People and the Planet
Nature English: Farming and Food Production
Talk about where our food comes from and how it is produced.
Farming shapes much of the countryside – and what ends up on our plates. Learn the vocabulary of crops, harvests and sustainable agriculture, and how to talk about your own food choices.
Key Words
Ten essential words with their German meaning and an example sentence.
| English | German | Example |
|---|---|---|
| agriculture | Landwirtschaft | Agriculture uses about half of Germany's land. |
| organic farming | ökologischer Landbau | Organic farming doesn't use synthetic pesticides. |
| crop | Feldfrucht, Nutzpflanze | Maize is a common crop in the region. |
| harvest | Ernte | The harvest was poor because of the drought. |
| livestock | Nutztiere, Vieh | The farm keeps livestock and grows cereals. |
| crop rotation | Fruchtfolge | Crop rotation keeps the soil healthy. |
| fertiliser | Dünger | Too much fertiliser pollutes rivers. |
| pollination | Bestäubung | Apples depend on pollination by insects. |
| soil health | Bodengesundheit | Healthy soil is full of worms and microorganisms. |
| sustainable | nachhaltig | We need a more sustainable food system. |
Word Partners
Natural English depends on words that belong together. Learn these as complete phrases.
- to grow crops
- a good harvest
- free-range eggs
- seasonal produce
- farmers' market
- to buy local
- food miles
- sustainable agriculture
"On Saturdays, I buy seasonal produce at the farmers' market."
Useful Phrases
Sentence patterns you can use straight away.
On the farm
- They grow wheat and sugar beet.
- The cows graze outside all summer.
- They rotate their crops every year.
- The harvest starts in late July.
Your food choices
- I try to buy local, seasonal food.
- Organic food is more expensive, but…
- I've cut down on meat.
- Where does this actually come from?
Talk About It
Answer these questions aloud, write a short paragraph, or discuss them with a partner.
- Do you buy organic or local food? Why, or why not?
- What crops grow in the fields around your town?
- Should farmers be paid to protect nature?
- Could you eat only seasonal food for a whole year?
Test Yourself
Click a question to see the answer.
1. What is "Fruchtfolge" in English?
Crop rotation.
2. What is the general word for farm animals?
Livestock.
3. What are eggs from hens that can go outside called?
Free-range eggs.
Explore More
Related topics on Talking English.
Talk about farming and food production.
Learn the words, use them in real sentences and share what you notice with others.
From field to fork.