<P> Agriculture is one of the biggest drivers of local economies in the Midwest, accounting for billions of dollars worth of exports and thousands of jobs . The area consists of some of the richest farming land in the world . The region's fertile soil combined with the steel plow has made it possible for farmers to produce abundant harvests of grain and cereal crops, including corn, wheat, soybeans, oats, and barley, to become known today as the nation's "breadbasket ." </P> <P> Farms spread from the colonies westward along with the settlers . In cooler regions, wheat was often the crop of choice when lands were newly settled, leading to a "wheat frontier" that moved westward over the course of years . Also very common in the antebellum Midwest was farming corn while raising hogs, complementing each other especially since it was difficult to get grain to market before the canals and railroads . After the "wheat frontier" had passed through an area, more diversified farms including dairy and beef cattle generally took its place . </P> <P> The very dense soil of the Midwest plagued the first settlers who were using wooden plows, which were more suitable for loose forest soil . On the prairie, the plows bounced around and the soil stuck to them . This problem was solved in 1837 by an Illinois blacksmith named John Deere who developed a steel moldboard plow that was stronger and cut the roots, making the fertile soils of the prairie ready for farming . </P> <P> The tallgrass prairie has been converted into one of the most intensive crop producing areas in North America . Less than one tenth of one percent (<0.09%) of the original landcover of the tallgrass prairie biome remains . States formerly with landcover in native tallgrass prairie such as Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Missouri have become valued for their highly productive soils and are included in the Corn Belt . As an example of this land use intensity, Illinois and Iowa rank 49th and 50th out of 50 states in total uncultivated land remaining . </P>

Major agricultural producer in the united states answers.com