The Southeast region of the United States, stretching from Virginia to Florida and west through Louisiana and Arkansas, is a highly productive agricultural area. Its diverse output significantly contributes to the national food and fiber supply. The crops grown here are supported by unique environmental conditions and specific management practices. This article explores the types of crops, from large-scale commodities to specialized horticultural products, that thrive across the varied landscapes of the Southeast.
Climate and Soil Conditions
The region’s agricultural productivity is fundamentally shaped by its humid, subtropical climate, featuring a long growing season that exceeds 200 days in the southernmost areas. Abundant rainfall provides necessary moisture, though distribution is often uneven, leading to hot, dry periods during the summer months. This climate allows for year-round cultivation in some areas and supports double-cropping systems.
Soil types across the Southeast vary significantly, directly influencing crop selection. The Coastal Plain, which covers a large swath of the region, features sandy soils and loams that are typically low in fertility and organic matter. While these soils drain quickly, their low water-holding capacity makes them susceptible to drought stress. Conversely, the Mississippi Alluvial Plain and parts of the Inland Basin contain more fertile silt-loam and clay-rich soils, such as Ultisols and Alfisols, offering better water and nutrient retention.
Major Commodity Crops
Large-scale commodity crops form the economic backbone of Southeast agriculture, grown primarily for bulk trade, processing, and animal feed. Cotton is a dominant warm-season fiber crop, concentrated in the Coastal Plain where the long, hot growing season provides the necessary frost-free days. Cotton fields are often rotated with other row crops to manage soil health and pest issues.
Peanuts are another staple crop, with the Georgia-Florida-Alabama region producing a significant majority of the nation’s supply, favoring the Runner variety. As a legume, peanuts offer the natural benefit of nitrogen fixation, aiding soil fertility when rotated with non-legumes like corn or cotton. Corn and soybeans are also extensively grown, but corn requires substantial water during its critical reproductive stages as it is not drought-tolerant. In the Delta regions of Louisiana and Arkansas, rice is grown in flooded paddies, utilizing available surface water resources.
Specialty and High-Value Horticultural Products
Beyond bulk commodities, the Southeast utilizes its varied microclimates to produce numerous high-value specialty crops, including fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Sweet potatoes are a major horticultural output, with North Carolina leading the nation in production due to its ideal soil and climate combination. These root crops thrive in the sandy loams of the Coastal Plain.
The region is also a prominent producer of tree nuts and fruits, including pecans (Georgia is the top producer) and peaches (Georgia and South Carolina). Florida’s citrus industry remains substantial, focusing largely on oranges for juice production despite challenges from diseases like citrus greening. Various “truck crops”—vegetables grown for fresh consumption—are also cultivated, such as tomatoes, bell peppers, and watermelons, with Florida ranking highly in their national production. The cultivation of blueberries and strawberries has also seen significant growth, leveraging the moderate winters and long spring seasons.
The Role of Water Management in Regional Agriculture
Despite high overall annual rainfall, effective water management is necessary for maintaining yield stability. Irrigation is widely used to supplement natural precipitation, especially during “flash drought” periods that severely impact water-sensitive crops. Farmers often utilize systems like center pivot irrigation to deliver water precisely and efficiently to fields of corn, cotton, and peanuts.
In sandy soils with poor water-holding capacity, irrigation is frequently paired with fertigation, a practice where water-soluble fertilizers are applied directly through the system. This allows growers to “spoon-feed” nutrients, maximizing uptake and minimizing runoff. Regulatory bodies across the states implement Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) to govern water use and quality. These practices protect water resources while sustaining agricultural production.