In the cotton belt of the United States it would be possible to put a still greater acreage under this crop, but the tendency is rather towards what is known as " diversified " or mixed farming than to making cotton the sole important crop. Cotton, however, is in increasing demand, and the problem for the American cotton planter is to obtain a better yield of cotton from the same area, - by " better yield " meaning an increase not only in quantity but also in quality of lint.
In central Alberta coarse grains - oats and barley - and some wheat are grown, in conjunction with mixed farming.
It is favourably situated for growing fruit, and mixed farming is carried on to a considerable extent.
The solution to soil degradation was mixed farming moving away from highly intensive arable.
The trend away from mixed farming toward specialization reduced farmland biodiversity.
