- 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.
- Before the twentieth century, the typical American family lived on a small farm. They raised almost everything they ate and sold their remaining crops and/or animals.
- Farmers work long, hard hours.
- There are less farms in the United States today than there were in the early 1900’s, but the ones that are working produce more.
- 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.
- The use of tractors and other modern farm equipment has sharply reduced the need for farm workers.
- Today’s farmer is not just an expert in agriculture and livestock, but they also need to be successful businessmen.
Farm Facts
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.