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A farm is a piece of land used to grow plants and/or raise animals for food. People who grow these plants or raise these animals are called farmers. This type of work is called farming.

See the fact file below for more information about farms, or alternatively, you can download our comprehensive worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Farm Facts

  • A farm is an area of land that is used for agricultural processes.
  • The primary objective of a farm is to produce crops and food.
  • Farming is an important occupation because everyone needs food and clothing to survive.
  • Farms produce all kinds of plants, animals, wool, and cotton that people eat and utilize throughout the world.
  • People who work on farms are called farmers.
  • A farm can also be called an agricultural holding, a ranch, or an orchard.
  • There are over 570 million farms in the world, most of which are fairly small and family-operated. 
  • Small farms with a land area of less than 2 hectares make up about 1% of the world’s agricultural land, and family farms make up about 75% of the world’s agricultural land.
  • In less developed countries, small farms are found everywhere, and the majority of rural residents farm to feed their families and sell surplus products in the local market. 
  • The mechanization of crop production has decreased the number of agricultural workers needed. 
  • Scientific methods and labor-saving machinery have made farming increasingly productive.
  • The development of improved plant varieties and fertilizers has helped significantly increase the yields of some major crops such as corn, soybeans, and wheat.
  • Scientific studies on livestock care and breeding have helped increase the amount of meat and products that animals produce.
  • In modern times the term includes industrial operations such as fish farms and wind farms. These can both operate on land or sea.

Types of Farms

Farm types are numerous. They can be free-range, intensive, or both.

Dairy Farms

  • Dairy farming is where female cattle and goats are raised for their milk.
  • Milk is either processed on-site or transported to a dairy for processing and then retail sale.
  • In most countries, a centralized dairy facility processes milk and dairy products, such as butter, cream, and cheese.
  • Many dairy farms now also grow their own feed, such as hay, corn, and alfalfa. 
  • This is fed to the cows or stored for use during the winter months. 
  • Dietary supplements are often added to the feed to increase milk production.

Poultry Farms

  • Poultry farms are for raising chickens, turkeys, geese, and ducks.
  • Chickens raised for eggs are known as layers.
  • Chickens raised for meat are called broilers.
  • Both chickens and their eggs are separated into the categories of free-range, organic, or intensively farmed.

Pig Farms

  • A pig farm is one that specializes in raising hogs or pigs for ham, bacon, and other pork products. 
  • Historically, farm pigs were only kept in small numbers and were closely associated with the residence of the owner.
  • They were valued as a source of meat and fat and their ability to convert inedible food into meat and manure.
  • They were often fed household waste food instead of it being thrown away.
  • Most pigs are used for human food, but they also supply skin, fat and other materials for clothing and ingredients for cosmetics and medical use.

Farming Around the World

America

  • The land and buildings of farms in America are called the “farmsteads”.
  • The term feedlot is used when livestock are raised in confinement on feed produced elsewhere.
  • Where livestock are raised on open land, the farms are called ranches.
  • In the United States, there are over three million seasonal and migrant farm workers.

Europe

  • In the UK the word farm refers to an area of field and pasture together with a farmhouse, farmyard, and any outbuildings. 
  • Larger farms, or groups of farms under the same ownership, may be called an estate.
  • A small farm that surrounds the owner’s dwelling is called a smallholding, focusing on self-sufficiency with the surplus being sold.

Australia

  • In Australia, a farm is an area of land used for production and includes buildings.
  • Green farming is practiced in Australia, requiring more labor input than conventional farming.
  • This practice creates jobs in rural areas.
  • In remote areas, farms become more extensive and can be referred to as a station.
  • Many farms in Australia are vast. This is because the land is unable to support a high stock of livestock because of climatic conditions. 

Africa

  • In Africa, the word farm includes various structures, depending primarily on climate. 
  • Farming is generally the raising and breeding of livestock such as sheep, cattle, goats, and ostriches.
  • These are raised for their milk, meat, skin, leather, and wool.
  • However, there are many guest farms, game farms, hunting farms, and even silk farms in Africa.
  • In desert areas, star-gazing farms have become popular because of the excellent optical quality in desert areas.

Farm Equipment

  • Farm equipment has evolved and changed immensely over the centuries.
  • Simple hand tools such as the spade and hoe have been replaced with machinery like tractors. 
  • Horse-drawn equipment such as the plow and harrow have been replaced by machines like the combine harvester on many farms.
  • On large farms, the labor-intensive occupation of farming has become automated, with neighboring farmers often sharing the large and expensive equipment. 

Did You Know

  • Goats are good companions for other farm animals, including cows, horses, and chickens.
  • Usually, brown hens lay brown eggs, and white hens lay white eggs; however, some breeds of chickens lay eggs with blue shells.

Farm Worksheets

This bundle contains 11 ready-to-use Farm Worksheets that are perfect for students who want to learn more about a farm which is a piece of land used to grow plants and/or raise animals for food. People who grow these plants or raise these animals are called farmers. This type of work is called farming.

Download includes the following worksheets:

  • Farm Facts
  • Farm Dictionary
  • A Day in the Life
  • Tool Word Search
  • Farm Tools
  • Animal Farm
  • Farm Products
  • Farm True or False
  • Crop Checklist
  • Word Jumble
  • Farms Now and Then

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of a farm? 

The purpose of a farm is to produce food required to feed the millions of people and animals needing sustenance to survive.

How many types of farming are there?

Farming is classified into two main types. These are subsistence farming and commercial farming.

What is a petting farm? 

A petting farm is an establishment where domesticated and wild animals, docile enough to touch and feed, are kept for the public to interact with. 

What is a wind farm? 

A wind farm (also called a wind park, or a wind power station), is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electricity. Wind farms can be either onshore or offshore.

Is there a song about a farm or a farmer? 

There most certainly is. Many young children know the song “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” which is about a farmer and the various animals that lived on his farm. Do you know it?

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Link will appear as Farm Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 20, 2017

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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