Category: C

Coulter: Coulter /k??lt?/ noun the part of the plough which goes into the soil and makes the vertical cut COMMENT: There are several types of coulter: the disc coulter cuts the side of the furrow about to be turned; the knife coulter serves the same purpose, but is now little used; the skim coulter turns a small slice off the corner of the furrow about to be turned and throws it into the bottom of the one before; it is attached to the beam behind the disc coulters. Understanding coulter functions aids in effective ploughing and soil management.

Crested Dogstail: Crested dogstail /krestid d?gzte?l/ noun a perennial grass (Cynosurus cristatus) which is not very palatable because of its wiry inflorescences, and is used in seed mixtures for lawns. Utilizing crested dogstail enhances lawn management and soil health.

Chlorination: Sterilization by adding chlorine. Implementing chlorination practices helps farmers manage water quality and ensure food safety in processing operations.

Chickweed: A widespread choking weed (Stellaria media) found in cereals and grass. Managing chickweed involves using appropriate weed control measures to protect crops and maintain healthy fields.

Charolais: A breed of beef cattle originating in central France, valued for fast growth and lean meat, or a breed of sheep with a characteristic ‘red’ face. Raising Charolais cattle and sheep provides high-quality meat and wool, enhancing farm productivity and income.

Commodity Exchange: Commodity exchange noun a place where commodities are bought and sold. Engaging in commodity exchanges provides opportunities for price discovery and risk management.

Circulation of the Blood: The movement of blood around the body from the heart through the arteries to the capillaries and back to the heart through the veins. Understanding livestock physiology, including blood circulation, helps farmers manage animal health and diagnose conditions.

Cinnamon: The aromatic inner bark of the tropical tree (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) used as a spice. Growing cinnamon provides a specialty crop for culinary use, enhancing farm product diversity and income.

Compact: Compact verb to compress the ground and make it hard, e.g. by driving over it with heavy machinery or as the result of a lot of people walking on it. Managing soil compaction involves using proper tillage and traffic management practices to maintain soil health.

Classical Swine Fever: Same as swine fever. Managing swine fever involves implementing biosecurity measures and vaccination programs to protect pig health and ensure farm productivity.

Cauliflower: A plant of the cabbage family with a large white head made up of a mass of curds. Growing cauliflowers provides nutritious food and valuable produce for fresh markets and processing, contributing to farm income.

Chlorinated: Treated with chlorine. Using chlorinated treatments helps farmers manage water quality and protect crops from pathogens.

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.

Creep: Creep noun 1. a slow movement of soil down a slope 2. a small entrance through which young animals can pass. Understanding soil creep aids in managing land stability and preventing erosion.

Consumption: Consumption noun 1. the fact or process of using something a car with low petrol consumption The country’s consumption of wood has fallen by a quarter. 2. The taking of food or liquid into the body Nearly 3% of all food samples were found to be unfit for human consumption through contamination by lead. Understanding consumption patterns helps manage resource use and optimize production.

Copper Deficiency: Copper deficiency noun a lack of copper in an animal’s diet, sometimes caused by poisoning with molybdenum COMMENT: Symptoms of copper deficiency vary, but can include lack of growth and change of colour, where black animals turn red or grey. In severe cases, bones can fracture, particularly the shoulder blade. Diarrhoea can also occur, as well as anaemia. Copper deficiency in ewes can cause swayback in lambs. The condition is treated with injections of copper sulphate. Managing copper deficiency involves providing proper nutrition and healthcare for livestock.

Contour: Contour /k?nt??/ noun same as contour line. Understanding contour lines aids in land management and planning.

Countryside Agency: Countryside Agency noun a statutory body funded by Defra with the aim of making life better for people in the countryside. It is the statutory advisor on landscape issues and was formed by merging the Countryside Commission with parts of the Rural Development Commission, but is to be reorganized. Engaging with the Countryside Agency supports rural development and sustainable land use practices.

Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy: Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy noun a panel which publishes reports on medical issues relating to food preparation and packaging. Abbr COMA. Engaging with COMA ensures adherence to medical guidelines for food safety and nutrition.

Contagious: Contagious adjective referring to a disease which can be transmitted by touching an infected person, or objects which an infected person has touched. Compare infectious. Managing contagious diseases involves implementing biosecurity measures to prevent spread.

Carrier: An organism that carries disease and infects other organisms. Implementing biosecurity measures helps prevent the spread of carriers and protect livestock health.

Closed Canopy: A canopy that has achieved complete cover or intercepts 95% of visible light. Understanding canopy structures helps farmers manage forest ecosystems and promote biodiversity.

Commodity Futures: Commodity futures plural noun trading in commodities for delivery at a later date. The produce will often not yet have been grown or harvested. Understanding commodity futures helps farmers hedge against price volatility and secure future revenues.

Carbonate: A compound formed from a base and carbonic acid. Using carbonates in agriculture helps improve soil pH and nutrient availability for optimal crop growth.

Capsule: A dry structure that bursts open to release seeds or spores. Understanding plant reproductive structures like capsules aids in breeding and cultivating healthy crops.

Cultivar: Cultivar /k?lt?v?:/ noun a variety of a plant that has been developed under cultivation and that does not occur naturally in the wild. Utilizing cultivars supports agricultural innovation and crop improvement.

Conditioning: Conditioning noun 1. the preparation of crops for harvesting 2. the process of making meat more tender by keeping it for some time at a low temperature 3. the preparation of grain for milling by adding water to it, so as to ensure that the grain has the correct moisture content. Implementing conditioning practices ensures high-quality crop and livestock products.

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.

Castor Oil: An oil derived from the seeds of the castor oil plant (Ricinus communis), used as a common purgative for fowls and calves. Understanding the uses of castor oil helps farmers manage animal health and provide natural remedies.

Cauliflower: A plant of the cabbage family with a large white head made up of a mass of curds. Growing cauliflowers provides nutritious food and valuable produce for fresh markets and processing, contributing to farm income.

Contact Animal: Contact animal noun an animal which has had contact with a diseased animal and which may need to be isolated ‘Movement restrictions placed on the contact animals in the herd will remain in place and the animals will be subject to testing for brucellosis over a period of months.’ [Farmers Guardian]. Managing contact animals helps prevent disease spread and ensure herd health.

Catabolism: The breaking down of complex chemicals into simple chemicals. Understanding catabolism aids in managing livestock nutrition and metabolism for optimal health and productivity.

Commercial: Commercial adjective 1. referring to business 2. produced to be sold for profit. Focusing on commercial agriculture enhances farm profitability and market reach.

Chloro-: Prefix referring to chlorine or green. Understanding chemical prefixes helps farmers manage inputs and processes for optimal farm operations.

Consume: Consume verb 1. to use up or burn fuel The new pump consumes only half the fuel which the other pump would use. 2. To eat foodstuffs The population consumes ten tonnes of foodstuffs per week. Managing consumption involves efficient resource use and waste reduction.

Cover: Cover verb to copulate with a female animal a bull covers a cow noun 1. something that goes over something else completely 2. the amount of soil surface covered with plants. ground cover 3. plants grown to cover the surface of the soil Grass cover will provide some protection against erosion. Utilizing cover crops and ground cover techniques enhances soil health and prevents erosion.

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.