This nickname applies to an agricultural commodity that reliably produces a high profit margin in a specific region. Farmers rely on these staple cash crops or prolific livestock lines to generate the bulk of their annual revenue. The term reflects the historical reality that a few exceptional harvests of the right crop could literally clear a family bank loan.
That new soybean variety yields so well on our heavy clay that it has turned into a real mortgage burner.
In the midwestern United States, this term was famously applied to heritage pig breeds that grew quickly on cheap forage.
Related terms
Cash crop
An agricultural crop grown specifically to be sold for profit rather than for the farmer's own use.
Specialty crop
Fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops grown for human use rather than staple commodities.
Maincrop
The primary, full-season variety of a crop planted for maximum yield and storage.