DEFINITION
Agricultural area dedicated to the production and management of food (grains or/and livestock).

AKA
Smallholding, holding, ranch (U.S. and Canada); land, station, farmstead (Australia and New Zealand); vineyard, plantation, croft (Scotland); grange and homestead.

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
There are a lot of types of farms (dairy farms, stables, fish farms, plantations, etc.) and farming (collective, factory, organic, etc.). General measures are: size of the land, amount of production, tools and working conditions, effects on the environment and quality controls.

The planning process must come across a way to attach the economic, environmental, and social aspects that are exclusive to each farm business. First it is important to formulate the goals in each of these areas and then detail specifications and time lines. The design and placement of the farm has to assure the protection of the surrounding habitats, the water and mineral cycles, etc. The choice of production system is very important because it has a big impact on the environment.

Standards by Food alliance: farm and ranch evaluation criteria.
Whole farm planning model by the Ohio State University: PDF.

ILLUSTRATION

Photo of the Hopkins Family Farm Courtesy USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Hopkins' farm is a model of conservation.


CASE STUDIES
Alvarez Farms, Mabton, WA
Greentree Naturals, Sandpoint, ID

More Farm case studies: Northwest Direct

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

1. Permaculture introduction PDF
2. Factory Farms
3. Sustainable Farms
4. Decentralized farm
5. Community Supported Agriculture
6. Community Gardens
7. U.S. Department of Agriculture