1. Hist. A farm furnished with all the necessities for husbandry, such as a barn, granary, and stables; esp., an outlying farm that belonged to a religious establishment or a feudal lord.
2. (cap.) A social, educational, and political organization, formally called the National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, that informs its members about agriculture-related legislation and proposals, and represents farm interests in lobbying government. • The Grange was formed in 1867 and soon became the foundation of the Granger Movement, a 19th-century political force that protested economic abuses that increased farmers’ costs while forcing down prices for agricultural products. Movement followers (called Grangers) controlled several Midwest state legislatures and passed Granger laws that set maximum rates for railroads, warehouses, and elevators. Railroads and other interested parties challenged the constitutionality of these laws in what have become known as the Granger Cases.
