Agronomy vs. Agriculture — What's the Difference?

Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants in agriculture for food, fuel, fiber, recreation, and land restoration. Agronomy has come to encompass work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science.

Agriculture is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to live in cities.

Application of the various soil and plant sciences to soil management and crop production; scientific agriculture.

The science, art, and business of cultivating soil, producing crops, and raising livestock; farming.

The science of utilizing plants, animals and soils for food, fuel, feed, and fiber and more. To do this effectively and sustainably, agronomy encompasses work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, animal sciences and soil science.

The art or science of cultivating the ground, including the harvesting of crops, and the rearing and management of livestock

The management of land; rural economy; agriculture.

The art or science of cultivating the ground, including the harvesting of crops, and the rearing and management of live stock; tillage; husbandry; farming.

The application of soil and plant sciences to land management and crop production

A large-scale farming enterprise

The practice of cultivating the land or raising stock

The federal department that administers programs that provide services to farmers (including research and soil conservation and efforts to stabilize the farming economy); created in 1862

The class of people engaged in growing food