same dictionary

Main Entry: 1farm
Pronunciation: 'f\ufffdrm
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English ferme rent, lease, from Old French, lease, from fermer to fix, make a contract, from Latin firmare to make firm, from firmus firm
Date: 14th century
1 obsolete : a sum or due fixed in amount and payable at fixed intervals
2 : a letting out of revenues or taxes for a fixed sum to one authorized to collect and retain them
3 : a district or division of a country leased out for the collection of government revenues
4 : a tract of land devoted to agricultural purposes
5 a : a plot of land devoted to the raising of animals and especially domestic livestock b : a tract of water reserved for the artificial cultivation of some aquatic life form
6 : a minor-league team (as in baseball) associated with a major-league team as a subsidiary
7 : an area containing a number of similar structures (as radio antennas or storage tanks)


Definition #1: the word "business" doesn't appear anywhere in there.
Definition #2: has nothing to do with the concept of "farm" or "ranch" as we're discussing it.
Definition #3: It could be "assumed" that the government is leasing the land as a "business"; that's the closest you've got to defining it the way you want it to be.
Definition #4: See Item #1
Definition #5: See Item #1
Definition #6: See Item #2
Definition #7: See Item #2

The Etymology, the roots of the word, are irrelevant to its modern usage.

According to a coworker, born and bred a Texan for 55 years, a "farm" is a place where you grow crops, a "ranch" is a place where you raise animals. Used interchangeably sometimes, but that's how he defines the words. Scott's parents can own a ranch, but it is not necessarily a business.

Once again, I can own a ranch or a farm and it DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A BUSINESS.