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No.384

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

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ECONOMIC RESEARCH SERVICE AGRICULTURE HANDBOOK NO. 384

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ABSTRACT

Airphotos illustrate land use patterns and terrain for 28 land resource

areas in three land resource regions in 14 North Central States. Portions of

small-scale airphoto index sheets and a stereopair of airphotos from each

sheet accompany the description of each area that is reproduced from U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 296, ^^'^Land Resource

Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States."

Key Words: Land resources, Land use patterns, Airphotos, Land resource regions. Land resource areas, North Central States.

Studies in the series on The Look of Our Land—An Airphoto Atlas of the Rural United

States include:

A. Northwestern Forest, Forage, and Specialty Crop Region

B. Northwestern Wheat and Range Region

C. California Subtropical Fruit, Truck, and Specialty Crop Region

D. Western Range and Irrigated Region

E. Rocky Mountain Range and Forest Region

F» Northern Great Plains Spring Wheat Region

G. Western Great Plains Range and Irrigated Region

H. Central Great Plains Winter Wheat and Range Regions

I. Southwestern Plateaus and Plains Range and Cotton Region

J. Southwestern Prairies Cotton and Forage Region

K. Northern Lake States Forest and Forage Region

L. Lake States Fruit, Truck, and Dairy Region

M. Central Feed Grains and Livestock Region

N« East and Central General Farming and Forest Region

O. Mississippi Delta Cotton and Feed Grains Region

P. South Atlantic and Gulf Slope Cash Crop, Forest, and Livestock Region

R. Northeastern Forage and ForestRegion

S. Northern Atlantic Slope Truck, Fruit, and Poultry Region

T. Atlantic and Gulf Coast Lowlands Forest and Truck Crop Region

U. Florida Subtropical Fruit, Truck Crop, and Range Region

This handbook, subtitled "North Central," includes regions K, L, and M.

Washington, D.C. 20250 September 1970

^U, S.,GOVERNMENT PRINTING "OFFICE : 1970,0 - 384-975

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, IT.S/Government Printing Office

Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 75 cents
The Look of Our Land—

An Airphoto Atlas of the Rural United States:

NORTH CENTRAL

Compiled by

SIMON BAKER and

HENRY W. DILL, JR.

BACKGROUND

The Economic Research Service has been conducting

studies on present and potential uses of land in the

United States. In connection with this activity, USDA

Agriculture Handbook 153 ''Land Use and Its Patterns

in the United States," by F. J. Marschner, was published

in 1959. This landmark publication contained a color

map scaled at 1 : 5,000,000, entitled "Major Land Uses

in the United States." An unusual feature of the Handbook was 168 aerial photographs showing land use

patterns across the 48 contiguous States. The map,

text, and photos together showed the ways that our

land is used. This bulletin updates Agriculture Handbook 153, which is out of print and may be found only

in major libraries.

In 1965, another landmark publication appeared:

"Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource

Areas of the United States," USDA Agriculture Handbook 296, for sale by the Superintendent of Documents,

U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.

20402. Morris E. Austin and many others in the Soil

Conservation Service compiled this classification and

systematic description of U.S. resource regions. Twenty

land resource regions were delineated, which were further subdivided into 156 land resource areas, with information on land use, elevation and topography,

climate, water, and soils for each.

^ Simon Baker, formerly with the Economic Research Service,

is now with Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geography, Boca Raton. Henry W. Dill, Jr., is a Physical Science

Analyst, ERS, Natural Resource Economics Division, Land

Resources Branch.

This atlas then brings together the text of Agriculture Handbook 296 with photos to show land use and

related information according to an established regional and area classification of U.S. laud resources.

The airphotos in this handbook were selected to

show characteristics and land use in 28 resource areas

in three regions comprising all or parts of 14 North

Central States. Accompanying the photos of each area

is a brief description of land use, climate, soils, and

topography for that area.

The ways we use our land are usually described

verbally or quantitatively, or are depicted on maps.

These presentations are informative but limited. There

is no substitute for seeing, and an aerial view is unsurpassed for observing certain phenomena on the surface of the earth. Aerial photographs, used with maps

and descriptions, provide a comprehensive idea of how

land is used. Such richly detailed photos can be viewed

stereoscopically for three-dimensional study of relationships between items on the earth's surface and man's

activities.

USE OF THE AIRPHOTO ATLAS

Two facing pages are devoted to each land resource

area. A stereopair, usually at a scale of 1: 20,000, shares

each right-hand page with a description of the area that

is reproduced from Agriculture Handbook 296. To locate and orient the terrain shown in the stereopair, the

reader should refer to the numberfe on the photo index

sheet (described below) on the left-hand page. He will

note that the compass orientations of the stereopairs

vary, but the index sheet clarifies the orientation.

The area shown on a stereopair overlaps two points

on a flight line showing the same portion of the earth's

surface. When viewed through a simple pocket stereoscope the scene appears three-dimensional. Any text

on aerial photographic interpretation or photogrammetry describes how such photos are made and how to

use the stereoscope.

Each left-hand page shows an aerial photographic

index sheet that includes the area of the facing stereopair. Each index sheet was selected to match the land

use description for the given area. An index sheet is

an uncontrolled mosaic made up of many individual

airphotos. The photos are assembled with their identification numbers showing, matched by eye, and mounted

on a board. The group is rephotographed, reduced in

scale, and printed for use as a reference for locating

specific photographs. Most of the index sheets in this

bulletin are reproduced at their original scale of

1: 63,360. A caution about using the index sheets : Since

many individual photos were fitted together by eye, the

fit is not always precise, so measurements of distance

or area on index sheets are only approximate.

Each index sheet is oriented with north at the top.

In some cases, flight lines of the individual photos were

other than north-south, so the page must be rotated to

read the number. To aid identification, the bottom label

of each index sheet gives the following identification:

Land resource area number, county, State, year and

month of photography, index sheet number and scale,

and agency for which the photography was flown. The

letter "P" on the label indicates only partial coverage

of the county.

Abbreviated sources shown on the photo index

sheets are: ASCS, Agricultural Stabilization - and Conservation Service; SCS, Soil Conservation Service; and

USES, Forest Service, of USDA.
NORTHERN LAKE STATES FOREST AND

FORAGE REGION

88

89

90

91

92

93

94

Northern Minnesota Swamps and Lakes

Minnesota Rockland Hills

Central Wisconsin and Minnesota Thin Loess and Till

Wisconsin and Minnesota Sandy Outwash

Superior Lake Plain

Northern Michigan and Wisconsin Stony, Sandy,

and Rocky Plains and Hills

Northern Michigan Sandy Drift
K—NORTHERN LAKE STATES FOREST AND FORAGE REGION

103,200 square miles

Poor soils and a short cool growing season impose severe restrictions on agriculture in this region. The annual

precipitation ranges from 20 to 32 inches; the heaviest rainfall occurs during the growing season. Average annual

temperatures are 35° to 45° F., and the freeze-free season ranges from slightly less than 100 days to 140 days.

Podzols in sandy parent materials and Gray Wooded soils in finer textured parent materials are the dominant

soils in the better drained areas. Bog soils, Humic Gley soils, Low-Humic Gley soils, and Ground-Water Podzols

occupy the wet uplands and depressions. Lithosols and rough stony land are extensive on hills and low mountains.

A large part of this region is forested, and lumbering and recreation are the principal uses. Mining is a major

industry in all but the eastern part of the region. Forage and some grains for livestock are the main crops in the

farmed areas. Potatoes are important locally.

C IQ'-5AA- 1931 Ç10-5AA- 194

88—Northern Minnesota Swamps

and Lakes

Minnesota

20,700 square miles

Land Use: More than 80 percent of the area is in

forest and lakes; lumbering and recreation are the

major uses. Only 10 to 15 percent is cropland, and

3 or 4 percent is in pasture. Forage for livestock is

the principal crop, but some feed grains and legume

seeds are grown also.

Elevation and Topography: 1,100 to 1,500 feet,

increasing from northwest to southeast, some ridges

in the south more than 1,700 feet. A broad lake plain

including large swamps and many lakes makes up

the northern half and a rolling glacial moraine broken

by areas of outwash the southern part. The northern

part is nearly level and has only slight local relief,

but in the south some ridges rise 100 to 200 feet

above the adjacent lowland.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—20 to 25

inches; highest from midspring to early autumn;

winter precipitation is snow. Average annual temperature—35° to 40° F. Average freeze-free period

—100 to 130 days.

Water : Abundant water supplies meet all present needs

in the area. The many lakes provide recreational

facilities. Much of the lowland must be drained

before it can be used for general agricultural crops

or tame pasture.

Soil: Gray Wooded soils (Nebish, Rockwood, Beltrami, and Taylor) from calcareous glacial till and

clays are dominant. Bog soils occupy broad level

areas in the Lake Agassiz basin; other soils in this

basin are Podzols (Hiwood) and Low-Humic Gley

soils. Of small total extent but locally conspicuous

in the south are Brunizems (Wadena and Hubbard)

from glacial outwash.

89—Minnesota Rockland Hills

Minnesota

3,500 square miles

Land Use: Nearly all the area is in national forest

used for recreation and lumbering. Timber production is low because of the unfavorable soils.

Elevation and Topography: 1,200 to 2,000 feet,

increasing from west to east, narrow strip bordering

Lake Superior about 600 feet. Lakes, swamps, and

other wet lowlands are scattered through the irregular

low hills. Hills rise 200 to 300 feet above the adjacent lakes and lowlands.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—25 to 30

inches; highest from midspring through early autumn; winter precipitation is snow. Average annual

temperature—35° to 40° F. Average freeze-free

period—100 to 120 days.

Water: Water from lakes and streams is ample for

present and future needs. Many lakes are suited to

recreational uses but are little developed at present.

Soil: Detailed information is lacking. Large areas of

acid and basic crystalline rock outcrops are intermingled with extensive areas of Lithosols. on low hills.

There are small areas of Podzols and Gray Wooded

soils in the deeper glacial-till deposits. Some LowHumic Gley soils and Bog soils occupy the lowlands

among the hills.

í

90—Central Wisconsin and Minnesota

Thin Loess and Till

Minnesota and Wisconsin

26^00 square miles

Land Use : Nearly all the area is in farms except the

part west of Lake Superior, which is in State and

National forests. Slightly more than one-fourth is

cropland used mainly for growing feed grains and

forage for dairy cattle. Potatoes are an important

cash crop locally, and other vegetables and fruit are

grown on some of the sandy soils. About one-sixth

of the area is in pasture of tame and native grasses.

Most of the remainder is in forest, mainly farm

woodlots. The State and National forests are used

for both timber production and recreation.

Elevation and Topography: 1,050 to 1,750 feet,

narrow band along the shore of Lake Superior about

600 feet. The level to rolling till plains are mantled

locally by silt. Topography is irregular; there are

low hills and ridges throughout and many lakes in

basins. Local relief is mainly in a few feet to a few

tens of feet, but some hills rise 100 or 200 feet above

the adjacent lowlands.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—25 to 30

inches; highest from late spring through early autumn; winter precipitation is snow. Average annual

temperature—40° to 45° F. Average freeze-free

period—120 to 140 days.

Water: The moderate rainfall is generally adequate

for crops and pasture, but crops on sandy soils are

damaged by lack of moisture in dry years. Much of

the somewhat wet and wet lowland needs to be drained

before crops and tame pastures can be grown successfully. Ground water is abundant in deep glacial drift

but scarce where the drift is thin. The many lakes

provide recreational facilities.

Soil: Detailed modern soil surveys are lacking for

most of the area. Available information indicates

that Gray-Brown Podzolic soils (Santiago, Otterholt,

and Spencer) in silt-mantled till and Gray Wooded

soils (Hibbing and Milac'a) in noncalcareous till are

the dominant soils. Podzols (Cloquet) in more acid

till are important in the east. In the northwest Brown

Forest soils (Ahmeek) and Sols Bruns. Acides

(Brainerd) are in stony till having a relatively low

lime content and rock outcrops are common on the

steeper hills. Soils in wet areas include somewhat

wet Gray-Brown Podzolic soils (Almena and Freer),

Low-Humic Gley soils (Warman and Nokay), Humic

Gley soils (Adolph), and Bog soils.

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91—Wisconsin and Minnesota

Sandy Outwash

Wisconsin and Minnesota

8,000 square miles

Land Use: About 90 percent of the area is in farms;

about 10 percent, mostly in Wisconsin, is owned by

Federal and State Governments. Nearly one-third of

the area is cropland. Feed grains and forage for

livestock are the main crops, but truck crops are important also. Some of the wet areas are cranberry

bogs. About one-tenth is in forest used mainly for

timber production. These forests and associated

lakes provide recreational facilities.

Elevation and Topography: 900 to 1,100 feet.

Topography is irregular on this nearly level to gently

rolling outwash plain. In Minnesota there are many

lakes, both large and small, in basins and depressions.

Local relief throughout the area is in a few feet to a

few tens of feet.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—About 25

inches in Minnesota and 30 to 32 inches in Wisconsin ;

highest from midspring to early autumn; winter precipitation is snow. Average annual temperature—

40° to 45° F. Average freeze-free period—About

140 days.

Water: On sandy soils the moderate rainfall is barely

adequate for crops and pasture in normal years and

in dry years crop yields are seriously reduced. Irrigation is widely used for high-value crops. In contrast, the wet lowlands need to be drained before the

common cultivated crops and tame pastures can be

grown successfully. Ground water is abundant in the

glacial deposits. The many lakes are used for recreation.

Soil: The dominant soils are weakly developed GrayBrown Podzolic soils (Coloma) and Regosols (Plainfield and Zimmerman) in sandy glacial outwash. On

the associated wet lowlands also underlain by outwash

are Humic Gley soils (Newton, Dillon, and Isanti),

Low-Humic Gley soils (Roscommon, Granby, and

Kinross), and Bog soils.

11

92—Superior Lake Plain

Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan

3,000 square miles

Land Use: More than three-fourths of the area is in

forest, nearly all privately owned and used for timber

production and recreation. Between5 and 10 percent

is cropland. Feed grains and hay for dairy cattle and

other livestock are the principal crops. Locally, potatoes and small fruit are important cash crops. Only 1 or 2 percent of the land is in pasture.

Elevation and Topography: 600 to 1,000 feet, increasing gradually from lakeshore inland. This nearly level lake plain has some inclusions of rocky knobs,

hills, and low mountains. Local relief on the lake

plain is in onlya few feet, but the adjoining hills and

mountains rise sharply 100 feet to several hundred

feet above the plains.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—25 to 30

inches; highest in midsummer and lowest in midwinter; winter precipitation is snow. Average annual

temperature—38° to 40° F. Average freeze-free

period—Less than 100 days to 140 days, decreasing

from the lakeshore inland.

Water: Rainfall is adequate for crop and pasture

needs. Level areas of moderately wet and wet soils

need to be drained before cultivated crops can be

grown successfully. There are few inland lakes, but

much of the area has access to Lake Superior for

recreation.

Soil: Gray Wooded soils (Ontonagon, Watton, and

Hibbing) from fine-textured lacustrine sediments and

glacial till are dominant. Low-Humic Gley soils

(Pickford and Bergland) occupy wetter areas and

Podzols (Munising, Iron River, Gogebic, and Hiawatha) are in acid sandy materials.

13

V

93—Northern Michigan and Wisconsin

Stony, Sandy, and Rocky Plains and Hills

Wisconsin and Michigan

21,400 square miles

Land Use: More than four-fifths of the area is in

forest, mostly privately owned ; about one-sixth is in

national forest. Lumbering and mining are important industries, and recently recreational use of the

area has increased. Only about 10 percent is cropped

or in pasture. Feed grains and forage for dairy

cattle and other livestock are the main crops. Potatoes are an important cash crop in places. Cultivated

blueberries are grown on some of the acid sandy soils

havinga high water table, mainly in Michigan, and

cranberries in some of the bogs.

Elevation and Topography: 1,100 to 1,700 feet,

some mountains more than 1,800 feet, anda narrow

strip bordering the Great Lakes about 600 feet. These

undulating glacial-drift plains are bordered on the

north by rugged hills or low mountains. Local relief

is mainly ina few tens of feet to 100 or 200 feet;

the hills and mountains rise several hundred feet

above the adjacent lowlands. The area is dotted by

many small lakes anda few large lakes.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—About 30

inches; highest in midsummer and lowest in midwinter; winter precipitation is snow. Average annual temperature 38° to 42° F. Average freeze-free

period—80 to 140 days, decreasing with increasing

elevation and from the Great Lakes inland.

Water: On the coarse-textured soils, rainfall supplies

barely enough moisture for crops and pasture in many

years. In contrast, the wet lowlands must be drained

before the common field crops and tame pastures can

be grown successfully. Ground water is abundant in

areas covered by deep glacial drift, but where the

drift is thin, ground water is scarce. The many lakes

used for recreation by people from the populous areas

in the south are an important economic resource.

Soil: Podzols are the dominant soils (chiefly Munising,

Vilas, Pence, Iron River, Gogebic, and Hiawatha from

sandy glacial drift and Stambaugh in the small areas

of silt-mantled drift in the central part). Regosols

(Omega) are in rapidly drained deep sands; LowHumicGley soils (Roscommon) and Bog soils (Spalding. Greenwood, Lupton, and Carbondale) are extensive on wet lowlands. Stony land and rockland

occupy parts of the steeper slopes, knobs, hills, and

low mountains.

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Land Resource Area 94

Lake Co., Mich. August 1965.

Index Sheet 3 of 4. ASCS. 1: 63,360.

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94—Northern Michigan Sandy Drift

Michigan

20,400 square miles

Land Use: More than four-fifths of the area is forested and about one-fifth is in national forest. Most

of the remaining forest is in small holdings; there

area few large holdings. Lumbering and recreation

are the principal uses of these forests in the Upper

Peninsula where only1 or2 percent of the land is

in crops and pasture. In the Lower Peninsula about

one-fifth of the land is in crops and pasture. Forage

and feed grains for dairy cattle and other livestock

are the principal crops. Potatoes are an important

cash crop in places, and other vegetables and some

fruit are grown also.

Elevation and Topography : 600 to 970 feet in the

Upper Peninsula, increasing gradually from the

shores of the Great Lakes inland; in the Lower Peninsula, 600 feet along the lakeshores to more than 1,500

feet in the central part. This broad glacial-drift

plain includes belts of morainic hills, especially in the

Lower Peninsula. Much of the area is nearly level

to gently rolling and has local relief of onlya few

feet, but the morainic areas have local relief of several

tens of feet toa few hundred feet.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—About 30

inches, fairly evenly distributed through late spring,

summer, and early autumn and lowest in,winter; winter precipitation is mainly snow. Average annual

temperature—40° to 45° F. Average freeze-free

period—120 to 140 days along the lakeshores.

Water : Because of the only moderate rainfall, moisture

must be carefully managed to insure enough water for

crops and pasture on the sandy soils. The wet lowlands must be drained before the common field crops

and tame pastures can be grown. Ground water is

abundant in the deep glacial drift that covers nearly

all the area. The many lakes, both large and small,

are used extensively for recreation.

Soil: Podzols (Rubicon, Kalkaska, Montcalm, McBride, and Emmet) from sandy glacial drift are the

dominant soils. Associated with them are Regosols

(Grayling) in excessively drained deep sands and

Low-Humic Gley soils (Roscommon, Ensley, and

Edmore) on poorly drained flats and in depressions.

In fine-textured materials containing more lime Gray

Wooded soils (Nester, Kawkawlin, and Ontonagon)

are the major soils, and Humic Gley soils (Bergland,

Bruce, and Sims) and Low-Humic Gley soils (Pickford) occupy the associated wet lowlands. Bog soils

(Carbondale and Lupton) are extensive in basins and

depressions throughout.

17
LAKE STATES FRUIT, TRUCK, AND DAIRY REGION

95 Southeastern Wisconsin Drift Plain

Western Michigan Fruit Belt

Southwestern Michigan Fruit and Truck Belt

Southern Michigan Drift Plain

Erie - Huron Lake Plain

Erie Fruit and Truck Area

Ontario - Mohawk Plain

96

97

98

99

100

101
L—LAKE STATES FRUIT, TRUCK, AND DAIRY REGION

61,200 square miles

The soils and climate in this region of nearly level to gently sloping, glaciated plains are favorable for agriculture. The average annual precipitation ranges from 28 to 36 inches over most of the region but increases to 45

inches in the extreme eastern part. Distribution is fairly even throughout the year. Average annual temperatures

are 45° to 51° F. over most of the region but only 42° F. in the northwestern part. The freeze-free season is 140

to 170 days, except in narrow belts adjacent to the Great Lakes where it is as long as 200 days.

Gray-Brown Podzolic soils are dominant throughout this region, but Humic Gley soils, Low-Humic Gley soils,

and Bog soils are extensive in the level areas and depressions.

The region has a wide variety of agricultural enterprises. Dairy farming is important, especially near

the larger urban centers. Canning crops, corn, soft winter wheat, beans, and sugar beets are among the leading

crops. Fruit growing is very important in a narrow belt adjacent to the Great Lakes. Rural residences occupy

much land near many of the larger cities, and a little farming is done on a part-time basis by people who

earn their main income in the cities.

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Fond Du Lac Co., Wis. July 1964.

Index Sheet 2 of 4. ASCS. 1: 63,360.

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95—Southeastern Wisconsin Drift Plain

Wisconsin and Illinois

14,200 square miles

Land Use: More than 90 percent of the area is in

farms and nearly two-thirds is cropland. Feed grains

and hay are the most extensive crops. Much of the

grain is fed to dairy cattle and other livestock on the

farms where it is grown, but cash-grain farming is

also important. Canning crops, potatoes, fruit, and

other specialty crops are important, especially along

the lakeshore. Between5 and 10 percent of the area

is in tame pasture, and 10 to 20 percent is in farm

woodlots. Five to ten percent is urban, mostly in

the south.

Elevation and Topography : 600 to 950 feet. This

area consists ofa glaciated plain and belts of morainic

hills, beach ridges, and outwash terraces. Drumlins

(long low steep-sided oval hills) area prominent feature in the southwest. Local relief is mainly in a few

feet toa few tens of feet, but the moraines and drumlins rise 100 to 250 feet above the adjacent lowlands.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—30 to 32

inches; highest from midspring through late summer

and lowest in winter when it is mostly snow. Average

annual temperature—Mainly 45° to 48° F. and 42°

F. along the northern edge. Average freeze-free

period—140 to 170 days, decreasing from south to

north and from the Lake Michigan shore inlajid.

Water: Rainfall provides enough moisture for crops

and pasture, but in years of below-normal rainfall

yields are reduced on the coarse-textured soils. Many

of the fine-textured soils need artificial drainage so

that tillage and harvesting can be done more easily.

The poorly drained soils must be drained before cultivated crops can be grown successfully. Ground

water is abundant in the underlying drift; the sandy

and gravelly outwash yields the largest amounts.

Lake Michigan and the many inland lakes provide

recreation for this and adjoining areas.

Soil: Gray-Brown Podzolic soils (Miami, Kewaunee,

and McHenry) in medium- to fine-textured glacial

drift that hasa thin silt mantle are dominant throughout the area. In the south Brunizems (Warsaw,

Saybrook, Parr, Wea, Dodgeville, and Tama) occupy

nearly level prairie outliers on drift plains. Podzols

(Emmet and Onaway) are in coarse-textured materials in the northeast. Humic Gley soils (Poygan,

Kokomo, and Brookston) and Bog soils (Carlisle)

are on wet lowlands throughout.

21

96—Western Michigan Fruit Belt

Michigan

2,500 square miles

Land Use: About two-thirds of the area is in forest,

mainly farm woodlots, but 10 percent or more is in

State and National forests. Most of the remainder is

cropland; about5 percent is in pasture. Forage and

feed grains for dairy cattle occupy most of the cropland, but fruit and specialty crops are of greater

economic importance. This is one of the largest

cherry-producing areas in the United States. Potatoes and vegetable crops are grown, especially in the

north.

Elevation and Topography : 600 to 1,100 feet. The

area consists mainly of rolling to hilly moraines and

beach ridges, but it includes some nearly level plains.

Local relief is mainly in several tens of feet to 100

or 200 feet ; the plains have relief of onlya few feet.

Much of the area rises sharply from the lakeshore to

the adjoining hilltops.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—About 30

inches; fairly evenly distributed through the year

but low in late winter and early spring; winter precipitation is snow. Average annual temperature—

45° to 47° F. Average freeze-free period—140 to

170 days, increasing from north to south.

Water: The moderate rainfall is adequate for crops

in normal years but in below-normal years yields are

reduced, especially on the deep well-drained sandy

soils. Ground water is abundant in the deep sandy

glacial drift. The many bays along Lake Michigan

and the numerous inland lakes are well-known vacation areas.

Soil: Podzols (Montcalm, Kalkaska, Emmet, and Rubicon) in moderately coarse to coarse textured drift

are the dominant soils and associated with them are

Regosols (Grayling) in deep acid sands. Low-Humic

Gley soils (Roscommon) also in deep sands are locally conspicuous but of small total extent. Gray

Wooded soils. (Nester, Kawkawlin, and Selkirk) are

in fine-textured drift in the south and Bog soils (Carbondale and Lupton) on many small and a few large

flats and depressions.

23

97—Southwestern Michigan Fruit and

Truck Belt

Michigan

1,700 square miles

Land Use: Nearly four-fifths of the area is in farms

and slightly more than one-half is cropped. Fruits,

especially peaches and grapes, are grown extensively

near the Lake Michigan shore. Many other fruits,

vegetables, and melons are grown also. Forage and

feed grains for dairy cattle and other livestock are

important. Some land is in permanent pasture, but

most of the farmland not in crops is in woodlots.A

large part of the land not in farms is in State forests

and parks and about5 percent is urban.

Elevation and Topography : 600 to 800 feet, some

hills 1,000 feet. This area consists ofa nearly level

glacial-drift plain and scattered gently to strongly

rolling morainic hills. Local relief is in onlya few

feet in much of the area, but in the rolling areas

local relief is in several tens of feet to 100 or 200 feet.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—32 to 36

inches; fairly evenly distributed through the year but

slightly higher in late spring and early summer and

lowest in midwinter as snow. Average annual temperature—48° to 50° F. Average freeze-free period

—160 to 180 days, decreasing from west to east.

Water: The moderate rainfall is adequate for crops

in normal years but in below-normal years yields are

reduced by lack of moisture. Most of the fine-textured soils need some artificial drainage to improve

timing of tillage operations, and wet areas must be

drained before they can be used successfully for crops.

The deep glacial deposits yield an abundance of

ground water for domestic, municipal, and industrial

uses. The many small lakes are used extensively for

boating, fishing, and other recreatiori.

Soil: Gray-Brown Podzolic soils (Kalamazoo and

Oshtemo) from moderately coarse and coarse glacial drift are the dominant soils. Associated with

them in the coarsest deep sands are Regosols (Plainfield ). Other Gray-Brown Podzolic soils in finer

textured materials (Miami, Conover, St. Clair, Morley, and Blount) are locally conspicuous but of small

total extent. Bog soils (Carlisle) are in small to

medium-sized depressions and basins throughout the

area.

**- »»—

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25

98—Southern Michigan Drift Piain

Michigan and Indiana

17^00 square miles

Land Use: About three-fourths of the area is in

farms; much of the remainder is urban although some

is in State forests and parks. Nearly one-half of the

area is cropped. Corn, other feed grains, and hay

for dairy cattle and other livestock are the major

crops. Soft winter wheat, dry beans, and potatoes

are important cash crops, and fruit and vegetables

are grown in many places where soils and markets are

favorable. Less than 10 percent of the area is in

permanent pasture and most of the rest of the land

in farms is in small woodlots.

Elevation and Topography: 750 to 1,000 feet,

some hills more than 1,100 feet. This broad glaciated

plain is deeply mantled by till and outwash. Much

of the area is level to gently rolling and local relief

is ina few feet toa few tens of feet. Belts of morainic

hills have stronger slopes and relief ofa few tens of

feet to 100 or 200 feet.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—30 to 36

inches; fairly evenly distributed through the year but

slightly higher in late spring and early summer.

Average annual temperature—45° to 50° F. Average freeze-free period—Mainly 140 to 150 days but

160 days in the southwest.

Water: The moderate rainfall is adequate for crops

over much of the area, but moisture conservation is a serious problem on the coarse-textured soils.

Ground water is abundant in the deep glacial drift.

Many small and medium-sized lakes and many perennial streams are additional sources of water and

are used extensively for recreation.

Soil: Gray-Brown Podzolic soils (Fox, Kalamazoo,

Oshtemo, Hillsdale, Miami, Lapeer, and Conover)

in medium- to coarse-textured acid and calcareous

glacial drift are the dominant soils in much of the

area. Associated with them in flats and depressions

are Humic Gley soils (Brookston, Gilford, Maumee,

and Newton) and Bog soils (Houghton, Carlisle, and

Edwards). In the northwest Podzols (Montcalm,

Kalkaska, Emmet, and McBride) are the principal

soils. Associated with them in wet areas are LowHumic Gley soils (Roscommon, Edmore, and Ensley)

and Bog soils (Carbondale and Lupton). On prairie

outliers in the south Brunizems (Warsaw and Door)

are conspicuous locally but are of small total extent.

27

99—Erie-Huron Lake Plain

Michigan and Ohio

12,200 square miles

Land Use: Nearly nine-tenths of the area is in farms

and about two-thirds is cropland. This is an important cash-crop area. Corn, winter wheat, soybeans, and hay are the major crops, and sugar beets

and canning crops are also important. Some fruit and

truck crops are grown on the coarse-textured soils.

Dairying is important on some farms near the larger

cities. The remaining farmland includes small areas

in permanent pasture and miscellaneous uses, but

most of it is in small farm woodlots. About 10 percent of the area is urban.

Elevation and Topography: 600 to 800 feet, increasing gradually from the lakeshores inland. Local

relief on most of this nearly level broad lake plain

is in onlya few feet, but some beach ridges and low

moraines rise several feet toa few tens of feet above

the general level.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—28 to 36

inches; fairly evenly distributed through the year

but slightly higher in late spring and early summer.

Average annual temperature—45° to 50° F. Average freeze-free period—140 to 160 days.

Water : The moderate rainfall provides enough water

for crops in nearly all years. Many of the soils require artificial drainage before they can be used for

crops, and even the better drained soils need some

drainage to improve the timing of tillage operations

in spring and fall. The abundant ground water meets

domestic and municipal needs in much of the area.

Large cities bordering the Great Lakes obtain water

from the lakes, which are major transportation arteries and are used for recreation.

Soil: Medium- and fine-textured Humic Gley soils

(Toledo, Brookston, Parkhill, Colwood, Sims, Hoytville, and Wauseon) are the dominant soils. Closely

associated with them are Low-Humic Gley soils

(Brevort, Paulding, and Latty). Gray Wooded soils

(Kawkawlin and Capac) are important on the better

drained areas in the north. In the south somewhat wet

Gray-Brown Podzolic soils (Nappanee, Fulton, and

Kibbie) are in fine- and medium-textured materials

and better drained members (Seward and Ottokee)

in sandy materials. There are some Podzols (Menominee, Tosco, and Manistee) and Low-Humic Gley

soils in the north.

29

100—Erie Fruit and Truck Area

Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York

2,700 square miles

Land Use: Slightly more than two-thirds of the area

is in farms. Abouta third is cropland; the other

third is about equally divided between pasture and

woodland but small areas are in rural residences and

other miscellaneous uses. The cropland is in vineyards, orchards, small fruits, canning crops, and truck

crops. Dairying is also important, especially near the

larger cities.A large part of the area not in farms is

urban, and major highways, railroads, and parks

occupya sizable acreage.

Elevation and Topography: 600 to 900 feet, increasing gradually from the lakeshore inland. This

nearly level to gently sloping plain is underlain mostly

by lacustrine sediments but partially by glacial till.

Low beach ridges area prominent feature. Local

relief is mainly ina few feet but in some places along

the lakeshore there are steep wave-cut cliffs.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—30 to 35

inches; evenly distributed through the year; heavy

snowfall is common in winter. Average annual temperature—50° to 51° F. Average freeze-free period

—^Mainly 160 to 180 days but 200 days ina narrow

belt in Ohio.

Water: Rainfall is adequate for crops during most

years except on the coarse-textured soils. Supplemental irrigation water for high-value fruit and vegetable crops is obtained from wells or from the Great

Lakes. The wettest soils must be drained before they

can be used for crops and many other soils benefit

from drainage. The abundant ground water meets

domestic, industrial, and municipal needs in much

of the area, but some of the larger cities obtain water

from the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes also provide

transportation and are used extensively for recreation.

Soil: Gray-Brown Podzolic soils, are dominant in the

west (Painesville and Caneadea in fine-textured materials; Collamer, Tuscola, and Kibbie in mediumtextured materials; and Coloma and Chili in coarsetextured materials). Associated soils on wet lowlands are Humic Gley soils (Lorain and Colwood).

In the east most of the moderately and well drained

soils are Sols Bruns Acides (Williamson, Wallington,

and Chenago). The associated wet soils are mostly

Low-Humic Gley soils (Canadice and Fredon) but

there are also some Humic Gley soils (Toledo).

rW' /MM

31

101—Ontario-Mohawk Plain

New York

10,700 square miles

Land Use: About four-fifths of the area is in farms

and about two-fifths is cropland. The largest acreage

is in feed and forage crops for dairy cattle but many

cash crops, including canning and truck crops, various fruits, and winter wheat, are grown also. About

one-fifth of the land in farms is in permanent pasture

and about one-fifth in forest, mostly farm woodlots.

Of the one-fifth of the area not in farms, about onehalf is urban and the remainder is in miscellaneous

uses, including rural residences and parks.

Elevation and Topography: 250 to 1,000 feet, increasing gradually from the lakeshore to the Allegheny Escarpment, which forms the southern boundary of the area. Most of the area is a nearly level

to rolling glacial drift plain. Drumlins (long narrow

steep-sided oval hills) are prominent in an east-west

belt near the center of the western two-thirds of

the area. Low beach ridges are common. Local

relief is mainly ina few feet toa few tens of feet, but

the larger drumlins rise 100 to 200 feet or more above

the adjacent lowlands.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—35 to 45

inches, increasing from west to east; evenly distributed through the year; large amounts of snow

fall in winter, especially in the west. Average annual

temperature—45° to 50° F. Average freeze-free

period—^Mainly 140 to 160 days but 180 days ina

narrow belt along Lake Ontario.

Water: The moderate rainfall is adequate for crops

and pasture in most years but yields are reduced in

dry years. Farm ponds. Lake Ontario, and wells

supply water for supplemental irrigation of highvalue crops on many farms. Ground water is abundant in most of the area. Several large lakes are used

for recreation ; Lake Ontario provides recreation and

isa major transportation artery. The New York

Barge Canal crosses the area from east to west and

is an important transportation artery.

Soil: Gray-Brown Podzolic soils from calcareous glacial drift are dominant (Ontario, Hilton, Honeoye,

and Lima from calcareous glacial till; Odessa, Schoharie, Fulton, and Lucas in lacustrine sediments; and

Palmyra in outwash). Associated with these soils are

Humic Gley soils (Lyons and Toledo) in wet areas

and Brown Forest soils (Nellis and Benson) on uplands where soils are thin over limestones. In more

acid materials, mainly in the east, Sols Bruns Acides

(Sodus and Williamson) are extensive. Associated

with them are some Podzols (Camroden) and LowHumic Gley soils (Marcy). Bog soils occupy many

small depressions anda few large swamps throughout

the area.

33
CENTRAL FEED GRAINS AND LIVESTOCK REGION

102

103

104

105

106

107

108

109

110

111

112

113

114

115

Loess, Till, and Sandy Prairies

Central Iowa and Minnesota Till Prairies

Eastern Iowa and Minnesota Till Prairies

Northern Mississippi Valley Loess Hills

Nebraska and Kansas Loess - Drift Hills

Iowa and Missouri Deep Loess Hills

Illinois and Iowa Deep Loess and Drift

Iowa and Missouri Heavy Till Plain

Northern Illinois and Indiana Heavy Till Plain

Indiana and Ohio Till Plain

Cherokee Prairies

Central Claypan Areas

Southern Illinois and Indiana Thin Loess and Till Plain

Central Mississippi Valley Wooded Slopes
M—CENTRAL FEED GRAINS AND LIVESTOCK REGION

283,900 square miles

Fertile soils and favorable climate make this one of the outstanding grain-producing regions of the world.

The annual precipitation is 25 to 35 inches over much of the region but ranges from 20 inches in the extreme

northwest to 45 inches along the eastern and southeastern fringe. Somewhat more than half falls during the growing season. Average annual temperatures are 45^ to 55^ F. in much of the region but range from 40^ F. in the

extreme northwest to 63^ F. in the extreme southwest. The freeze-free season is 140 to 180 days in most of the

region but is as short as 130 days along the northern fringe and as long as 235 days in the extreme southwest.

Gray-Brown Podzolic soils in the east and Brunizems in the west are the dominant soils. Humic Gley soils and

Bog soils on wet lowlands and Alluvial soils in bands along the major streams are also important.

Corn, soybeans, oats, and other feed grains are the most extensively grown crops. Hay, winter wheat, and

many other crops are grown also. Much of the grain is fed to beef cattle and hogs on the farms where it is grown,

but a large amount is shipped to other regions for livestock feed. Part of the grain is processed for food and for

industrial uses.

35

102—Loess, Till, and Sandy Prairies

South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Iowa

35,100 square miles

Land Use: Almost all the area is in farms and between two-thirds and three-fourths of it is cropland.

Corn, wheat, other small grains, and soybeans grown

for feed and for sale are the major crops. Some

alfalfa and other hay are grown for beef cattle.

About one-fifth of the area is in pasture. Many

pastures are largely of native grasses but on the

better soils tame grasses and legumes are grown as

well. Less than1 percent of the area is in woodland.

Wooded areas are mainly narrow bands along streams

anda few shelterbelt plantings around farmsteads.

Elevation and Topography: 1,000 to 2,000 feet.

This nearly level to rolling glacial plain is mantled

by loess except in the north. Slopes are long, smooth,

and gentle except the hilly to steep slopes bordering

some of the larger stream valleys. In the northeast

slopes are irregular and short. The Missouri River

anda few of its larger tributaries have nearly level

to gently sloping flood plains and terraces. Relief is

mainly ina few feet toa few tens of feet.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—20 to 30

inches, increasing from north to south and from west

to east; about three-fourths falls from midspring to

early autumn; the sparse winter precipitation is snow.

Average annual temperature—40° to 50° F., increasing from north to south. Average freeze-free period

—140 to 160 days.

Water: Crops and pasture depend on the moderate

rainfall. Year to year fluctuations are large and crop

yields are seriously reduced in dry years. Shallow

wells in the glacial deposits are the principal source of

water for domestic and livestock needs; some water

for livestock is stored in small ponds and reservoirs.

Many small lakes in the northeast are important for

recreation.

Soil: Chernozems (Barnes, Forman, Aastad, Bonilla,

and Vienna) are dominant in the north. Regosols

(Buse) on more sloping areas and Humic Gley soils

(Parnell) and Solonetz soils (Cavour) in depressions

are extensive. In the loess-mantled parts of the area,

Chernozems (Moody and Kranzburg) are dominant

but Regosols (Crofton) are on the associated steeper

slopes. Other Chernozems in stratified sediments are

Poinsett and Sinai soils. Alluvial soils (Onawa) and

Humic Gley soils (Luton) are the principal soils on

flood plains.

37

CAC-lFF-131

103—Central Iowa and Minnesota

Till Prairies

Minnesota and Iowa

27,900 square miles

Land Use: Nearly all the area is in farms and about

three-fourths is cropland. Corn, soybeans, and other

feed grains are the major crops. Some cropland is

in hay and dairy farming is important in the north.

Between 10 and 15 percent is in permanent pasture

of tame and native grasses. Narrow bands of woodland on steep slopes border stream valleys, and some

of the wet bottom lands are also forested. About 5

percent is urban and a like amount is in miscellaneous

other uses.

Elevation and Topography: 1,000 to 1,300 feet.

Most of the area is a nearly level to gently rolling

till plain, but there are some morainic hills in the

east. Relief is mainly in a few feet to a few tens of

feet, but some major valleys are 100 to 200 feet below

the adjoining uplands.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—25 to 33

inches; two-thirds or more falls during the freezefree period. Average annual temperature—Mainly

43° to 48° F., decreasing to 40° F. in the northwest.

Average freeze-free period—130 to 160 days.

Water: The moderate rainfall is adequate for crops

but yields are reduced in years of low rainfall.

Ground-water supplies are adequate for domestic,

livestock, and municipal needs. Some natural lakes

and ponds and a few artificial reservoirs provide

water and recreation.

Soil: Brunizems (Clarion and Nicollet) and soils

transitional between Gray-Brown Podzolic soils and

Brunizems, (Lester) in medium-textured calcareous

glacial till are dominant. Gray-Brown Podzolic soils

(Hayden) are on the morainic hills in the east. Associated soils on wet flats and in depressions are

Humic Gley soils (Webster and Glencoe).

39

*

-*J

104—Eastern Iowa and Minnesota

Till Prairies

Minnesota and Iowa

9,700 square miles

Land Use: Nearly all the area is in farms and more

than three-fourths is cropland. Corn, soybeans, other

feed grains, and some hay for livestock are the major

crops. Less than 10 percent is in pasture of tame and

native grasses.A like amount is wooded, mainly wet

bottom land but also steep slopes bordering stream

valleys.

Elevation and Topography: 1,000 to 1,200 feet.

This nearly level to gently sloping till plain hasa thin

mantle of loess. Local relief is mainly ina few feet

toa few tens of feet. The streams have narrow and

shallow valleys in their upper reaches, and only in

the east is there much dissection.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—28 to 33

inches; more than two-thirds falls during the freezefree period. Average annual temperature—43° to

47° F. Average freeze-free period—140 to 160 days.

Water: Rainfall is generally adequate for crops, but

yields are reduced in dry years. Many of the wetter

soils require artificial drainage before they can be

used successfully for the common field crops. Ground

water in the glacial drift is adequate for livestock,

domestic, and municipal needs.

Soil: Brunizems (Kenyon and Ostrander) and soils

transitional between Gray-Brown Podzolic soils and

Brunizems (Kasson) from leached glacial till are

dominant. On flats and wet drainageways Humic

Gley soils (Floyd and Clyde) are the major soils.

41

105—Northern Mississippi Valley

Loess Hills

Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois

18,400 square miles

Land Use: Nearly all the area is in farms but only

about two-fifths is cropland. Feed grains and hay

for dairy cattle and other livestock are the principal

crops. About one-fifth is in permanent pasture of

tame and native grasses. Nearly one-third, mainly

the more sloping parts, is in forest.

Elevation and Topography : 600 feet on the valley

floors to 1,200 feet on the highest ridgetops. The

sloping to hilly uplands are thoroughly dissected by

both large and small tributaries of the Mississippi

River. Bottom lands of all streams are narrow.

Around the perimeter of the area some broad ridgetops have undulating slopes. Local relief is mainly

in several tens of feet toa few hundred feet.

Oimate: Average annual precipitation—30 to 35

inches; two-thirds or more falls during the freeze-free

period. Average annual temperature—45° to 50°

F. Average freeze-free period—140 to 160 days.

Water: The moderate rainfall and the many perennial streams are important water sources. Ground

water is abundant in outwash deposits in the valleys

but the amount varies in the uplands—areas underlain by sandstone and shale commonly have a meager

supply. The Mississippi River, which crosses the

area, isa major transportation artery and also provides recreation.

Soil: Gray-Brown Podzolic soils (Fayette, Dubuque,

Seaton, and Gale) froma loess mantle over bedrock

or glacial till are dominant. Brunizems (Tama,

Dodgeville, and Muscatine) are on gently sloping

broad ridgetops. Lithosols (Boone) and steep rocky

and stony land are extensive on steep slopes bordering the major valleys.

43
^'7-^^'

>9^^^M^nM

1

11
rwTi

106—Nebraska and Kansas

Loess-Drift Hills

Nebraska and Kansas

10,200 square miles

Land Use: Nearly all the area is in farms and between,one-half and two-thirds is cropland. Wheat is

the important cash crop but corn, other feed grains,

and alfalfa and other hay occupy more acreage. Most

of the grain and hay is fed on the farm where it

is grown. About one-fourth of the area is in pasture. Pastures are of tame grasses and legumes on

the better soils but of native grasses on the more sloping shallow soils. Woodland is confined to narrow

bands on slopes bordering stream valleys and to some

wet bottom lands.

Elevation and Topography: 1,000 to 1,500 feet,

increasing from east to west. This dissected glacialdrift plain is mantled in most places by thick loess.

Ridgetops are broad and smooth and slopes are undulating to rolling. Stream valleys are bordered by

relatively narrow bands of hilly to steep slopes. Valley floors are narrow except along one or two of the

larger tributaries of the Missouri River. Local relief

is mainly in several tens of feet but some of the larger

valleys are 100 to 200 feet or more below the level

of the adjacent uplands.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—30 to 36

inches, increasing from northwest to southeast; about

three-fourths falls from late spring through early

autumn; the scant winter precipitation is mainly

snow. Average annual temperature—About 55° F.

Average freeze-free period—160 to 190 days.

Water: Rainfall is generally adequate for crops but

yields are reduced in some years by lack of moisture.

Locally, small areas along some of the perennial

streams are irrigated. Shallow wells in glacial drift

supply water for domestic and livestock needs on most

farms, and small ponds and reservoirs are another

important source of water for livestock. In some

places deep wells provide water.

Soil: Brunizems are the major soils (Sharpsburg,

Marshall, and Grundy on the undulating to gently

rolling loess-mantled ridgetops and upper slopes and

Burchard, Pawnee, and Shelby on ridge slopes underlain by glacial till). Regosols are on the steep slopes

(Crofton and Hamburg on steep slopes that havea

deep loess cover and border the larger stream valleys

and Steinauer on the lower steep slopes underlain by

glacial till). Humic Gley soils (Wabash and Colo)

are on the relatively narrow wet bottom lands along

most streams.

45

107—Iowa and Missouri Deep Loess Hills

Iowa and Missouri

19,200 square miles

Land Use: Most of the area is in farms and about

three-fifths is cropland. Corn, other feed grains, and

hay for livestock are the principal crops. One-fifth

of the area is in permanent pasture of tame and

native grasses. About one-tenth, mainly in narrow

belts of steep slopes bordering stream valleys and

wet bottom land, is in forest.

Elevation and Topography: 800 feet along the

Missouri River flood plain in the south to 1,500 feet

on the highest ridgetops in the north. This rolling

to hilly loess-mantled plain is intricately dissected.

Small valleys have narrow flood plains but larger

valleys have broad floors. Local relief is mainly in

several tens of feet to 100 or 200 feet.

Oimate: Average annual precipitation—25 to 36

inches ; two-thirds or more falls during the freeze-free

period; the low winter precipitation is mainly snow.

Average annual temperature—45° to 55° F. increasing from north to south. Average freeze-free period

—160 to 190 days, increasing from north to south.

Water: The moderate rainfall and abundant streamflow are important water sources. Ground water is

abundant in deep outwash in the valleys but is less

plentiful in the uplands. The Missouri River isa

major transportation artery and is used for recreation.

Soil: Brunizems (MarshaU, Sharpsburg, and Monona) from moderately deep to very deep loess on

gentle to rolling slopes are the major soils. On steep

slopes havinga deep loess mantle Regosols (Ida and

Hamburg) are extensive, but Gray-Brown Podzolic

soils (Knox) occur in narrow bands on some slopes

where moisture supplies are favorable for forest

growth. Humic Gley soils (Marcus) are on upland

flats and in depressions where loess is underlain ata

moderate depth by glacial till. Alluvial soils (McPaul, Albatpn, Haynie, and Sarpy) are on the better

drained bottom lands throughout the area. Humic

Gley soils (Wabash, Colo, and Luton) are extensive

on the wet bottom lands.

47

6C42DD-UI , GC-2DP-15

108—Illinois and Iowa Deep Loess

and Drift

Iowa and Illinois

34,900 square miles

Land Use : Nearly all the area is in farms and about

three-fourths is cropland. Corn, soybeans, and other

feed grains are grown extensively on the less sloping

parts and are sold as cash crops. Where slopes are

stronger, more of the land is in hay and pasture and

more of the grain is fed to livestock on the farms

where it is produced. About 10 percent of the area

is in pasture of tame and native grasses; the narrow

bands of forest on steep valley sides and wet bottom

land constitute an additional 5 percent. Five percent

is urban and the ramainder is in other uses.

Elevation and Topography: 500 feet on the lowest valley floors to 1,000 feet on the highest uplands,

increasing gradually from east to west. Much of this

dissected loess-mantled glacial plain is rolling to hilly,

but some of the broad uplands far from the large

streams are level to undulating. The smaller streams

have narrow valley floors but the large streams have

broad flood plains. Local relief is mainly in several

tens of feet to 100 or 200 feet but the upland flats

have relief of only a few feet.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—30 to 35

inches ; two-thirds or more falls during the freeze-free

period; the low winter precipitation is mostly snow.

Average annual temperature—47° to 53° F. Average freeze-free period—160 to 180 days.

Water: The favorably distributed moderate rainfall

and the many perennial streams are important water

sources. Ground water is abundant in the glacial

drift that underlies much of the area. The Mississippi River and a few large tributaries are transportation arteries and are used for recreation.

Soil : Brunizems (Tama, Muscatine, Flanagan, Sharpsburg, Shelby, and Mahaska) from loess are the dominant soils throughout the area. Associated with them

on flats and in depressions are Humic Gley soils

(Sable, Taintor, and Drummer). Gray-Brown Podzolic soils (Fayette, Seaton, Clinton, and Lindley)

are conspicuous on the steep slopes of valley sides but

constitute only 10 to 15 percent of the total area.

Alluvial soils (Nodaway and Lawson) on the broader

flood plains are locally very important to agriculture.

Humic Gley soils (Colo and Zook) are on wet bottom

land.

49

109—Iowa and Missouri Heavy Till Plain

Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois

17,900 square miles

Land Use; Nearly all the area is in farms and somewhat more than one-half is cropland. Corn, other

feed grains, and hay for livestock are the principal

crops. About one-fourth is in pasture of tame and

native grasses and about 10 percent is woodland.

Elevation and Topography: 700 feet in the lowest

valleys to 1,100 feet on the highest ridges. This

dissected till plain hasa thin loess mantle. Slopes

are mostly rolling to hilly but some broad ridgetops

are nearly level to undulating. The slopes bordering

major stream valleys are steep.A few large rivers

have nearly level broad valley floors. Local relief is

mainly in several tens of feet to 100 or 200 feet, but

the upland flats and valley floors have local relief of

onlya few feet.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—35 to 40

inches; about two-thirds falls during the freeze-free

period; the low winter precipitation is snow. Average annual temperature—50° to 55° F. Average

freeze-free period—160 to 180 days.

Water: The favorably distributed moderate rainfall

provides enough water for crops in most years. The

many small perennial streams anda few large streams

are additional sources of water but are little used at

present. Ground-water supplies are small and undependable.

Soil: Brunizems (Shelby, Seymour, and Grundy)

from moderately fine textured glacial till or thin

loess are the principal soils. On broad upland flats

Planosols (Edina) are extensive and associated with

them in the wettest areas are Humic Gley soils

(Haig). Alluvial soils (Nodaway) and Humic Gley

soils. (Colo and Wabash) on the flood plains are very

important to agriculture locally.

51

GG-136

110—Northern Illinois and Indiana

Heavy Till Plain

Illinois and Indiana

7,700 square miles

Land Use: Most of the area is in farms but about

one-fifth of the area, consisting of Chicago and its

suburbs in the north, is urban. Urbanization is removing additional land from agriculture rapidly.

Farmed areas are used mainly for cash-grain farming; corn and other feed grains are the principal

crops. Feed grains and forage for dairy cattle are very

important in some places. Woodland occupies less

than5 percent of the area and is confined mainly to

wet flood plains, steeply sloping valley sides, and

morainic ridges.

Elevation and Topography: 600 to 800 feet, increasing gradually from Lake Michigan south.

Streams have cut only shallow valleys over much of

this nearly level to gently sloping glaciated plain.

Local relief is ina few feet toa few tens of feet.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—30 to 35

inches; about two-thirds falls during the freeze-free

period; winter precipitation is snow. Average annual temperature—48° to 52° F. Average freeze-free

period—About 160 days but 180 days ina narrow

belt along Lake Michigan.

Water; The favorably distributed moderate rainfall

is adequate for crops in most years. Ground water

is abundant in glacial drift and meets domestic and

municipal needs in much of the area. The large

cities in the north depend on Lake Michigan for

water.A few large perennial streams are other potential sources of water but are not much used at

present. Extensive areas of wet soils must be drained

before they can be used for agriculture or other

purposes.

Soil: Brunizems (Saybrook, Elliott, Swygert, and

Clarence) from calcareous glacial till are the major

soils. Associated with them on flats and in depressions are large areas of Humic Gley soils (Drummer,

Ashkum, and Bryce). Gray-Brown Podzolic soils

(Morley, Miami, and Blount) also from glacial till

are dominant on small tracts of formerly forested land

in the north.

53

Ill—Indiana and Ohio Till Plain

Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois

32,900 square miles

Land Use: More than 90 percent of the area is in

farms and about 80 percent is cropland. Corn, soybeans, other feed grains, and hay for livestock are

the principal crops. Dairying is important near cities,

and truck and canning crops are grown extensively

where soils and markets are favorable. Small areas

of permanent pasture and small farm woodlots make

up the rest of the land in farms.

Elevation and Topography: 700 to 1,000 feet, increasing very gradually from west to east. This

gently sloping glacial-till plain is broken in places by

hilly moraines, kames, and outwash terraces. Relief

is mainly ina few feet toa few tens of feet but locally

hills rise as much as 100 feet above the adjoining

plains. The few large streams commonly have narrow and shallow valleys.

Oimate: Average annual precipitation—35 to 40

inches ; half or more falls during the freeze-free period; winter precipitation is low and is mostly snow.

Average annual temperature—50° to 55° F. Average

freeze-free period—155 to 180 days.

Water: The favorably distributed moderate rainfall is

adequate for crops in normal years but yields are

reduced by drought in some years. Ground water

in glacial deposits is the principal water source for

domestic, industrial, and municipal uses.A few

large streams, mainly tributaries of the Ohio River,

are potential sources of water but are not much used

at present.A few lakes in the western part of the area

are widely used for recreation.

Soil: Gray-Brown Podzolic soils (Miami, Blount, Russell, Crosby, Fincastle, Cardington, and Morley) from

calcareous glacial till that is mantled by silt in the

south are the dominant soils. Associated with them

on flats and in depressions are Humic Gley soils

(Brookston) and Bog soils (Carlisle, Houghton, and

Edwards). Gray-Brown Podzolic soils (Fox and

Ockley) and Humic Gley soils (Westland) are extensive in areas of gravelly glacial outwash.

55

112—Cherokee Prairies

Kansas, Oklahoma, ahd Missouri

25,400 square miles

Arkansas—1,000 square miles

Land Use: Nearly all this area is in farms and about

half is cropland. Winter wheat, soybeans, corn, ^rain

sorghum, other feed grains, and hay are the major

crops. Some cotton is grown ina few Oklahoma

counties. About one-third of the area is in pasture,

mainly of tame grasses and legumes but of native

grasses on the more sloping parts. Much of the area

in Arkansas is in pasture. About one-tenth of the

area, the steeper valley slopes and some of the wet

bottom land, is woodland. The amount of woodland

in Kansas is considerably less than that in the other

three States.

Elevation and Topography: 400 to 1,200 feet.

These gently sloping to rolling dissected plains are

underlain by sandstones, shales, and limestones. Thin

loess covers the northern part. Even though the area

is thoroughly dissected, local relief is in onlya few

tens of feet and large valleys are about 100 feet below

the adjacent uplands.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—35 to 45

inches; highest from late spring through autumn.

Average annual temperature—55° to 63° F. Average freeze-free period—190 to 235 days.

Water: The moderate rainfall is adequate for crops

and pasture in many years, but summer droughts of

sufficient severity and duration to reduce crop yields

are common. Shallow wells are the principal source

of water for domestic use and for livestock in much

of the area, but small ponds and reservoirs on individual farms are increasingly important sources of

water for livestock. Deep wells, especially in the

limestone areas, also provide water.

Soil: Planosols (Oswego, Parsons, Cherokee, and

Taloka) on nearly level to undulating slopes are the

dominant soils; associated with them on gentle slopes

are Brunizems (Woodson, Dennis, Summit, Okemah,

and Bates). Rendzinas (Snead) are on undulating

to rolling slopes underlain by soft limestones and

calcareous shales and Lithosols (Darnell, Sogn, and

Collinsville) on more strongly sloping areas underlain by sandstones, shales, and limestone. Alluvial

soils (Verdigris and Lightning, Pope and Philo in

Arkansas) and Low-Humic Gley soils (Osage) on

flood plains are of small total extent but are among

the best agricultural soils in the area.

57
^f^
113—Central Claypan Areas

Missouri and Illinois

11,000 square miles

Land Use: Nearly all these areas are in farms and

about three-fifths is cropland. Corn, soybeans, other

feed grains, and hay for cattle and other livestock are

the main crops. About one-tenth is in permanent

pastures of tame and native grasses. An additional

one-sixth, mainly on the steeper slopes and wet bottom land, is in forest; about 5 percent is urban and

the remainder is in miscellaneous other uses.

Elevation and Topography: 750 to 950 feet in

Missouri and 500 to 600 feet in Illinois, increasing

gradually from south to north in both States. These

areas consist of nearly level to gently sloping siltmantled old till plains. Stream valleys are shallow

and most of them are narrow. Local relief is mainly

ina few feet toa few tens of feet.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—About 40

inches; about 60 percent falls during the freeze-free

period. Average annual temperature—55° F. Average freeze-free period—180 to 190 days.

Water: The moderate rainfall is adequate for crops

in most years. Low to moderate supplies of water

are available from ground water.A few large perennial streams are potential sources of water that are

not much used at present. Most of the soils are imperfectly to poorly drained, and claypans prevent

effective artificial drainage on most of them.

Soil: Planosols witha claypan, mostly from loess overlying old glacial till, are the principal soils (darkcolored Putnam and Mexico in Missouri and lighter

colored Hoyleton, Cowden, Cisne, Wynoose, and

Bluford in Illinois). On hilly and steep valley sides

Gray-Brown Podzolic soils (Lindley, Hickory, Weiler,

and Gara) are the dominant soils. Alluvial soils

(Westerville and Sharon) and Humic Gley soils

(Wabash) on narrow flood plains are of small total

extent but are among the best agricultural soils of

the area.

59

114—Southern Illinois and Indiana

Thin Loess and Till Plain

Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio

14,400 square miles

Land Use: Nearly all the area is in farms but only

about one-half is cropland. Corn, soybeans, other

feed grains, and hay for dairy cattle and other livestock are the principal crops. Some tobacco is grown

asa cash crop in Indiana and Ohio. About one-fifth

of the area is in forest, much of which is in small

farm woodlots but some is in large holdings. Most

of the remaining farmland is in pasture. About5

percent of the area, mainly along the Ohio River, is

urban or in industrial use.

Elevation and Topography: 400 feet on valley

floors to 1,200 feet on ridgetops, the ridgetops increasing gradually in elevation from west to east. This

dissected old glacial-till plain hasa moderately thick

mantle of loess. Most of the ridgetops are narrow

but some are broad. Ridge slopes and valley sides

are steep. Local relief on the ridgetops is ina few

feet toa few tens of feet but stream valleys are one

to several hundred feet below the adjoining uplands.

Climate: Average annual precipitcuion—35 to 46

inches ; highest in spring and early summer and least

from midsummer through autumn. Average annual

temperature—53° to 58° F. Average freeze-free

period—180 to 200 days.

Water: The moderate rainfall is adequate for crops

in most years but yields are reduced occasionally by

droughts. Ground-water supplies meet domestic, industrial, and municipal needs in most of the area, but

ground water is scarce in parts where shale is near

the surface. Many small streams are potential sources

of water not much used at present.

Soil: Planosols (Bluford, Vigo, Avonburg, and Clermont) from moderately thick loess over old glacial

till on level to sloping ridgetops are the dominant soils.

Cray-Brown Podzolic soils (Cincinnati and Rossmoyne) are dominant on more sloping uplands and

Rendzinas (Fairmount) in shaly limestone materials

on valley sides. Alluvial soils (Raymond, Belknap,

and Bonnie) on the relatively narrow flood plains are

of small total extent but are highly important to

agriculture locally.

61

3GG-76

115—Central Mississippi Valley

Wooded Slopes

Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana

19,200 square miles

Land Use: Nearly all the area is in farms and about

two-fifths is cropland. Feed grains and hay for livestock are the principal crops, but peach and apple

orchards are important on some of the more sloping

parts. About one-third of the area is in forest, mainly

in small farm woodlots but partly in large tracts

that include some national forest. Most of the remainder of the land in farms is in pasture of tame

and native grasses.

Elevation and Topography: 400 feet on the main

valley floors to 1,000 feet on the ridgetops. This dissected glacial-till plain has rolling narrow ridgetops

and hilly to steep ridge slopes and valley sides. The

small streams have narrow valleys and steep gradients.

The major rivers have nearly level broad flood plains.

Valley floors are one to several hundred feet below

the adjoining hilltops.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—35 to 45

inches; about two-thirds falls during the freeze-free

season in the west; highest in spring and early summer and lowest from midsummer through autumn in

the southeast. Average anttiud'temperature—53° to

58° F. Average freeze-free period—180 to 200 days,

increasing from north to south.

Water: Rainfall is adequate in most years for the

crops commonly grown but yields are reduced by

drought in some years. Ground water furnishes

domestic and livestock needs on farms. The Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio Rivers are major transportation arteries and are used for recreation.

Soil: Gray-Brown Podzolic soils are the dominant

soils (Menfro, Alford, Princeton, Lindley, Weiler,

and Weldon in loess over old glacial till and bedrock

on rolling to steep slopes and Gara and Lindley in

till areas lacking the loess mantle). On ridgetops in

the south Gray-Brown Podzolic soils with fragipans

(Hosmer, Grenada, and Union) are important. Alluvial soils (Genesee, Haymond, Sharon, Beaucoup,

Westerville, and Allison) and Humic Gley soils

(Wabash and Darwin) on level flood plains occupy

about one-tenth of the area and are among the more

important agricultural soils.

63
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