The Crop Exchange That Built American Farming
In this edition of the American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold revisits a pivotal moment in agricultural development—when cultures collided and crops crossed continents to shape what we now know as American agriculture.
As settlers expanded westward, Native Americans played a crucial role in introducing farm families to vital crops like sweet potatoes, tomatoes, pumpkins, peanuts, and tobacco. These native plants quickly became staples across various regions of the growing nation.
Meanwhile, European immigrants brought essential forages such as clover, alfalfa, and timothy grasses, which played a vital role in supporting livestock and diversifying farming practices in the New World.
Over time, corn and wheat moved across the Appalachians into the Corn Belt, cementing their place in American food systems. In the South, crops like tobacco, peanuts, and cotton became economic cornerstones, shaping regional identities and export markets.
Together, these agricultural exchanges formed the bedrock of American farming as we know it.
—Mark Oppold, American Agriculture History Minute