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A '''farmer''' is a [[person]], engaged in [[agriculture]], who raises living [[organisms]] for [[food]] or raw materials, generally including [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_husbandry livestock husbandry] and growing crops  such as produce and grain. A farmer might own the farmed [[land]] or might work as a labourer on land owned by others; but in advanced economies, a farmer is usually a farm owner, while employees of the farm are farm workers, farmhands, etc.

A '''farmer''' is a [[person]], engaged in [[agriculture]], who raises living [[organisms]] for [[food]] or raw materials, generally including [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_husbandry livestock husbandry] and growing crops  such as produce and grain. A farmer might own the farmed [[land]] or might work as a labourer on land owned by others; but in advanced economies, a farmer is usually a farm owner, while employees of the farm are farm workers, farmhands, etc.

==Definition==

==Definition==

The term farmer usually applies to people who do some combination of raising field crops, orchards, vineyards, poultry or other livestock. Their products might be sold either to a [[market]], in a farmers' market or perhaps directly from a farm. In a subsistence [[economy]], farm products might to some extent be either consumed by the farmer's [[family]] or [[Share|pooled]] by the [[community]].

The term farmer usually applies to people who do some combination of raising field crops, orchards, vineyards, poultry or other livestock. Their products might be sold either to a [[market]], in a farmers' market or perhaps directly from a farm. In a subsistence [[economy]], farm products might to some extent be either consumed by the farmer's [[family]] or [[Share|pooled]] by the [[community]].

More distinct terms are commonly used to denote farmers who raise specific domesticated animals. For example, those who raise grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, and horses, are known as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranchers ranchers] (U.S.), graziers (Australia & U.K.), or simply stockmen. Sheep, goat, and cattle farmers might be also be referred to respectively as shepherds, goatherds, and cowherds. The term dairy farmer is applied to those [[engaged]] primarily in milk production, whether from cattle, goats, sheep, or other milk producing [[animals]]. A poultry farmer is one who [[concentrate]]s on raising chickens, turkeys, ducks or geese, for either meat, egg, or feather production, or commonly, all three. A [[person]] who raises a variety of vegetables for market may be called a truck farmer or market gardener. Dirt farmer is an American colloquial term for a [[practical]] farmer, or one who farms his own [[land]].

More distinct terms are commonly used to denote farmers who raise specific domesticated animals. For example, those who raise grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, and horses, are known as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranchers ranchers] (U.S.), graziers (Australia & U.K.), or simply stockmen. Sheep, goat, and cattle farmers might be also be referred to respectively as shepherds, goatherds, and cowherds. The term dairy farmer is applied to those [[engaged]] primarily in milk production, whether from cattle, goats, sheep, or other milk producing [[animals]]. A poultry farmer is one who [[concentrate]]s on raising chickens, turkeys, ducks or geese, for either meat, egg, or feather production, or commonly, all three. A [[person]] who raises a variety of vegetables for market may be called a truck farmer or market gardener. Dirt farmer is an American colloquial term for a [[practical]] farmer, or one who farms his own [[land]].

In the [[context]] of developing nations or other pre-industrial [[cultures]], most farmers [[practice]] a meager subsistence [[agriculture]]—a simple [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_farming organic farming] system employing crop rotation, [[seed]] saving, slash and burn or other [[techniques]] to maximize [[efficiency]] while meeting the needs of the household or [[community]]. In developed nations however, a person using such techniques on small patches of land might be called a gardener and be considered a hobbyist. Alternatively, one may be driven into such [[practices]] by [[poverty]] or, [[ironically]]—against the background of large-scale agribusiness--may become an organic farmer growing for discerning consumers in the local food market. Historically, one subsisting in this way may have been known as a peasant.

In the [[context]] of developing nations or other pre-industrial [[cultures]], most farmers [[practice]] a meager subsistence [[agriculture]]—a simple [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_farming organic farming] system employing crop rotation, [[seed]] saving, slash and burn or other [[techniques]] to maximize [[efficiency]] while meeting the needs of the household or [[community]]. In developed nations however, a person using such techniques on small patches of land might be called a gardener and be considered a hobbyist. Alternatively, one may be driven into such [[practices]] by [[poverty]] or, [[ironically]]—against the background of large-scale agribusiness--may become an organic farmer growing for discerning consumers in the local food market. Historically, one subsisting in this way may have been known as a peasant.

In developed nations, a farmer (as a [[profession]]) is usually defined as someone with an ownership interest in crops or livestock, and who provides [[land]] or [[management]] in their production. Those who provide only labor are most often called farmhands. Alternatively, growers who manage farmland for an absentee landowner, sharing the [[harvest]] (or its [[profits]]) are known as sharecroppers or sharefarmers. In the [[context]] of agribusiness, a farmer is defined broadly, and thus many [[individuals]] not necessarily engaged in full-time farming can nonetheless [[legally]] qualify under [[agricultural]] [[policy]] for various subsidies, incentives, and tax deductions.

In developed nations, a farmer (as a [[profession]]) is usually defined as someone with an ownership interest in crops or livestock, and who provides [[land]] or [[management]] in their production. Those who provide only labor are most often called farmhands. Alternatively, growers who manage farmland for an absentee landowner, sharing the [[harvest]] (or its [[profits]]) are known as sharecroppers or sharefarmers. In the [[context]] of agribusiness, a farmer is defined broadly, and thus many [[individuals]] not necessarily engaged in full-time farming can nonetheless [[legally]] qualify under [[agricultural]] [[policy]] for various subsidies, incentives, and tax deductions.

Farmers are often members of local, regional or national farmers' unions or agricultural producers' [[organizations]] and can exert significant [[political]] [[influence]]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_National_Grange_of_the_Order_of_Patrons_of_Husbandry Grange] movement in the United States was [[effective]] in advancing farmers' [[agendas]], especially against railroad and agribusiness interests early in the 20th century . The FNSEA is very [[politically]] active in France, especially pertaining to genetically modified food. Agricultural producers, both small and large, are [[represented]] globally by the International Federation of Agriculture Producers (IFAP), representing over 600 million farmers through 120 national farmers' unions in 79 countries.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farmer]

Farmers are often members of local, regional or national farmers' unions or agricultural producers' [[organizations]] and can exert significant [[political]] [[influence]]. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_National_Grange_of_the_Order_of_Patrons_of_Husbandry Grange] movement in the United States was [[effective]] in advancing farmers' [[agendas]], especially against railroad and agribusiness interests early in the 20th century . The FNSEA is very [[politically]] active in France, especially pertaining to genetically modified food. Agricultural producers, both small and large, are [[represented]] globally by the International Federation of Agriculture Producers (IFAP), representing over 600 million farmers through 120 national farmers' unions in 79 countries.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farmer]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]