Lesson

Countryside & Farming

Rural and agricultural vocabulary

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Countryside & Farming — Vocabulary Overview

This lesson introduces key vocabulary related to the countryside and farming. You will learn words for land, buildings, machinery, crops and animals commonly used in agricultural contexts. These terms often appear in workplace scenarios (logistics, supply chain, environmental reports) and in TOEIC reading/listening tasks.

  • Focus on nouns for places (farm, barn, pasture), machinery (tractor, plow), and products (crop, grain, hay).
  • Learn common collocations: harvest crops, raise livestock, plow fields.
  • Practice using these words in business and reporting contexts.

Table

Key Vocabulary: Countryside & Farming

Word Part of speech Meaning Example
farm noun a piece of land used for growing crops or raising animals The company bought a small organic farm to expand production.
barn noun a building on a farm used for storing grain or housing animals They kept the equipment in the barn throughout winter.
pasture noun land covered with grass used for grazing animals Cattle graze on the pasture during summer months.
crop noun a plant grown in large quantities for food or sale This year's wheat crop is expected to be higher than last year.
harvest noun/verb the process or time of gathering mature crops; to collect crops Workers started the harvest in September.
tractor noun a powerful motor vehicle used on farms for pulling machinery The tractor pulled the fertilizer spreader across the field.
silo noun a tall structure for storing bulk materials like grain or silage The grain was transferred to the silo for storage.
livestock noun farm animals such as cattle, sheep, and pigs Livestock management is essential for meat and dairy production.
orchard noun a piece of land planted with fruit trees They planted a new apple orchard near the river.
hedgerow noun a line of bushes or trees planted as a boundary between fields A hedgerow separates the two parcels of farmland.

Tip

Key learning tips for countryside vocabulary

Use these strategies to remember and correctly use farming words in professional contexts:

  • Learn collocations (e.g., 'harvest crops', 'raise livestock') rather than single words alone.
  • Note countability: 'crop' (countable/uncountable depending on context), 'livestock' (uncountable collective).
  • Practice using articles correctly: 'a farm', 'the barn', 'sugar' vs 'hay'.
  • Use these words in business sentences: 'The harvest forecast affects supply and pricing.'

Focus on collocations and countability for accurate TOEIC use.

Example

Examples in context

The farm increased its organic crop production this year.

We inspected the livestock before the shipment.

The tractor broke down during planting.

They store grain in the silo until it's sold.

Tip

Common mistakes to avoid

Watch out for these universal errors when learning farming vocabulary:

  • Confusing countable and uncountable nouns (e.g., 'a grain' is usually incorrect; use 'a grain of rice' or 'grain' uncountable).
  • Using wrong articles: 'the farm' vs 'a farm' depending on specificity.
  • Mixing up similar words: 'barn' (building) vs 'farmhouse' (house where the farmer lives).
  • Incorrect collocations: avoid 'do a harvest' — use 'harvest crops' or 'carry out the harvest'.

Check noun forms, articles and common collocations for accuracy.

Quiz

Which word means 'an area of land planted with fruit trees'?

Hint: Think about where apples or pears are grown.

Quiz

Complete: The _____ stores hay and equipment on the farm.

Hint: Think of a farm building used for storage.

Quiz

Choose the correct collocation: 'to _____ crops'.

Hint: Think about collecting mature plants from the field.

Key Points

Vocabulary

farm

noun CEFR A2 //fɑːrm//

a piece of land used for growing crops or raising animals

The company bought a small organic farm to expand production.

Vocabulary

barn

noun CEFR A2 //bɑːrn//

a building on a farm used for storing grain or housing animals

They kept the equipment in the barn throughout winter.

Vocabulary

tractor

noun CEFR A2 //ˈtræk.tər//

a powerful vehicle used on farms for pulling machinery

The tractor pulled the fertilizer spreader across the field.

Vocabulary

crop

noun CEFR B1 //krɒp//

a plant grown in large quantities for food or sale

This year's wheat crop is expected to be higher than last year.

Vocabulary

harvest

noun/verb CEFR B1 //ˈhɑːr.vɪst//

the process of gathering mature crops; to collect crops

Workers started the harvest in September.

Vocabulary

silo

noun CEFR B1 //ˈsaɪ.loʊ//

a tall structure for storing bulk materials like grain or silage

The grain was transferred to the silo for storage.

Vocabulary

livestock

noun CEFR B1 //ˈlaɪv.stɒk//

farm animals kept for use or profit

Livestock management is essential for meat and dairy production.