Category: A

acceptable daily intake: The quantity of a substance such as a nutrient, vitamin, additive or pollutant which a person or animal can safely consume daily over their lifetime. Understanding acceptable daily intake levels helps farmers ensure the safety of their produce for consumers.

ACP states: Lomé Convention. Knowledge of trade agreements such as the Lomé Convention helps farmers understand international market opportunities for their products.

amoeba: A single-celled organism found in water, wet soil, or as a parasite of other organisms. The plural is amoebae. Managing amoeba infections helps farmers protect livestock health.

almond: A small tree (Prunus dulcis) grown for its edible nuts, or an edible nut produced by this tree. Growing almonds provides farmers with valuable crops for culinary and commercial purposes.

ACP: Advisory Committee on Pesticides. Recommendations from ACP assist farmers in the safe and effective use of pesticides, protecting crops while minimizing environmental impact.

Agriculture and Rural Affairs Department: The department of the devolved Welsh Assembly government which deals with farming, the environment, animal welfare, and rural development in Wales. Abbr ARAD. Farmers in Wales benefit from the resources and support provided by ARAD to improve their practices and sustainability.

alkaline: Containing more alkali than acid and having a pH value of more than 7. Managing soil alkalinity is crucial for farmers to ensure favorable growing conditions for crops.

alpine plants: Plants which grow on high mountains. Alpine vegetation grows above the treeline. Understanding alpine plants helps farmers manage biodiversity and grazing resources in high-altitude areas.

Agricultural Development Programme: A plan to improve the agricultural productivity of a community through training and modernization of equipment. Abbr ADP. Participating in development programs helps farmers adopt new technologies and practices to enhance their productivity.

Artificial Insemination:

Alfalfa:

Agronomy:

activate: To start a process or to make something start working. Pressing this switch activates the pump. Understanding activation processes is important for farmers to operate machinery and equipment efficiently.

anaemia: A condition where the level of red blood cells is less than normal or where the hemoglobin is reduced, making it more difficult for the blood to carry oxygen. The US spelling is anemia. Managing anemia in livestock is crucial for maintaining health and productivity.

acid grassland: A type of vegetation that typically grows on soils that drain freely and are low in mineral nutrients, and may also occur on post-industrial sites. Farmers managing acid grassland need to understand its unique properties to maintain soil health and biodiversity.

accommodation land: Land available for short-term tenancy. This provides farmers with flexible land use options to meet their changing agricultural needs.

analyse: To examine something in detail. We analyzed the milk yields from different breeds of cow. Understanding analysis helps farmers make informed decisions about crop and livestock management.

African swine fever: A virus disease which is highly contagious among pigs. Animals suffer fever and high temperature followed by death. In Europe, it occurs in parts of Spain. Managing and preventing African swine fever is crucial for pig farmers to protect their herds.

acetone: A colorless liquid with a sweetish smell that is flammable, used as a solvent and in the manufacture of organic chemicals. Formula: CH3COCH3. Knowing how to handle and store acetone safely is important for farmers who use it in various agricultural processes.

albino: An organism that is unusually white, having little or no pigmentation in its skin, hair, or eyes because it is deficient in the coloring pigment melanin. Managing albino animals helps farmers ensure their health and well-being.

agist: To take another person’s livestock to feed on your land. Agistment provides additional income for farmers and helps manage grazing resources.

anabolic steroids: Hormones which encourage growth and muscle building. Understanding anabolic steroids helps farmers manage livestock growth and health.

achene: A dry single-seeded fruit that does not split open. Understanding the characteristics of achenes helps farmers in seed harvesting and storage practices.

annual: A plant whose life cycle of germination, flowering, and fruiting takes place within a year. Farmers need to know about annuals to plan crop rotations and optimize land use.

admixture: The proportion of a seed crop which is made up of weed seeds or other crop species. Managing admixture levels is crucial for farmers to maintain the purity and quality of their crops.

Agri-tourism:

acarid: A small animal which feeds on plants or other animals by piercing the outer skin and sucking juices, e.g., a mite or tick. Farmers need to manage acarids to prevent damage to crops and livestock.

albumin: A common protein, soluble in water and found in plant and animal tissue and digested in the intestine. Knowledge of albumin helps farmers understand animal nutrition and health.

activated sludge: Solid sewage containing active microorganisms and air, mixed with untreated sewage to speed up the purification process. Using activated sludge can help farmers manage waste and improve soil fertility.

Agriculture Acts: Acts of Parliament, introduced to update legislation affecting agricultural policy. Keeping up with Agriculture Acts helps farmers stay informed about legal changes and requirements.

acer: A maple or sycamore tree. Farmers may grow Acer species for timber, syrup, or ornamental purposes, adding diversity to their farming operations.

angelica: A plant with dark green stems, which are crystallized with sugar and used in confectionery. Growing angelica provides farmers with valuable crops for culinary and medicinal purposes.

alluvium: The silt deposited by a river or a lake. Managing alluvium deposits helps farmers maintain soil health and productivity in flood-prone areas.

aerobic: Needing oxygen for its existence or for a biochemical reaction to occur. Compare anaerobic. Farmers need to understand aerobic processes for effective composting and soil management.

allergy: A sensitivity to substances such as pollen or dust, which cause a physical reaction. Managing allergies helps farmers protect the health of their livestock and farm workers.

ACAS: Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. ACAS provides guidance that can help farmers resolve employment disputes and ensure fair labor practices.

acidosis: An unusually high proportion of acid waste products such as urea in the blood, sometimes caused by a metabolic dysfunction. Managing acidosis in livestock is essential for maintaining herd health and productivity.

angora: A breed of rabbit, bred mainly for its fur. A breed of goat, important as a source of mohair. The original color was white, but there are now grey, pale brown, and other shades. The wool is extremely fine. Raising Angora animals provides farmers with valuable fiber for textiles.

AMS: Aggregate measure of support. Understanding AMS helps farmers assess government support for their industry and plan their operations.

aftermath: Grass which grows quickly after cutting for hay, and which will provide a second cut. Managing aftermath helps farmers maximize forage production for their livestock.

ADI: Acceptable daily intake. Understanding ADI helps farmers ensure their produce meets safety standards for consumer health.

agricultural waste: Waste matter produced on a farm, e.g., plastic containers for pesticides. Managing agricultural waste is important for farmers to reduce environmental impact and comply with regulations.

advanced register: A book which records breeding performance of outstanding livestock. Keeping an advanced register helps farmers track and improve their breeding programs.

ADRA: Animal Diseases Research Association. The research provided by ADRA helps farmers understand and manage animal diseases effectively.

agricultural depopulation: The fact of people leaving farms to live and work elsewhere. Managing agricultural depopulation is important for maintaining rural communities and farm productivity.

amoebic: Referring to an amoeba or amoebae. Understanding amoebic conditions helps farmers manage livestock health and prevent infections.

agricultural economist: A person who studies the economics of the agricultural industry. Insights from agricultural economists can guide farmers in making profitable and sustainable business decisions.

amniotic fluid: The fluid that surrounds and protects a fetus. Understanding amniotic fluid helps farmers manage livestock reproduction and health.

air layering: A method of propagation where a stem is partially cut, then surrounded with damp moss, which is tied securely to the stem. Roots will grow from the cut at the point where it is in contact with the moss. Using air layering helps farmers propagate plants efficiently.

Angus: Same as Aberdeen Angus. Raising Angus cattle provides farmers with high-quality meat production and ease of management.