Category: C

Calyx: The part of a flower made up of green sepals that cover the flower when it is in bud. Understanding plant anatomy, including the calyx, aids in breeding and cultivating healthy crops.

Calcium Uptake: The process of calcium being absorbed into an animal’s bloodstream from food. Ensuring adequate calcium uptake is vital for livestock health, supporting bone development and overall well-being.

Cottonwood: Cottonwood /k?t?nw?d/ noun a kind of poplar tree. Genus: Populis. Understanding cottonwood management aids in timber production and forest management.

Cattle Tracing System (CTS): A computerized system registering cattle and their movements from birth to death. Using CTS helps farmers manage herd records, ensure traceability, and comply with regulations.

compost: Decayed organic material used as a fertilizer. Composting helps recycle nutrients, improve soil health, and reduce waste.

Compulsory Dipping Period: Compulsory dipping period noun a period of time, usually some weeks, during which all sheep in the country must be dipped. Managing compulsory dipping periods helps control parasites and protect sheep health.

Challenge Feeding: The process of feeding dairy cows with concentrates to provide extra nourishment. Using challenge feeding helps farmers maximize milk production and maintain cow health during peak lactation periods.

Contact Insecticide: Contact insecticide noun a substance such as DDT that kills insects which touch it (NOTE: DDT is now banned in many countries because of its toxicity and ability to accumulate in the environment). Using contact insecticides helps control pests and protect crops.

CRP: CRP abbreviation Conservation Reserve Program. Engaging with the Conservation Reserve Program supports environmental conservation and sustainable land use practices.

Conservation Tillage: Conservation tillage noun a farming method which aims to plough the soil as little as possible, to prevent erosion, save energy, and improve biodiversity. Implementing conservation tillage practices promotes soil health and sustainable agriculture.

Crop Year: Crop year noun a period of twelve months calculated as the time from the sowing and harvesting of one crop until the next sowing season. Understanding crop years aids in managing agricultural cycles and production schedules.

Creep Grazing: Creep grazing noun a type of rotational grazing using creep gates, which allow the lambs access to the pasture before the ewes. Implementing creep grazing practices ensures proper pasture management and livestock nutrition.

Congenital: Congenital adjective existing at or before birth. Understanding congenital conditions aids in managing animal health and breeding programs.

Comminute: Comminute /k?minju:t/ verb to grind meat into very small pieces. Processing meat through comminution improves texture and usability in various products.

Corral: Corral /k? r?l/ noun a pen for horses or cattle verb to put horses or cattle in pens. Utilizing corrals ensures proper housing and management of livestock.

Cordon: Cordon noun a trained fruit tree, whose growth is restricted to the main stem by pruning. Compare espalier. Utilizing cordon training techniques enhances fruit tree productivity and management.

Conservation of Soil: Conservation of soil noun same as soil conservation. Implementing soil conservation practices helps maintain soil health and prevent erosion.

Cannibalism: The practice of an animal feeding on its own species, often seen in poultry due to crowded conditions. Preventing cannibalism involves providing adequate space and proper nutrition to reduce stress and aggressive behaviors in livestock.

Canterbury Hoe: A hoe that does not have a blade but is like a three-pronged fork. Using a Canterbury hoe aids in weeding and soil cultivation, improving crop health and yield.

Coccidiosis: Coccidiosis /k?ksidi ??sis/ noun a parasitic disease of livestock and poultry affecting the intestines. Managing coccidiosis involves implementing biosecurity measures and appropriate treatments to protect animal health.

Cooperative: Cooperative noun a group of farmers who work together to sell their produce either for the wholesale market or in retail outlets such as farmers’ markets. Engaging in cooperatives supports collective marketing and enhances farm income.

Chillshelter: A feeding area surrounded by a high embankment to protect cattle against the cold. Using chillshelters ensures cattle receive adequate nutrition and protection from harsh weather, maintaining their health and productivity.

Compulsory Dipping Period: Compulsory dipping period noun a period of time, usually some weeks, during which all sheep in the country must be dipped. Managing compulsory dipping periods helps control parasites and protect sheep health.

Crumb: Crumb noun 1. the soft inside part of baked bread, surrounded by the harder crust 2. arrangement of soil particles in a group. ped. Understanding soil crumbs aids in managing soil health and structure.

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.

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.

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.

Carbamate: A pesticide used as an insecticide, herbicide, and fungicide, no longer approved for use in the UK. Understanding the history and regulation of carbamates helps farmers adopt safer pest management practices.

Crop Protection Association: Crop Protection Association noun an association which promotes best practice in food safety with regard to the use of pesticides on crops. Abbr CPA. Engaging with the Crop Protection Association supports best practices in crop management and pest control.

Cheese: Food made from cow’s milk curds. Understanding cheese production helps farmers and processors produce high-quality dairy products for the market.

Country Planning: Country planning noun the activity of organizing how land is to be used in the countryside and the amount and type of building there will be. Also called rural planning. Implementing country planning practices supports sustainable land use and rural development.

Cotton: Cotton noun a white downy fibrous substance surrounding the seeds of the cotton plant, a subtropical plant (Gossypium sp.). COMMENT: Cotton is widely grown in tropical and sub-tropical areas, including China, India, Pakistan, Paraguay, and the southern states of the USA; it is the main crop of Egypt. It is sold packed in standard bales. Understanding cotton production aids in managing crops and optimizing yields.

Cider Press: A device for crushing apples to extract juice for cider making. Using cider presses helps farmers manage apple processing efficiently and produce high-quality cider.

Caesium: A metallic alkali element that is one of the main radioactive pollutants taken up by fish. Monitoring caesium levels in water and soil helps farmers prevent contamination and protect food safety.

CPACPA: Abbreviation Crop Protection Association. Engaging with the Crop Protection Association supports best practices in crop management and pest control.

Chalk: A fine white limestone rock formed of calcium carbonate. Managing chalky soils involves using appropriate amendments to improve fertility and support healthy crop growth.

Colloidal: Colloidal /k? l?id(?)l/ adjective referring to a colloid. Utilizing colloidal formulations in agriculture enhances the effectiveness of agrochemicals.

Countryside Commission for Scotland: Countryside Commission for Scotland noun an organization in Scotland concerned with the protection of the countryside and with setting up country parks for public recreation. It is part of Scottish Natural Heritage. Engaging with the Countryside Commission for Scotland supports rural conservation and sustainable land use practices.

Captan: A fungicide used to combat apple and pear scab and in seed dressings for peas and other vegetables. Using captan helps farmers protect crops from fungal diseases and improve yield quality.

Clean Crop: A measure of the amount of cereal not mixed with seeds of other plants. Managing clean crops involves using appropriate weed control measures to ensure high-quality produce.

Caraway: The seeds of a herb used as a flavoring in bread and cakes. Growing caraway provides a specialty crop for culinary use, enhancing farm product diversity.

Central Scotland Forest Trust (CSFT): An alliance aiming to create larger woodland areas across Central Scotland. Collaborating with CSFT supports sustainable forestry practices and promotes biodiversity on farms.

Crop: Crop noun 1. a plant grown for food 2. a yield of produce from plants The tree has produced a heavy crop of apples. The first crop was a failure. The rice crop has failed. 3. the bag-shaped part of a bird’s throat where food is stored before digestion verb (of plants) to produce fruit a new strain of rice which crops heavily. Managing crops ensures optimal yields and sustainable agriculture.

Crossbreeding: Crossbreeding /kr?sbri:di?/ noun mating or artificial insemination of animals of different breeds in order to combine the best characteristics of the two breeds. Engaging in crossbreeding practices supports genetic diversity and livestock improvement.

Capon: A castrated edible cockerel, often treated with a sex-inhibiting hormone to increase weight gain. Raising capons provides high-quality meat and can be a profitable addition to poultry operations.

Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT): An association that advises on sustainable and environmentally sound methods in technological development. Engaging with CAT helps farmers adopt innovative and sustainable practices to improve farm operations.

Creosote: Creosote /kri?s??t/ noun a yellowish brown oily substance with a characteristic smell, derived from wood tar and formerly used as a wood preservative (NOTE: It is now banned in the European Union). Utilizing creosote provides effective wood preservation, though safer alternatives are now preferred.

Corn: Corn noun 1. wheat or barley (informal) 2. US maize. Understanding corn production aids in managing cereal crops and optimizing yields.

Ca (Calcium): A metallic chemical element naturally present in limestone and chalk, essential for biological processes. In farming, calcium is vital for soil structure and plant health, promoting strong cell walls and aiding in nutrient absorption. Farmers use calcium amendments to correct soil pH and prevent nutrient deficiencies.

Cryophilous: Cryophilous /kra? ?f?l?s/ adjective referring to a plant that needs a period of cold weather to grow properly COMMENT: Cryophilous crops need a period of cold weather in order to produce flowers later in the growing period. If such crops do not undergo this cold period, their growth remains vegetative, or they only form abortive flowers with no seeds. Wheat, barley, oats, peas, sugar beet, and potatoes are all cryophilous. Understanding cryophilous plants aids in managing crop production and optimizing yields.