April 3, 2025
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Grain Drier

grain drier: A grain drier is a machine that dries moist grain before storage. Using grain driers prevents spoilage and ensures the grain’s quality, improving marketability and storage efficiency.

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Stag

stag: a male deer; the male of various animals castrated after maturity; a male turkey. Managing stag populations on farms supports biodiversity and ecological balance, promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Contagious Mastitis

A type of mastitis transmitted between cows, often during milking. Contagious mastitis is managed through milking hygiene and treatment protocols. For instance, using proper milking techniques and equipment disinfection to prevent the spread of contagious mastitis.

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Normandy

Normandy: a breed of cattle from north-west France that have a white coat with red-brown patches. The animals are reared for meat and for milk, from which Camembert cheese is made. The Normandy breed is valued for its dual-purpose capabilities, providing both high-quality milk and meat. Farmers can benefit from raising Normandy cattle to diversify their livestock operations and produce premium products like Camembert cheese. Understanding the breed’s characteristics and management needs helps optimize production, improve animal welfare, and enhance farm profitability.

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Outstation

outstation: In New Zealand and Australia, a sheep station separate from the main station. Managing outstations effectively can enhance livestock production and resource use. Farmers can benefit from optimizing outstation management to improve animal welfare and productivity.

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Radicle

radicle: The tiny structure in a plant embryo from which the root will develop. Understanding radicle growth is essential for farmers to ensure proper seed germination and healthy crop development.

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Coffee

Coffee: Coffee noun 1. a bush or small tree widely grown in the tropics for its seeds, which are used to make a drink. Latin name: Coffea arabica. 2. The drink prepared from the seeds of coffee bushes. COMMENT: The two main varieties of coffee are Arabica and Robusta. The Arabica shrub, (Coffea arabica) was originally grown in the southern parts of the highlands of Ethiopia, and was later introduced into south-western Arabia. The Arabica plant only grows well on altitudes of 1,000m and above. It represents 75% of the world’s total coffee production. Arabica coffee beans are generally considered to produce a higher quality drink than those obtained from the Robusta coffee plant (Coffea canephora) which originated in West Africa. Robusta coffee has a stronger and more bitter taste than Arabica. The most important area for growing coffee is South America, especially Bolivia, Brazil, and Colombia, though it is also grown in Kenya and Indonesia. Cultivating coffee plants requires specific climatic conditions and understanding market demands.

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Slurry Injector

slurry injector: a tractor-hauled machine which injects slurry into the soil. Using slurry injectors enhances soil nutrient levels and promotes healthy crop growth, reducing the need for artificial fertilisers.

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Tile Draining

tile draining: A means of draining land using underground drains made of clay, plastic, or concrete. Special machines called ‘tile-laying machines’ are available for this work. Proper tile draining can improve soil health and crop yields by preventing waterlogging.

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Squirrel

squirrel: a medium-sized rodent living in trees. (NOTE: Squirrels are harmless as far as crops are concerned. There are two types of squirrel in the UK: the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris).) Managing squirrel populations supports biodiversity and ecological balance on farms.

Plant Physiology

The study of the physical and chemical processes that occur within plants, including photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration. Plant physiology helps understand how plants grow and respond to their environment. For example, studying how different light conditions affect plant growth and development.

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Ground Water

ground water: Ground water is water that stays in the top layers of soil or in porous rocks and can collect pollution. Managing ground water resources supports sustainable water use and protects crop health.

Animal Welfare

The ethical treatment and well-being of animals raised for food, fiber, or labor. This includes providing adequate living conditions, humane handling, and minimizing stress. For example, ensuring that chickens have enough space to move freely.

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Stallion

stallion: an uncastrated full-grown male horse, especially one kept for breeding. Managing stallions effectively supports healthy breeding programs and improves livestock genetics.

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Overexploitation

overexploitation: The uncontrolled use of natural resources until there is very little left. Overexploitation can lead to resource depletion and environmental damage. Farmers can benefit from adopting sustainable resource management practices to ensure long-term productivity and ecological balance.

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Agrarian

agrarian: Referring to matters of land tenure and problems arising from land ownership. Understanding agrarian issues helps farmers navigate land management and legal challenges.

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Staple

staple: the length and fineness of fibres such as wool or cotton, used in determining quality. Properly managing staple quality ensures high-value wool and cotton production, supporting farm income and market value.

Abomasum

The fourth and final compartment of the cattle stomach, where true digestion occurs with the help of stomach acids and enzymes. The abomasum is similar to the human stomach. For instance, monitoring abomasum health to prevent conditions like displaced abomasum.

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Coppicing

Coppicing: Coppicing noun the practice of regularly cutting down trees near to the ground to produce strong straight shoots for fuel or other uses Coppicing, a traditional method of woodland management, is now of interest for producing biofuel. COMMENT: The best trees for coppicing are those which naturally send up several tall straight stems from a bole, such as willow, alder, or poplar. In coppice management, the normal cycle is about five to ten years of growth, after which the stems are cut back. Implementing coppicing practices provides sustainable wood production and enhances forest management.

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Food And Agriculture Organization

Food and Agriculture Organization: An international organization that is an agency of the United Nations, established to improve standards of nutrition and eradicate malnutrition and hunger. Abbr FAO. This organization provides resources and guidance to farmers worldwide, promoting sustainable agriculture and food security.

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Horn

horn: A hard growth which is formed on the tops of the heads of animals such as cattle, deer, goats, and sheep. Managing horn health in livestock ensures their well-being and productivity.

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Carrot

Carrot: A vegetable root crop (Daucus carota) grown for human consumption. Growing carrots provides nutritious food and valuable produce for fresh markets and processing, contributing to farm income.

Subclinical Mastitis

A form of mastitis without visible symptoms but detectable through milk testing, typically by elevated somatic cell counts. Subclinical mastitis affects milk quality and yield. For example, monitoring somatic cell counts to detect and manage subclinical mastitis in dairy herds.

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Smudging

smudging: the process of burning oil to produce smoke to prevent loss of heat from the ground and so to minimise or prevent frost damage to crops and orchards. Using smudging techniques protects crops from frost damage, ensuring better yields and quality.