The American heartland may not be mentioned in the same breath as Wall Street in terms of vital parts of the U.S. economy, but this could be because of the nature of the people working the farms.
The Americans who are out in the fields have used John Deere equipment and other farm tools to turn a profit and help to provide their countrymen with a source of food. Although farmers only make up 2-to-4 percent of the workforce, the role that they play is vital to the survival of the country, WBEZ News Chicago reported.
According to the news outlet, there is a growing move among young people in the Midwest to enter the sector, as students are looking to get majors in agricultural business and other farming-related fields.
The growth that has been recorded in the industry in recent years has promoted interest in joining the sector, and membership in Future Farmers of America has increased 20 percent since 2000, WBEZ News reported.
Reuters reported that the sector has benefited from its position of strength in the U.S. economy, as it has sustained itself through the worst of the 2008 recession, unlike many other industries.
Agriculture and the Midwest economy: The engine behind the American heartland
![There is a growing move among young people in the Midwest to enter the sector, as students are looking to get majors in agricultural business and other farming-related fields.](http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/there+is+a+growing+move+among+young+people+in+the+midwest+to+enter+the+sector+as+students+are+looking+to+get+majors+in+agricultural+business+and+other_2034_800735023_0_0_7050513_300.jpg)
There is a growing move among young people in the Midwest to enter the sector, as students are looking to get majors in agricultural business and other farming-related fields.