Category: B

bovine spongiform encephalopathy: A neurological disease of cattle, also known as mad cow disease. Ensuring strict biosecurity measures prevents the spread of BSE and protects public health.

body condition score (BCS): A visual assessment of an animal’s fat and muscle, rated on a scale. Monitoring BCS helps farmers ensure their livestock are healthy and receiving proper nutrition.

bumblebee: A large, fuzzy bee. Encouraging bumblebee populations supports pollination and enhances crop yields.

bird of prey: A bird that hunts other animals for food. Encouraging birds of prey on farms helps control rodent and pest populations naturally.

booster pump: A pump used to increase water pressure in irrigation systems. Installing booster pumps improves irrigation efficiency and crop water management.

beef cattle: Cattle raised specifically for meat production. Knowledge about beef cattle helps farmers optimize breeding, feeding, and management practices to produce high-quality meat.

brat: A young pig. Managing young pigs, or brats, ensures healthy growth and development into productive livestock.

barren: Unable to support plant or animal life. Managing soil fertility and choosing appropriate crops can help farmers avoid barren land.

bin: A large container for storage, such as a grain or wool bin. Efficient use of bins ensures safe and organized storage of farm products.

blacktop: A term for asphalt, often used for farm roads and pathways. Proper maintenance of blacktop surfaces ensures safe and efficient farm transportation.

bioethanol: A fuel made by fermenting biological material to produce alcohol. Producing bioethanol from crops provides renewable energy and adds value to farm products.

beet flea beetle: A pest of sugar beet. Farmers should monitor and manage beet flea beetle populations to protect crop yields.

bush hog: A type of rotary mower used for clearing brush and small trees. Using bush hogs supports efficient land clearing and pasture management.

board: Part of a plow that turns over the soil. Proper maintenance of plow boards ensures efficient soil tillage and field preparation.

bunt: A fungal disease affecting wheat. Managing bunt through seed treatments and crop rotation protects wheat yields.

belladonna: Another name for deadly nightshade, a toxic plant. Farmers should recognize and manage belladonna to prevent livestock poisoning.

breech: The rear part of an animal, especially in sheep. Managing breech areas in livestock helps prevent infections and maintain animal health.

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.

bone meal: A fertilizer made from ground animal bones, rich in phosphorus and calcium. Using bone meal improves soil fertility and provides essential nutrients for crops.

bigg: Four-rowed barley. Growing specific barley types like bigg can meet market demands for animal feed and brewing.

bacillus: A type of bacteria that is rod-shaped. Knowing about bacillus bacteria helps farmers identify and manage bacterial infections that can affect both livestock and crops.

buttermilk: The liquid left after churning butter. Using buttermilk in baking and cooking adds value to dairy production and reduces waste.

bed: A specially planted area of land, such as an asparagus bed or flower bed. Proper bed management ensures optimal growth conditions for various crops.

best linear unbiased prediction: A statistical method for predicting genetic merit. Using BLUP helps farmers make informed breeding decisions to improve livestock performance.

Bison bonasus: The scientific name for the European bison. Raising bison can diversify farm operations and contribute to species conservation.

bunting: A term for young birds, also a type of decorative fabric. Managing young birds, or bunting, ensures healthy growth and development into productive livestock.

butchery: The place where meat is prepared and sold. Proper management of butcheries supports food safety and product quality.

birthweight: The weight of an animal at birth. Monitoring birthweight helps farmers assess the health and growth potential of newborn livestock.

boning: The process of removing bones from meat. Efficient boning techniques improve meat quality and marketability.

bioindicator: Another term for biodiversity indicator. Bioindicators help farmers assess the health of their environment and make informed management decisions.

bilharzia: A flatworm causing schistosomiasis, an infection contracted from contaminated water. Farmers need to ensure clean water sources to prevent bilharzia in livestock and workers.

boron: A trace element essential for plant growth. Managing boron levels in soil ensures optimal crop nutrition and health.

boxing: The process of packing products into boxes for storage or transport. Proper boxing techniques ensure product safety and quality during handling.

BCPC: An organization promoting sustainable crop production practices. Farmers can adopt BCPC guidelines to improve crop yields and environmental stewardship.

Belgian hare: A breed of rabbit. Belgian hares are valued for their meat and fur, providing additional income streams for farmers.

blackfly: A small black fly that infests plants. Controlling blackfly populations protects crop health and yields.

batch drying: A process for drying bales of hay in batches. Efficient batch drying techniques ensure high-quality forage for livestock feed.

binomial classification: The scientific system of naming organisms devised by Linnaeus. Understanding binomial classification helps farmers accurately identify and manage crops and livestock.

back end: Refers to late autumn. Farmers need to plan their harvesting and livestock management around the back end to prepare for winter conditions.

breaker: A machine that breaks up soil or other materials. Using breakers supports efficient soil preparation and management.

boric acid: A compound used as a pesticide and antiseptic. Using boric acid responsibly supports pest control and farm hygiene.

back band: A band of rope or chain used to keep the shafts of a cart up. Ensuring the back band is in good condition is important for safely transporting goods around the farm.

broccoli: A green vegetable in the cabbage family. Growing broccoli provides nutritious food and valuable crops for fresh markets and processing.

big bale: A large bale weighing from 600 to 900 kilos. Using big bales improves feed storage and handling efficiency on the farm.

beef shorthorn: A breed of compact, short-legged beef cattle. Raising beef shorthorns provides high-quality meat and efficient feed conversion.

black thrips: A small black insect pest of cotton and other crops. Implementing integrated pest management controls black thrips and protects crop yields.

BB: Abbreviation for big bale. Understanding big bale systems improves feed storage and handling efficiency on the farm.

bud burst: The moment when buds open in the spring. Monitoring bud burst helps farmers plan for pollination and pest management activities.

botanical: Relating to plants or plant life. Understanding botanical terms helps farmers manage plant health and diversity.

blue tick: A breed of coonhound known for its blue-ticked coat. Raising blue tick hounds provides effective hunting and tracking dogs.