Question

What was the primary way the farms in the south differed from those in the north

Answer 1

Almost universally, the farms in the South of the United States were far more fertile and therefore larger than the farms in the North. This is also why the South's economy was based almost exclusively on agriculture, while the North's was not.

Answer 2

I believe the answer is: The farms of the South raised cash crops using a plantation system

This happen because at that time not many southern businesses implement new technologies arise during the industrial revolution to their agricultural business. The northern states on the other hands, had adopted the newer technologies, which make them did not need slave labours like southern states did