Rooting Depth
rooting depth: The depth of soil from which plant roots take up water, or the depth of soil to which roots reach. Understanding rooting depth helps farmers manage irrigation and optimize crop growth.
Agricultural Terms and Helpful Expert Insight
rooting depth: The depth of soil from which plant roots take up water, or the depth of soil to which roots reach. Understanding rooting depth helps farmers manage irrigation and optimize crop growth.
definite inflorescence: A type of inflorescence in which the main stem ends in a flower and stops growing when the flower is produced. Compare indefinite inflorescence. Understanding plant growth patterns, such as definite inflorescence, can help farmers manage crops more effectively. Knowledge of inflorescence types can aid in pruning, training, and optimizing flowering and fruiting in crops. Proper management of flowering can lead to higher yields and better quality produce.
Toggenburg: A small Swiss breed of goat, pale brown in color with white markings on the face, legs, and rump. In Britain, it has been developed into a larger, darker animal, which is a good milker with a long lactation period. Raising Toggenburg goats can provide high-quality milk and diversify farm products.
mangel fly: a fly whose yellow-white legless larvae cause blistering of the leaves of mangels and sugar beet. This holds back plant growth and in severe cases can kill the plant. Also called mangold fly. Controlling mangel fly infestations is important to protect crops and ensure healthy growth, leading to better yields and farm sustainability.
White Wyandotte: A dual-purpose breed of poultry. Raising White Wyandottes can provide high-quality eggs and meat, enhancing farm profitability.
Couch Grass: Couch grass /ku:t? r?s/ noun a kind of grass (Agropyron repens) with long creeping rhizomes, which is difficult to eradicate from cultivated crops. Also called scutch, twitch. Managing couch grass involves using integrated weed management strategies.
A business or individual responsible for transporting and distributing dairy products from processing facilities to retailers and consumers. For example, working as a dairy distributor to ensure timely delivery of milk and cheese to grocery stores.
The methods and facilities used to store milk before and after processing, including bulk tanks, refrigeration units, and warehouses. Proper milk storage is essential for maintaining quality and safety. For example, storing milk in refrigerated tanks to keep it fresh and prevent spoilage.
foot-and-mouth disease (FMD): A highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals. Understanding and preventing FMD is critical for protecting livestock health and preventing economic losses.
half-standard: A type of fruit tree with a trunk shorter than that of a full standard, about 1.2m from the ground to the first branches. Planting half-standard fruit trees can make harvesting easier and more efficient for farmers.
Joint Regulatory Authority: Joint Regulatory Authority – the body which processes applications to grow and sell genetically modified crops. Abbr JRA. Helps farmers understand and comply with regulations regarding GM crops.
The practices and strategies used to manage the financial aspects of farm operations, including budgeting, accounting, and investment. For example, implementing financial management practices to ensure farm profitability and sustainability.
magnetic resonance imaging: a technique that uses electromagnetic radiation to obtain images of invisible parts of a structure or the bodys soft tissues. Abbr MRI. MRI can be useful in veterinary diagnostics, allowing for detailed examination of livestock health issues, leading to accurate diagnoses and effective treatments.
pea: An important grain legume. Peas are grown for pulses and for their immature seeds which are eaten fresh as a green vegetable and are also often frozen. The young pods are also occasionally eaten as mangetouts. Peas are also grown for forage and may be used for hay and silage. They are often grown following a cereal crop in rotation, and enrich the soil with nitrogen. Most peas are harvested, transported, and processed on the same day, and the majority are taken for freezing and canning. Vining peas are Britains most important contract vegetable crop. Growing peas improves soil fertility and provides a valuable food source.
espalier: A method of training a fruit tree, in which its branches are made to grow flat against a wall or other support. Compare cordon. A tree, especially apple or pear, trained in this way. From a vertical trunk pairs of branches are usually trained horizontally about 50cm apart. Training fruit trees as espalier can help farmers save space and increase fruit production.
orfor: A virus disease affecting sheep, cattle, and goats, and easily passed on to humans. The disease causes scabs and ulcers which affect the mouth, nose, and eyes. Managing orfor is crucial for animal and human health. Farmers can benefit from implementing biosecurity measures, regular health monitoring, and prompt treatment to prevent and control outbreaks.
waste management: The process of handling waste materials to minimize environmental impact. Effective waste management practices improve farm sustainability and hygiene.
dunging passage: A passage at the back of a cow shed, into which dung can be washed with water. Dunging passages help maintain cleanliness and hygiene in livestock housing, preventing the buildup of waste.
belladonna: Another name for deadly nightshade, a toxic plant. Farmers should recognize and manage belladonna to prevent livestock poisoning.
bridge method: A technique used in grafting where a scion is inserted into a stock. Using the bridge method supports successful plant grafting and propagation.
Cattle Identification Document (CID): A document identifying an animal and showing its movements from owner to owner. Using CIDs helps farmers track livestock, manage herd health, and comply with regulations.
dessert fruit: Fruit which are sweet and can be eaten raw, as opposed to being cooked. Dessert fruits are valuable for fresh consumption and can provide a profitable income stream for farmers. Proper cultivation, harvesting, and post-harvest handling techniques are essential for maintaining the quality of dessert fruits. Understanding market demands and consumer preferences can help farmers optimize their production and marketing strategies for dessert fruits.
spring wheat: wheat which is sown in spring and harvested towards the end of the summer. Growing spring wheat provides farmers with a seasonal crop that supports crop rotation and sustainable agricultural practices.
national list: a list of agricultural crop varieties tested by the NIAB and available for sale. Under EU regulations, all seeds sold to farmers or horticulturists must be tested and certified. The national list ensures that farmers have access to high-quality, certified seeds that meet stringent standards for performance and safety. By choosing seeds from the national list, farmers can reduce the risk of crop failures, enhance yields, and improve the overall quality of their produce. This reliable seed source supports sustainable agricultural practices and boosts farm profitability.