October 5, 2024
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Cucurbitaceae

Cucurbitaceae: Cucurbitaceae /kju:k?:b?tæsi:i:/ noun the Latin name for vine crops, the family of plants including melons, marrows, and gourds. Also called the cucurbits. Cultivating cucurbit crops provides nutritious vegetables for markets.

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Conifer

Conifer: Conifer noun a tree with long thin needle-shaped leaves and bearing seed in scaly cones. Most are evergreen. COMMENT: Conifers are members of the order Coniferales and include pines, firs, and spruce. They are natives of the cooler temperate regions, are softwoods, and often grow very fast. Their tough leaves are called needles and are resistant to cold and drought. They are frequently used in timber plantations. Growing conifers provides valuable timber and enhances forest management.

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Cloaca

Cloaca: The terminal region of the gut with intestinal, urinary, and genital canals opening into it. Understanding livestock anatomy, including the cloaca, helps farmers manage animal health and diagnose conditions.

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Contact

Contact: Contact noun a physical connection between two or more things, especially the fact of one touching the other Don’t allow the part to come into contact with water. Managing contact involves preventing contamination and ensuring product quality.

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Case

Case: An outer covering or a single occurrence of a disease. Properly managing cases of disease involves implementing biosecurity measures and providing appropriate veterinary care to protect livestock health.

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Cross-Compliance

Cross-Compliance: Cross-compliance noun the setting of environmental conditions that must be met when developing agricultural support policies, especially in the European Union. Also called environmental conditionality. ‘While there is some evidence to suggest that farmers in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones are taking greater account of the value of manures it is becoming increasingly apparent that cross-compliance, and therefore the Single Payment Scheme, also requires farmers to make allowances for the nutrients in any organic matter applied.’ [Farmers Guardian]. Engaging in cross-compliance practices supports sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation.

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Cyst Nematodes

Cyst Nematodes: Cyst nematodes plural noun dark brown lemon-shaped cysts, which live and breed in the roots of cereals, mainly oats. The crops will show patches of stunted yellowish-green plants. Managing cyst nematodes involves using integrated pest management strategies to protect crops.

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Crofting

Crofting: Crofting /kr?ft??/ noun a system of farming in Scotland, where the arable land of small farms, which was previously held in common, was divided among the joint tenants into separate crofts, while the pasture remains in common. Implementing crofting practices supports rural development and sustainable farming.

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Common Agricultural Policy

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.

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Cereal

Cereal: A type of grass cultivated for its grains, used to make flour, animal feed, or produce alcohol. Growing cereal crops provides staple food and feed sources, contributing to farm productivity and food security.

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Cluster

Cluster: The four cup attachments of a milking machine attached to the teats of a cow’s udder. Using milking clusters helps farmers manage dairy operations efficiently and ensure high-quality milk production.

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Cycle

Cycle: Cycle noun a series of actions which end at the same point as they begin With the piston engine, the cycle is intermittent, whereas in the gas turbine, each process is continuous. Understanding cycles aids in managing agricultural production and machinery efficiency.

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Compost Heap

Compost Heap: Compost heap noun a pile of organic, especially plant, waste, usually kept in a container and left to decay gradually, being turned over occasionally. It is used as a fertilizer and soil improver. Managing compost heaps involves regular turning and monitoring to ensure proper decomposition.

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Convert

Convert: Convert verb to change something to a different system, set of rules, or state How do you convert degrees C into degrees F? Photochemical reactions convert oxygen to ozone. She has converted her car to take LPG. Understanding conversion processes aids in managing resources and adapting to new systems.

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Countryside Council For Wales

Countryside Council for Wales: Countryside Council for Wales noun a statutory advisory body of the UK government responsible for sustaining natural beauty, wildlife, and outdoor leisure opportunities in Wales and its coastal areas. Abbr CCW. Engaging with the Countryside Council for Wales supports rural conservation and sustainable land use practices.

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Chickpea

Chickpea: A legume crop grown for its large round pale-yellow seeds, important in India and Pakistan as a source of protein. Growing chickpeas provides valuable protein-rich food for local and global markets, enhancing farm productivity.