Category: C

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.

Compound Fertilizer: Compound fertilizer noun a fertilizer that supplies two or more nutrients. Also called mixed fertilizer. Compare straight fertilizer. Using compound fertilizers ensures balanced nutrient supply for crops.

Clean Cattle: Cattle that have not been used for breeding. Managing clean cattle involves providing proper nutrition and healthcare to ensure their productivity and welfare.

Colony: Colony noun a group of animals, plants, or microorganisms living together in a place a colony of ants. Understanding colony dynamics helps in managing populations and ecosystems.

Chick: A young, newly hatched bird, up to the time it is weaned from the hen or brooder. Managing chick health and nutrition is crucial for developing strong, productive adult poultry.

Control: Control noun 1. the process of restraining something or keeping something in order to bring or keep something under control to make sure that something is well regulated The authorities brought the epidemic under control. out of control unregulated The epidemic appears to be out of control. 2. (in experiments) a sample used as a comparison with the one being tested verb 1. to direct or manage something 2. to keep something in order The veterinary service is trying to control the epidemic. They were unable to control the spread of the pest. Managing control measures ensures effective farm operations and product quality.

Combine Harvester: Combine harvester noun a large machine that cuts a crop, threshes it and sorts the grain or seed from the straw or chaff. Combine harvesters are used to harvest a vast range of crops such as cereals, grass, peas, and oilseed rape. COMMENT: The combine harvester cuts the crop, passes it to the threshing mechanism, then sorts the grain or seed from the straw or chaff. The straw is left in a swath behind the combine, and the chaff is blown out of the back. The grain is lifted to a hopper from which it is unloaded into trailers. Most combine harvesters are self-propelled, with a cab for the driver, power steering, and monitoring systems for the key components. Special attachments used with combines include straw spreaders, pick-up attachments for grass and clover crops, and maize pickers. Utilizing combine harvesters enhances crop harvesting efficiency and reduces labor requirements.

Celeriac: A variety of celery with a thick edible root used in soups and salads. Growing celeriac provides a nutritious and versatile crop for fresh markets, enhancing farm income.

Cattle Plague: A disease of cattle eradicated from the UK in 1877 but still found in parts of Asia and Africa. Understanding the history and prevention of cattle plague helps farmers protect their herds from similar diseases.

Caesar: To perform a surgical intervention to enable an animal to give birth, often necessary with Belgian Blue cattle. Mastering caesarean techniques ensures safe deliveries in livestock, reducing mortality rates and improving herd productivity.

Common: Common adjective belonging to several different people or to everyone common land noun an area of land to which the public has access for walking COMMENT: About 80% of common land is privately owned and, subject to the interests of any commoners, owners enjoy essentially the same rights as the owners of other land. Commoners have different types of ‘rights of common’, e.g. to graze animals, or to extract sand, gravel, or peat. Managing common land involves balancing public access with sustainable land use practices.

Chats: Small potatoes separated from larger potatoes during grading. Managing potato by-products like chats involves using them for feed or processing to reduce waste and maximize farm resources.

Centrifuge: A device using centrifugal force to separate or remove liquids. Using centrifuges helps farmers and processors manage dairy and food operations efficiently, improving product quality and yield.

Copra: Copra /k?pr?/ noun the dried pulp of a coconut, from which oil is extracted by pressing. Understanding copra production aids in managing coconut crops and oil extraction.

Chlorophyll: A green pigment in plants and some algae that absorbs light energy for photosynthesis. Understanding chlorophyll function aids farmers in managing crop health and optimizing photosynthesis for improved yields.

Charlock: A widespread weed (Sinapis arvensis) mainly affecting spring cereals. Managing charlock involves using appropriate herbicides and cultural practices to protect crops and maintain healthy fields.

Clevis: A U-shaped iron attachment used to couple an implement to a tractor towbar. Using clevis attachments helps farmers manage equipment connections and ensure safe field operations.

Cox’s Orange Pippin: Cox’s orange pippin /k?ksiz ?rind p?pin/ noun a popular variety of dessert apple. The most important commercially grown apple in the UK. Cultivating Cox’s Orange Pippin apples provides high-quality fruit for markets.

Colic: Colic noun pain in any part of the intestinal tract, especially a symptom of abdominal pain in horses. Managing colic in horses involves proper diet, healthcare, and monitoring.

Cabbage White Butterfly: A common white butterfly (Pieris brassicae) that lays eggs on the leaves of cabbage plants. The caterpillars cause much damage to the plants. Controlling this pest includes using row covers, natural predators, and handpicking caterpillars to minimize crop damage.

Clearance: The action of clearing land for cultivation. Managing land clearance involves using sustainable practices to protect soil health and support crop growth.

Cartilage: Thick connective tissue lining joints and acting as a cushion, also forming part of organ structures. Understanding cartilage health is essential for managing joint issues in livestock, ensuring their mobility and productivity.

Craft Food: Craft food noun food produced according to traditional techniques or recipes. Producing craft food supports sustainable and traditional culinary practices.

Contaminant: Contaminant /k?n tmin?nt/ noun a substance which causes contamination. Managing contaminants involves preventing pollution and ensuring product safety.

Cayuga: A breed of duck producing dark green eggs with shiny green-black plumage. Raising Cayuga ducks offers unique produce for niche markets, contributing to farm income.

CPRE: CPRE noun a UK charity that campaigns for rural areas to be protected. Full form Campaign to Protect Rural England. Engaging with CPRE supports rural conservation and sustainable land use practices.