Category: C

Cl: Symbol for chlorine. Managing chlorine use helps farmers maintain water quality and protect crops and livestock from harmful pathogens.

Carrot Fly: A small fly (Psila rosae) with larvae that burrow into carrot roots, causing crop loss. Managing carrot flies involves using row covers, crop rotation, and natural predators to protect crops and maintain yields.

Commensalism: Commensalism /k?mens?liz(?)m/ noun the state of organisms existing together as commensals. Managing commensalism involves understanding ecological interactions and maintaining ecosystem health.

Crushing Mill: Crushing mill noun a machine used to flatten grain before feeding it to livestock. Utilizing crushing mills enhances feed quality for livestock.

Certified Seed: Seed successfully tested for purity, disease, and weed contamination, granted certification for sale. Using certified seed ensures high-quality crop production and reduces the risk of disease and pest issues.

Countryside Management: Countryside management noun the study and practice of environmental conservation in association with rural enterprise, countryside access, and recreational activities. Implementing countryside management practices promotes environmental conservation and sustainable rural development.

Colorado Beetle: Colorado beetle /k?l?r?d?? bi:t(?)l/ noun a beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) with black and yellow stripes which eats and destroys potato plants. Managing Colorado beetles involves using integrated pest management strategies to protect potato crops.

Council for the Protection of Rural England: Council for the Protection of Rural England noun former name for CPRE. Engaging with the Council for the Protection of Rural England supports rural conservation and sustainable land use practices.

Cold Frame: Cold frame noun a box construction, with a glass lid, used for raising or keeping plants out of doors but with a certain amount of protection against frost. Utilizing cold frames extends the growing season and protects young plants from harsh weather.

Climate Change Levy: A tax on the use of energy by sectors like agriculture and industry to promote energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Understanding climate change levy regulations helps farmers adopt sustainable practices and reduce energy costs.

Clearfell: Same as clearcutting. Managing clearfell operations involves using sustainable practices to protect soil health and support crop growth.

Carbohydrate: An organic compound composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, such as sugars, cellulose, and starch. Managing carbohydrate intake in livestock diets ensures they receive adequate energy for growth and productivity.

Cerebrocortical Necrosis (CCN): A disease of sheep caused by thiamine deficiency, leading to symptoms like blindness and fits. Preventing CCN involves providing balanced nutrition and early intervention to maintain herd health.

Coloniser: Coloniser /k?l?naiz?/, colonist /k?l?nist/ noun an organism that moves into and establishes itself in a new ecosystem, e.g. a plant such as a weed. Managing colonisers involves controlling invasive species to protect native biodiversity.

Centrifugation: The separation of components of a liquid in a centrifuge. Also called centrifuging. Using centrifugation in dairy and food processing helps farmers and producers separate and refine products efficiently.

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.

Condition Scoring: Condition scoring noun a method of assessing the state of body condition of animals; scores range from 0–5 for cattle and 1–9 for sows. Low condition scores indicate thinness, and high scores fatness. A score of about 3 is ideal. ‘Condition scoring is the ideal on-farm method of assessing cow body reserves as it requires no specialist equipment or weighing facilities and once you get a grasp of the points system it is relatively quick to do.’ [Dairy Farmer]. Using condition scoring helps monitor and manage livestock health and nutrition.

Cotyledon: Cotyledon /k?ti li:d?n/ noun the green plant structure resembling a leaf that appears as a seed germinates and before the true leaves appear, developing from the embryo of the seed COMMENT: Cotyledons are thicker than normal leaves, and contain food for the growing plant. Plants are divided into two groups, those producing a single cotyledon (monocotyledons) and those producing two cotyledons (dicotyledons). Understanding cotyledon development aids in managing seed germination and crop growth.

Chill Starvation: A disease affecting very young lambs, caused by loss of body heat during severe weather conditions. Preventing chill starvation involves providing adequate shelter and nutrition to young lambs to ensure their survival and growth.

Canal: A waterway made by people to irrigate land. Constructing and maintaining canals ensures adequate water supply for irrigation, supporting crop growth and farm sustainability.

Clot: (of blood) to become thick and stop flowing, forming a scab if exposed to the air. Understanding blood clotting mechanisms helps farmers manage livestock health and address injuries effectively.

Catching Pen: A pen into which sheep are put while waiting to be sheared. Using catching pens ensures safe and efficient handling of livestock during shearing and other management practices.

Carnallite: A white or pale mineral containing hydrated magnesium and potassium chlorides, used as a source of potassium in fertilizers. Using carnallite in fertilizers improves soil fertility and crop yields.

Cherry Tomato: A variety of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) with very small fruit. Growing cherry tomatoes provides nutritious and versatile produce for fresh markets, enhancing farm income.

Cast Ewes: Old breeding ewes sold by hill farmers to lower ground farmers for one more crop of lambs. Managing cast ewes involves ensuring their health and productivity to maximize lamb production and farm income.

Cruciferae: Cruciferae /kru: s?f?ri:/ noun former name for Brassicaceae. Cultivating crucifer crops provides nutritious vegetables for markets.

Commodity Mountain: Commodity mountain noun a surplus of a certain agricultural product produced in the EU, e.g. the ‘butter mountain.’ Understanding commodity mountains helps manage supply and demand in agricultural markets.

Chianina: A breed of beef cattle originating in Tuscany, Italy, known for its large size and dual-purpose use. Raising Chianina cattle provides high-quality beef and serves as draught animals, enhancing farm productivity and income.

Conformation: Conformation /k?nf? mei?(?)n/ noun the general shape of an animal or bird Carcass conformation is very important when buying cattle at an auction. COMMENT: Conformation is important in the Carcass Classification System. There are five conformation classes, called EUROP: E = excellent; U = good; R = average; O = below average; P = poor. Understanding conformation helps in selecting high-quality livestock for breeding and production.

Circulation: Same as circulation of the blood. Understanding livestock physiology, including circulation, helps farmers manage animal health and diagnose conditions.

CID: Abbreviation for Cattle Identification Document. Using CIDs helps farmers track livestock, manage herd health, and comply with regulations.

Calving Interval: The period of time between one calving and the next. Managing calving intervals is essential for optimizing reproductive efficiency and milk production in dairy herds.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2): A colorless, odorless, non-flammable atmospheric gas used in photosynthesis and given off in aerobic respiration. Managing carbon dioxide levels in greenhouses and fields supports healthy plant growth and mitigates climate change impacts.

Canterbury Lamb: A lamb reared in New Zealand, mainly for export. Raising and exporting Canterbury lamb provides a reliable income source for farmers, meeting global meat demand.

Carnivorous: Referring to animals that eat meat or plants that trap and digest insects. Understanding carnivorous species helps farmers manage their impact on farm ecosystems and protect valuable crops and livestock.

crop rotation: The practice of growing different crops sequentially on the same land to improve soil health and reduce pests and diseases. Crop rotation is a key strategy for sustainable farming.

Cull Cows: Cull cows, cull ewes, cull sows plural noun cows, ewes, or sows which are removed from the herd or flock and sold for slaughter. Managing cull cows supports livestock health and population control.

Cheviot: A large, hardy breed of sheep, usually hornless with a white face, providing good-quality wool. Raising Cheviot sheep supports wool production and offers high-quality meat, contributing to farm income.

Clearcut: The cutting down of all the trees in an area. Understanding clearcutting techniques helps farmers manage forestry operations and ensure sustainable land use.

Crush: Crush noun a steel or wood appliance like a strong stall, used to hold livestock when administering injections or when the animal is being inspected by a veterinary surgeon verb to press something with a heavy weight, as when crushing seeds to extract oil. Utilizing crushes ensures proper handling and healthcare for livestock.

Commensal: Commensal /k?mens?l/ noun an organism which lives on another plant or animal but does not harm it or influence it in any way. Parasite, symbiont adjective referring to a commensal. Understanding commensal relationships helps manage ecosystem balance and biodiversity.

Crow Garlic: Crow garlic noun same as wild onion. Managing crow garlic involves using integrated weed management strategies to protect crops.

Capercaillie: A large game bird found in northern coniferous forests. Managing habitats to support wildlife like capercaillie promotes biodiversity and sustainable land use practices.

Cuticle: Cuticle /kju:t?k(?)l/ noun a thin continuous waxy layer that covers the aerial parts of a plant to prevent excessive water loss. Understanding cuticles aids in managing crop health and water retention.

Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH): A UK organization researching and monitoring terrestrial and freshwater environments. Collaborating with CEH supports farmers in adopting sustainable and environmentally sound practices to improve farm operations.

Chemical Industries Association (CIA): A trade association in the UK representing the chemical and chemistry-using industries. Engaging with CIA helps farmers stay informed about industry developments and adopt safe practices for chemical use.

Calf: A young cow less than one year old. Managing calf health and nutrition is crucial for developing strong, productive adult cattle in a herd.

Controlled Atmosphere Packaging: Controlled atmosphere packaging noun the packaging of foods in airtight containers in which the air has been treated by the addition of other gases. This allows a longer shelf-life. Using controlled atmosphere packaging extends the shelf life of food products and maintains quality.

Chop Down: To cut through the trunk of a tree with an axe so that the tree falls. Understanding proper tree felling techniques helps farmers manage forestry operations safely and efficiently.

Calabrese: A variety of sprouting broccoli grown as a vegetable for human consumption. Growing calabrese provides nutritious food and valuable crops for fresh markets and processing, contributing to farm income.