Category: C

Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy noun a set of regulations and mechanisms agreed between members of the European Union to control the supply, marketing, and pricing of farm produce. Abbr CAP. COMMENT: The European Union has set up a common system of agricultural price supports and grants. The system attempts to encourage stable market conditions for agricultural produce, to ensure a fair return for farmers and reasonable market prices for the consumer, and finally to increase yields and productivity on farms in the Union. A system of common prices for the main farm products has been established with intervention buying as the main means of market support. The first major reforms in 30 years were carried out in 1992 and included arable set-aside, suckler cow quotas, ewe quotas, price reductions on oilseeds, peas, beans, cereals, and beet. The second major CAP reform was in 2003 with the introduction of the Single Farm Payment Scheme (SFPS), which brought together individual subsidy schemes into a single payment calculated on the land area used. Understanding the Common Agricultural Policy helps farmers navigate subsidies and market regulations.

Crumbly: Crumbly /kr?mbli/ adjective referring to something which falls apart into particles a crumbly soil. Managing crumbly soil involves using soil management practices to enhance soil structure and health.

Clutch: A set of eggs laid by a bird. Managing bird clutches involves providing appropriate nesting conditions to ensure successful hatching and healthy chick development.

Collar: Collar noun a leather-covered roll put round a horse’s neck, to carry the weight of a plough or cart which the horse is pulling. Using proper collars ensures the comfort and efficiency of working horses.

Carcass: The dead body of an animal, particularly after removing the head, limbs, and offal for meat trade. Properly processing and handling carcasses ensures food safety and quality in meat production.

Crown: Crown noun 1. the top part of a plant where the main growing point is protecting the crowns from frost The disease first affects the lower branches, leaving the crowns still growing. 2. the perennial rootstock of some plants. Understanding crown anatomy aids in managing crop health and productivity.

Controlled Landfill: Controlled landfill noun the disposal of waste in a landfill carried out under a permit system according to the specific laws in force. Utilizing controlled landfill practices ensures safe waste disposal and environmental protection.

Corriedale: Corriedale /k?rideil/ noun a New Zealand breed of sheep, originally from longwool rams and Merino ewes. Corriedale is now bred in Australia both for meat and its thick 27-micron wool. Raising Corriedale sheep provides high-quality meat and wool for markets.

Copper: Copper noun a metallic trace element. It is essential to biological life and used in making alloys and in electric wiring. Understanding copper’s role in biology and industry aids in managing soil health and crop nutrition.

Crown Graft: Crown graft noun a type of graft where a branch of a tree is cut across at right angles, slits are made in the bark around the edge of the stump, and shoots are inserted into the slits. Utilizing crown grafting techniques enhances fruit tree productivity and management.

Commercial Grazing: Commercial grazing noun same as ranching. Practicing commercial grazing supports livestock production and pasture management.

Cowboy: Cowboy /ka?b?i/ noun US a man who looks after cattle on a ranch. Engaging with cowboy culture supports livestock management and rural heritage.

Cotswold: Cotswold /k?tsw??ld/ noun a breed of sheep from the Cotswold hills, now becoming rare. Raising Cotswold sheep supports conservation of rare breeds and provides high-quality meat and wool for markets.

Chloride: A salt of hydrochloric acid. Understanding chemical compounds like chlorides aids in managing soil fertility and crop protection.

Colony System: Colony system noun a poultry rearing system in which the hens are free to move around within a large confined space. Implementing colony systems improves poultry welfare and productivity.

Coleoptile: Coleoptile /k?li?ptail/ noun a sheath which protects the stem tip (plumule) of a germinating grass seed as it grows to the surface. Understanding coleoptile development aids in seedling establishment and crop growth.

Couple: Couple verb to attach an implement such as a harrow to a tractor. Utilizing coupling techniques enhances farm equipment efficiency and management.

Centrifugal: Going away from the center. Understanding centrifugal forces aids in managing machinery and processes that rely on these principles, such as cream separators and irrigation systems.

Clay Soils: Soils with more than 35% clay-sized material. Managing clay soils involves using appropriate amendments to improve fertility and support healthy crop growth.

Chrysanthemum: A genus of composite plants, some cultivated for their flowers, such as Chrysanthemum roseum, the source of the insecticide pyrethrum. Growing chrysanthemums provides valuable ornamental and pest control crops for farms.

Croft: Croft /kr?ft/ noun a small farm in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Managing crofts supports rural development and sustainable farming practices.

Cotton Grass: Cotton grass noun a plant with white fluffy flower heads that grows in boggy ground. Latin name: Eriophorum angustifolium. Managing cotton grass supports wetland conservation and biodiversity.

Corn Marigold: Corn marigold noun a common weed (Chrysanthemum segetum). Managing corn marigold involves using weed control measures to protect crops.

Cattle Health Certification Standards (CHCS): An organization setting common standards for testing non-notifiable diseases in cattle. Engaging with CHCS helps farmers maintain herd health and comply with industry standards.

Cryophyte: Cryophyte /kra??fa?t/ noun a plant which lives in cold conditions such as in snow. Understanding cryophytes aids in managing crop production and optimizing yields.

Cornflour: Cornflour /k?nfla??/ noun a type of flour extracted from maize grain. It contains a high proportion of starch, and is used for thickening sauces. Also called corn starch. Utilizing cornflour provides a versatile thickening agent for culinary use.

Cane Fruit: Fruit from plants belonging to the genus Rubus, including raspberry, blackberry, and loganberry. Cultivating cane fruits offers valuable produce for fresh markets and processing, enhancing farm revenue.

Capillarity: Same as capillary action, the movement of a liquid upwards inside a narrow tube or through the soil. Understanding capillarity helps farmers manage soil moisture levels and optimize irrigation practices.

Calve: To give birth to a calf. Properly managing the calving process ensures the health and safety of both the cow and the newborn calf, contributing to herd productivity.

Corn Starch: Corn starch noun same as cornflour. Utilizing corn starch provides a versatile thickening agent for culinary use.

Climax: The final stage in the development of plant colonization of a specific site, when changes occur within a mature and relatively stable community. Understanding climax stages helps farmers manage ecosystems and promote biodiversity on farms.

Condition: Condition noun 1. the present state of something 2. the state of health or of cleanliness of an animal The animal was in such poor condition that the vet decided it had to be put down. 3. (in breeding) the amounts of muscle and fat present in an animal. Understanding animal condition helps in making informed decisions about nutrition and healthcare.

Conserve: Conserve verb 1. to keep and not waste something The sloth sleeps during the day to conserve energy. 2. to look after and keep something in the same state to conserve tigers’ habitat. Implementing conservation practices helps protect natural resources and promote sustainability.

Common Agricultural Policy (CAP): A policy framework set by the European Union to regulate agricultural markets and support farmers. Understanding CAP helps farmers navigate regulations, access subsidies, and optimize farm management.

Contract Work: Contract work noun work carried out by specialist firms on a contract, which involves payment for work carried out, e.g. the provision of a drainage system or combining a crop. Engaging in contract work ensures access to specialized services and expertise for farm operations.

Consumerism: Consumerism /k?n sju:m?riz(?)m/ noun a movement for the protection of the rights of consumers. Engaging with consumerism supports fair trade practices and ensures product quality.

Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG): A hormone produced by the placenta in mammals that helps maintain pregnancy. Understanding reproductive hormones like hCG aids farmers in managing breeding practices and ensuring livestock fertility.

Courgette: Courgette noun marrow fruit at a very immature stage in its development, cut when between 10 and 20 cm long. It may be green or yellow in colour. Also called zucchini. Cultivating courgettes provides nutritious vegetables for markets.

COGAP: COGAP abbreviation Code of Good Agricultural Practice. Following COGAP ensures sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices.

Cure: Cure verb to preserve meat by salting or smoking COMMENT: Meat is cured by keeping in brine for some time; both salting and smoking have a dehydrating effect on the meat, preventing the reproduction and growth of microorganisms harmful to man. Utilizing curing techniques enhances meat preservation and product quality.

Capping: A hard crust that sometimes forms on the soil surface, caused by heavy rain or machinery. Managing soil to prevent capping involves minimizing soil compaction and maintaining proper soil structure for optimal plant growth.

Cardoon: A vegetable similar to the globe artichoke, grown in Mediterranean areas. Growing cardoons provides a specialty crop for fresh markets and culinary use, enhancing farm product diversity.

Cutworm: Cutworm /k?tw?:m/ noun a caterpillar of the turnip moth and the garden dart moth, which attacks plants such as turnips, swedes, and potatoes by eating their roots and stems. Managing cutworms involves using integrated pest management strategies to protect crops.

castration: The removal of the testicles of a male animal to prevent breeding. Castration is often used to manage animal behavior and improve meat quality.

Clove of Garlic: A small bulb in a cluster of garlic. Growing garlic provides nutritious and versatile produce for fresh markets, enhancing farm income.

Colonise: Colonise /k?l?naiz/, colonize verb (of plants and animals) to become established in a new ecosystem Derelict city sites rapidly become colonised by plants. Rats have colonised the sewers. Understanding colonization processes aids in ecosystem management and restoration.

Can: A metal container for food or drink, typically made of steel with a lining of tin or entirely of aluminum. Proper canning practices preserve food, extending its shelf life and reducing waste.

Crop Spraying: Crop spraying noun same as crop dusting. Implementing crop spraying practices protects crops from pests and diseases.

Congenital Disorder: Congenital disorder noun a disorder which is present at birth. COMMENT: An animal may be abnormal at birth because of a genetic defect, such as misshapen heads of calves; other congenital disorders such as swayback in lambs, may be caused by deficiencies in the mother (in the case of swayback, maternal copper deficiency). Managing congenital disorders involves providing proper nutrition and healthcare for pregnant animals.

Contour Farming: Contour farming noun a method of cultivating sloping land in which the land is ploughed along a terrace rather than down the slope, so reducing soil erosion COMMENT: In contour farming, the ridges of earth act as barriers to prevent soil being washed away and the furrows retain the rainwater. Implementing contour farming practices helps prevent soil erosion and promote sustainable land use.