestock, especially hogs and poultry. It produces about 70% of the US corn crop and includes the top five corn producing states in the USA: Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota and Indiana.
In the heart of the Corn Belt, the state of Iowa alone accounted for more than 16% of US corn and soybean export value.
Booms and busts periodically been common in Corn Belt history. New technology to increase agriculture production now seems to lie more in the era of genetic research than it does with larger machines or more powerful agrochemicals.
Despite giving it’s the name to the region, corn was never the only crop grown. Rather, it formed part of a triangular feed crop rotation, with small grains and hay, the products of which were marketed “on the hoof” as high quality pork and beef.
Corn Belt agriculture today is oriented towards corn, soybean and meat production.
Corn Belt in United States
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