Here's a much, more simple plan.

America is a food importing state, and the farmlands are concentrated on California (Commie capital) and the Midwest.

If America collapses into 4 or 5 states, since Cali will be well defended by radical marxist killers (and they will be speculating food for no apparent reason), the other warring states will have to fight for the midwestern grain belt.

Everything that is the best is simple.