What problem was caused by southern farmers in the 1880s growing cotton and tobacco year after year

Crops became smaller and lower in quality each year.

Explanation:

most people now work in jobs where they do one  kind  of work; they are carpenters, bankers, cooks, mechanics, and so forth. likewise, most  businesses produce  only certainkinds  of  goods  or  services, such as cars, tacos, or gardening  services. this feature of  production  is known as specialization.