April 3, 2025
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Preservation

preservation: The process of protecting something from damage or decay. Helpful content: Food preservation techniques, such as drying, canning, and refrigeration, are essential for extending the shelf life of farm produce. Effective preservation reduces waste, enhances food security, and provides additional revenue opportunities.

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Sieve

sieve: A garden implement with a base made of mesh or with perforations through which fine particles can pass while coarse material is retained. Compare riddle. To pass soil, etc. through a sieve to produce a fine tilth, or to remove the soil from root crops such as potatoes. Farmers benefit from using sieves for soil preparation and crop cleaning.

Salers

A breed of cattle known for its hardiness and dual-purpose capabilities in meat and milk production. Salers cattle are popular in crossbreeding programs. For instance, selecting Salers cattle for their adaptability and productivity in diverse environments.

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Multiple Cropping

multiple cropping: the growing of more than one crop on the same piece of land in one year, especially using early crops followed by later ones. Understanding multiple cropping can help farmers optimize their crop production and improve soil health, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

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Stubble

stubble: the short stems left in the ground after a crop such as wheat or oilseed rape has been cut. Properly managing stubble ensures efficient soil preparation and recycling of crop residues, supporting productive agriculture.

C

Controlled Atmosphere Packaging

Controlled Atmosphere Packaging: Controlled atmosphere packaging noun the packaging of foods in airtight containers in which the air has been treated by the addition of other gases. This allows a longer shelf-life. Using controlled atmosphere packaging extends the shelf life of food products and maintains quality.

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Onion Couch

onion couch: A grass weed that grows to 24–48 inches and develops long oat-like hairs like flower heads. Managing onion couch is important to prevent competition with crops. Farmers can benefit from integrated weed management strategies to control this and other weeds, ensuring better crop performance.

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sp.

sp.: abbreviation species (NOTE: The plural, for several species, is spp.). Understanding species classifications helps farmers manage biodiversity and select appropriate crops and livestock for their specific conditions.

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Native

native: adjective always having lived, grown, or existed in a place. Tigers are native to Asia. Native plants and animals are adapted to the local environment, often requiring less maintenance and being more resilient to local pests and diseases. Farmers can benefit from incorporating native species into their farming systems, enhancing biodiversity, reducing input costs, and promoting sustainable agriculture. Native species can also support ecosystem services like pollination, pest control, and soil health, contributing to the overall productivity and resilience of the farm.

F

Farm Support Scheme

Farm Support Scheme: Article 39 of the Treaty of Rome providing the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy. Each member state contributes to the European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund. Payments are made for structural changes under the guidance fund and much larger payments under the guarantee section. This scheme helps farmers manage financial risks and support agricultural development.

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South Devon

South Devon: the heaviest breed of British cattle, with a light brownish-red colour. It was originally a dual-purpose breed, but now is mainly raised for beef. Raising South Devon cattle provides farmers with a robust breed for beef production, supporting farm profitability.

E

Energy Balance

energy balance: A series of measurements showing the movement of energy between organisms and their environment. In farming, a common use of the energy balance is to assess the ratio between the amount of energy used to grow a crop and the amount of energy that crop produces. Understanding energy balance helps farmers optimize resource use and improve sustainability.

O

Overexploit

overexploit: To cultivate soil too intensely. Avoiding overexploitation is crucial for maintaining soil health and long-term productivity. Farmers can benefit from implementing sustainable farming practices, such as crop rotation and cover cropping, to prevent soil degradation.