In Europe, traditional family farms are giving way to larger production units. In the United States, livestock may be raised on range, land and finished in feedlots and the mechanization of crop production has brought about a great decrease in the number of agricultural workers needed. Modern farms in developed countries are highly mechanized. Small farms with a land area of fewer than 2 hectares operate about 1% of the world's agricultural land, and family farms comprise about 75% of the world's agricultural land. There are about 570 million farms in the world, most of which are small and family-operated. In modern times the term has been extended so as to include such industrial operations as wind farms and fish farms, both of which can operate on land or sea. It includes ranches, feedlots, orchards, plantations and estates, smallholdings and hobby farms, and includes the farmhouse and agricultural buildings as well as the land. The name is used for specialized units such as arable farms, vegetable farms, fruit farms, dairy, pig and poultry farms, and land used for the production of natural fiber, biofuel and other commodities. They farm simply for the pleasure of growing and raising their own food.Typical plan of a medieval English manor, showing the use of field stripsĪ farm (also called an agricultural holding) is an area of land that is devoted primarily to agricultural processes with the primary objective of producing food and other crops it is the basic facility in food production. Hobby Farms’ well-educated readers typically have full-time careers outside farming that produce most of their income. Above all, the magazine conveys the passion its readership has for rural living. All feature-length articles, columns and department items are written to inform and entertain. The main focus remains on the lifestyle aspects of owning and operating a hobby farm. However, the trend is more people homesteading with an eye toward profits in addition to the pleasure of being in control of their food sour read lessĪs a bimonthly consumer publication with subscribers, newsstand and direct sales throughout North America, Hobby Farms serves the industry by positioning itself as the premier source of news and information for small-farm operators and enthusiasts. They farm simply for the pleasure of growing and raising their own food. Hobby Farms offers expert and easy-to-understand advice, product reviews, livestock and animal care tips, gardening, do-it-yourself projects and profiles of farmers living their dream. Spring issues burst forth with growing advice for orchard, field and garden, whether it's kitchen, backyard, raised-bed or container. Fall brings harvesting and food-preservation tips, while winter issues provide advice to not only survive but also thrive during the cold months.

It publishes several annual issues including one on poultry and one on other livestock. Each issue covers care for animals including chickens, ducks, cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and more.

Hobby Farms articles cover a broad range of topics for small-acreage farmers, homesteaders and even urban farmers who aspire to leave the city and move to the country.

Each issue helps readers become more skilled and successful in farming and ranch life while encouraging them to embrace rural living.Īs a bimonthly consumer publication with subscribers, newsstand and direct sales throughout North America, Hobby Farms serves the industry by positioning itself as the premier source of news and information for small-farm operators and enthusiasts. Hobby Farms magazine provides the small-farm operator and country enthusiast with advice and the latest information on agricultural life regardless of whether the goal is pleasure or profit. Best of HF Home Special Issue View Reviews |

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