Abstract: Based on analyzing the natural properties such as visual scenes and origins of the farms in the western countries, a farm can be defined as a geographic unit and a production and management way in a certain area which is devoted primarily to agricultural processes and necessary life activities in order to produce and manage agricultural commodities in the relatively closed, independent and stable way. A family farm is an agricultural production and management subject, in which family members will share farm production and management rights, risks and responsibilities, and the debt will be paid off with household common property. The farm system is a system specification made by different countries at different stages, reflecting its social attributes. Because of special history, national conditions and system, to develop family farms in China is different from that in European and American countries which are founded on the private land ownership; therefore, it will be confronted with such special problems as poor stability and higher risks in operation, weak foundation for sustainable development, and large negative effects of executive-led management and so on. To promote the sustainable and healthy development of the family farms in China, it is necessary to follow the rational mentality of “appreciate but not exaggerate, support but not arrange everything”, to formulate and implement high standard institutional norms, to make the pilot reform of agricultural legal entity registration system, and to formulate and implement appropriate and effective supporting policies.

Key words: farm; farm system; family farm; natural attributes; social attributes