FARM BUILDING

any of the structures used in farming operations, which may include buildings to house families and workers, as well as livestock, machinery, and crops. The basic unit of commercial agricultural operation, throughout history and worldwide, is the farm. Because farming systems differ widely, there are important variations in the nature and arrangements of farm facilities. The buildings on a farm generally consist of the farm family's house, the dwellings of any resident hired workers, and the various structures and facilities for farming operations. This article deals with farmhouses and service buildings that can be classified as follows: livestock barns and shelters; machinery- and supply-storage buildings; buildings and facilities for crop storage, including fodder; and special-purpose structures. Additional reading Illustrated texts include John B. Weller, Farm Buildings, 2 vol. (196572), a comprehensive technical book; James S. Boyd and Virginia T. Boyd, Practical Farm Buildings, 2nd ed. (1979); James H. Whitaker, Agricultural Buildings and Structures (1979); R.J. Lytle, Farm Builder's Handbook, with Added Material for Pole Type Industrial Buildings, 3rd ed. (1978, reissued 1982); and R.W. Brunskill, Traditional Farm Buildings of Britain, 2nd ed. (1987). David Sainsbury, Animal Health and Housing (1967), emphasizes physiologic and sanitary aspects. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Capital and Finance in Agriculture (1970), discusses the national economic impact of farm buildings in many countries. Roger Martinot The Editors of the Encyclopdia Britannica