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Pricing the Future: Grain discusses the role of the grain industry in the development of the American Midwest, focusing on the relationship between farmers, merchants, and markets. The book highlights the importance of the railroad and waterways in connecting rural areas to urban centers where grain could be sold. The author also explores the agricultural practices and technologies that allowed farmers to cultivate large quantities of grain on the prairies, pointing out the challenges they faced, such as breaking the dense prairie sod and dealing with fluctuations in weather and crop prices. The book examines the development of markets in cities like Chicago and St. Louis, where farmers sold their grain to storekeepers or commission merchants who then transported it to larger markets. Finally, the book discusses the sack-based system of grain transportation, emphasizing the role of sacks in maintaining the quality and integrity of the grain as it moved from the farm to the market. Overall, Pricing the Future: Grain provides a detailed analysis of the grain industry and its impact on the development of the American Midwest.

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