Agriculture is a form of industry which derives its products from living organisms, either plants or animals. Most agricultural activity takes place on farms and ranches. Specialized agricultural buildings usually house livestock, plant beds, or machinery, or they serve the specialized energy needs of an agricultural complex.

Cultivation identifies growing crops or raising livestock, while farm identifies structures supporting a large agricultural operation. A supporting agricultural building need not itself contain a planted crop.

The production relationship to living organisms distinguishes agriculture from mining of inorganic or fossil-related resources. Offices administering an agricultural business have a different activity from the agricultural production spaces themselves.