The world’s largest farm is a surprisingly complex question. While many sources point to one operation, the answer depends on how you define “farm”-by total acreage, production type, or agricultural intensity. Here’s a look at the contenders and why a simple ranking is difficult.
Ther’s no official, internationally recognized ranking of the world’s largest farms. No association like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) maintains a definitive list. Claims vary widely depending on whether the focus is on vast grazing lands, intensive crop production, or farms with official certifications.
Most often cited as the largest is Anna Creek station in South Australia. this sprawling pastoral station covers approximately 23,677 square kilometers (nearly 2.4 million hectares) and is generally considered the largest farm by area. Owned by the Williams Cattle Company, Anna Creek focuses on extensive cattle breeding across semi-arid land, maintaining a very low animal density.Its size and operations are well-documented in agricultural databases and encyclopedias.Learn more about Anna Creek Station.
However, Anna Creek’s size highlights a key point: sheer acreage doesn’t equate to intensive agricultural output. Australian pastoral stations operate differently than farms in Europe, Africa, or Asia, prioritizing massive land use over high yields per hectare.
Some sources, particularly in English-speaking media, also mention the Mudanjiang City Mega Farm in Heilongjiang province, China. This farm is presented as a leader in integrated agriculture, combining large-scale crop production with industrial dairy farming. Estimates of its size reach several million hectares, but these numbers…
