The principal activity associated with Stanford historically is agriculture; specifically, the raising of sheep and cattle for wool, dairy and beef. Today some dedicated cattle farms survive in the surrounding area, but most are mixed use depending on market prices; some keep horses for pleasure. The fields within the Stanford conservation area which survive today are used for grazing by horse and sheep
Stanford is notable for its density of independent farms. These are Cottage Farm, Duckett’s Farm, Hatch’s Farm, Penstone’s Farm, Priors Farm, Spinage’s Farm, Stanford House Farm, Stanford Farm, and Stone’s Farm. Of these, Cottage Farm and Hatch’s Farm have enclosures wholly within the conservation area which have changed very little since their earliest recording on a tithe map of 1837; they exhibit a piecemeal development pattern which could date from as early as the 13th century. An enclosure near Stanford Farm still retains a pasture, though it was reduced to a third of its historic size in the last century to allow for the creation of a sports field and Millennium Green
at either end.