Although people sometimes refer to farmland and ranch property as interchangeable terms, they couldn’t be further from the truth. Although both professions include dealing with vast quantities of land and are a part of agriculture, they have very different definitions and duties. So what’s the difference?
Farming
The average farm is approximately 435 acres, and there are just over 2 million in the United States alone. Size aside, farmers have a very intensive job to do. Farmers primarily deal with the growth and distribution of crops, however, dairy and poultry producers are often referred to as farmers. You may be thinking about how easy it is to water plants every day, but the reality is much different. Not only do these professionals have to be knowledgeable about their crops, they must be soil and fertilizer experts as well. Finding a ranch farm for sale, or even a plot of farm land for sale, must meet the correct soil requirements for certain crops, and farmers are trusted to do this job. These people are plant growing professionals, and should be considered as such always.
Ranching
While farmers focus primarily on growing and cultivating plants, ranchers focus on raising and caring for animals. Most often, these professionals raise cattle or sheep. However, they can also invest in equestrian properties, because they are often the ‘machinery’ used to help herd the other animals. A ranch farm for sale is more likely to have open fields with fenced perimeters around them, while farms for sale are often more of the vast, sweeping fields that you often see. Ranches are generally larger than farms, and tasked with maintaining animal facilities and ensuring that all of the livestock are fed and healthy.
Although the two jobs are different, one is no more or less important than the other. There are challenges associated with each job, and to perform you must be well educated in that specific field. Both industries help provide very necessary services to citizens across the country, and should be respected for it. There are over 920 million acres of farmland in the United States, and these professionals are responsible for most of it!
