Agribusiness

Covers the entire range of industry catering to Agriculture. Agribusiness is made up of a wide variety of services including the supplying of farm inputs and equipment, the processing of food, operations financing, and product distribution.

Agritourism

Visiting a working farm for education, enjoyment or both. Agritourism activities range from farm visits and u-picks to corn mazes and farm site Bed & Breakfasts.

Agrochemical Industry

An industry focused on the production of agricultural chemicals, i.e. pesticides.

Anaerobic Digestion

The breakdown of organic material by bacteria (anaerobes) in the absence of air. Harnessed by an AD facility, this natural process produces biogas that can be used to generate heat and electricity. It also produces a nutrient rich by-product called digestate that can be used as fertilizer.

Animal Husbandry

The production and care of domestic animals.

Antibiotic Free

As standard practice, no antibiotics were fed to or injected into the animal. If an animal is sick, however, antibiotics can be used. These animals are not processed until these medications are out of their systems. Livestock that are allowed a sufficient amount of space and are fed properly are generally much healthier and require fewer antibiotics than those cramped tightly together and given feed that is supplemented with hormones to fatten them quickly.

Antibiotics

As they relate to farmering, antibiotics are administered to conventionally-raised livestock animals to promote faster growth and combat disease. Large doses of antibiotics are used in factory farms where animals are packed tightly together and disease can spread quickly. These animals often become sick due to excessive stress caused by their living conditions. It is also important to note that the animals are often administered antibiotics as a preventative action (as opposed to as a cure for an established illness), and that these antibiotics are thought to be present in the meat produced by them.

Aquaculture

Farming marine and fresh water animals such as fish, shrimp, clams, and oysters.

Aquaponics

The combination of hydroponics and aquaculture. Water from the fish tanks is filtered through the plants. This cleans the tank water while providing nutrients to the plants.

Arable Land

Land that is suitable for growing crops.

Artisan

A skilled craftsperson. Bread and cheese makers are examples of food artisans.