Category: C

Cherry Plum: A cooking plum (Prunus cerasifera) that is small and usually bright red. Growing cherry plums provides a specialty crop for culinary use, enhancing farm product diversity and income.

Carcass Classification Scheme: A system for judging the thickness of flesh and fat cover on a carcass. Using carcass classification helps farmers and processors assess meat quality and market value.

Cabbage Root Fly: A fly whose larvae attack the roots of Brassica seedlings, causing the plants to turn bluish in color, wilt, and die. Managing cabbage root fly involves crop rotation, using protective nets, and applying organic insecticides to protect young plants.

Compost Activator: Compost activator noun a chemical added to a compost heap to speed up the decomposition of decaying plant matter. Using compost activators enhances composting efficiency and nutrient cycling.

Charmoise: A breed of sheep found in central France. Raising Charmoise sheep provides high-quality wool and meat, contributing to farm income and product diversity.

Cellular: Referring to the cells of organisms or made of many similar parts connected together. Understanding cellular structures and functions helps farmers manage the health and growth of crops and livestock.

Castrate: To remove the testicles of a male animal. Castrating livestock helps manage breeding practices, improve meat quality, and ensure animal docility.

Clostridium: A type of bacterium causing diseases like botulism, tetanus, and gas gangrene, but also increasing soil nitrogen content. Managing Clostridium involves using appropriate vaccines and biosecurity measures to protect livestock and promote soil health.

Chandler: A person who sells or supplies goods, such as a seed or corn chandler. Working with chandlers helps farmers access quality inputs and supplies for their operations.

Cage Wheel: A metal wheel fitted to the outside of a normal tractor wheel to reduce ground pressure. Using cage wheels helps farmers minimize soil compaction and maintain soil health during field operations.

Carr: An area of wetland that supports some trees. Managing carr habitats promotes biodiversity and sustainable land use practices on farms.

Campylobacter: Bacteria found in the gut of chickens and dairy cattle, a cause of food poisoning in humans. Implementing biosecurity measures helps prevent Campylobacter contamination, ensuring food safety and protecting public health.

Contour Line: Contour line noun a line drawn on a map to show ground of the same height above sea level. Understanding contour lines aids in land management and planning.

Coccus: Coccus /k?k?s/ noun a bacterium shaped like a ball (NOTE: The plural is cocci). Understanding bacterial shapes helps farmers manage livestock health and prevent infections.

CPH: CPH abbreviation county, parish, holding. Utilizing county, parish, holding identification ensures proper livestock management and traceability.

Corpus Luteum: Corpus luteum /k?p?s lu:ti?m/ noun a yellowish mass of tissue that forms after ovulation in the Graafian follicle of the ovary and secretes progesterone. Understanding corpus luteum functions aids in managing animal reproduction and breeding programs.

Criollo: Criollo /kri?l??/ noun a breed of improved Spanish longhorn cattle found in South America, used for milk production. Raising Criollo cattle provides high-quality milk and meat for markets.

Cantle: The rear bow of a saddle. Understanding saddle anatomy, including the cantle, helps farmers and riders ensure proper equipment fit for the comfort and safety of horses.

Conservation Headland: Conservation headland noun an area between the edge of a crop and the first tractor tramline that is treated less intensively with pesticides so that a range of broadleaved weeds and beneficial insects survive, used as a method of encouraging biodiversity. ‘The achievements of The Allerton Project at Loddington in improving populations of wildlife and game are widely recognized. Until recently this has been done by improving field margins, managing set-aside for game and wildlife, installing beetle banks and by conservation headlands.’ [Arable Farming]. Utilizing conservation headlands promotes biodiversity and sustainable agriculture.

Cultured Milk Products: Cultured milk products plural noun products such as yoghurt made from milk which has been exposed to harmless bacteria. Utilizing cultured milk products provides nutritious dairy resources.

Cleavers: A widespread weed (Galium aparine) affecting winter cereals, oilseed, and early-sown spring crops. Managing cleavers involves using appropriate weed control measures to protect crops and maintain healthy fields.

COMA: COMA /k??m?/ abbreviation Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy. Engaging with COMA ensures adherence to medical guidelines for food safety and nutrition.

calving: The process of giving birth to a calf. Understanding and managing calving is crucial for maintaining herd health and productivity.

Chemical Element: A substance such as iron, calcium, or oxygen, existing independently and not formed from a combination of other substances. Understanding chemical elements aids in managing soil fertility and livestock nutrition for optimal farm productivity.

Covered Smut: Covered smut noun a fungal disease (Ustilago hordei) affecting oats and barley. Managing covered smut involves using integrated disease management strategies to protect crops.

Clingstone: Referring to varieties of peach where the flesh is attached to the stone. Understanding fruit characteristics like clingstone helps farmers manage crop varieties and market produce effectively.

COSHH: COSHH noun UK regulations controlling substances with known health risks. Full form Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (UK Regulations). COMMENT: Farmwork may involve exposure to many substances which can be hazardous to health. Safety in the use of pesticides extends not only to protecting the user but also the need to protect the environment. Complying with COSHH regulations ensures safe handling and use of hazardous substances in agriculture.

Calf Enteric Disease: A disease of calves causing severe diarrhea. Managing calf enteric disease includes proper sanitation, hydration, and medical treatment to prevent mortality and promote healthy growth.

Chicory: A blue-flowered plant (Cichorium intybus) cultivated for its salad leaves and roots. Growing chicory provides nutritious and versatile produce for fresh markets and processing, contributing to farm income.

Countryside Recreation Site: Countryside recreation site noun a location visited or used by tourists in the countryside, e.g. a national park, heritage coast, cycle path, or watersports facility. Managing countryside recreation sites promotes sustainable tourism and rural development.

Countryside Stewardship Scheme: Countryside Stewardship Scheme noun formerly in England and Wales, a system of payments made to landowners and farmers who alter their farming practices to benefit the natural environment and maintain biodiversity (NOTE: The Countryside Stewardship Scheme has now been superseded by the Environmental Stewardship scheme). ‘The Defra-funded Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Areas schemes help to maintain and enhance the biodiversity and landscape value of farmed land, protect historic features, and promote public access. (Delivering the evidence. Defra’s Science and Innovation Strategy, 2003–06)’. Engaging in the Countryside Stewardship Scheme supports biodiversity and sustainable agriculture.

Chemical Food Poisoning: Poisoning by chemical substances in food, such as toxic substances naturally present in plants or insecticides in processed food. Ensuring food safety involves managing chemical residues and adhering to regulations to protect consumer health.

Commission of the European Union: Commission of the European Union noun the executive body of the European Union. Engaging with the Commission of the European Union ensures compliance with agricultural policies and regulations.

Caecum: A wide part of the intestine leading to the colon. Understanding livestock anatomy, such as the caecum, helps farmers manage animal health and optimize digestive efficiency in their herds.

Carob: A long flat dried pod of the carob tree, used in food preparations and animal feed. Growing carob provides a nutritious feed source and raw material for various food products, enhancing farm income.

Caterpillar Tractor: A tractor with a revolving set of linked metal plates on either side instead of wheels. Using caterpillar tractors helps farmers manage field operations on difficult terrain, improving efficiency and productivity.

Cep: An edible mushroom-like fungus (Boletus edulis). Cultivating or foraging for ceps provides a specialty crop for gourmet markets, enhancing farm product diversity and income.

Calcifuge: A plant that prefers acid soils and does not grow on chalky or alkaline soils. Recognizing calcifuges helps farmers optimize crop selection and soil management practices.

Cereal Stands: Fields of standing cereal crops. Managing cereal stands involves monitoring crop health and implementing best practices to ensure high yields and quality produce.

Chlorosis: A reduction of chlorophyll in plants, making the leaves turn yellow. Managing chlorosis involves identifying and addressing nutrient deficiencies to ensure healthy crop growth.

C3: A metabolic pathway in plants, which uses three-carbon compounds to fix CO2 from the atmosphere. C3 plants, like wheat and rice, are adapted to cooler, wetter environments. Recognizing C3 plants allows farmers to optimize planting schedules and irrigation practices for these crops.

Chervil: A herb (Anthriscus cerefolium) used as a garnish or in salads and soups. Growing chervil provides a specialty crop for culinary use, enhancing farm product diversity and income.

County, Parish, Holding: County, parish, holding noun a unique 3-part identification number for land used to keep livestock. Abbr CPH. Utilizing county, parish, holding identification ensures proper livestock management and traceability.

CCFRA: Abbreviation for Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association. Engaging with CCFRA helps farmers adopt innovative practices and improve food production processes.

Commercial Seed: Commercial seed noun seed sold as being true to kind, but not necessarily pure. Utilizing commercial seed ensures crop consistency and reliability.

Chemotrophic: Referring to organisms obtaining energy from sources such as organic matter. Understanding chemotrophic processes aids farmers in managing soil health and nutrient availability for crops.

Chemical Element: A substance such as iron, calcium, or oxygen, existing independently and not formed from a combination of other substances. Understanding chemical elements aids in managing soil fertility and livestock nutrition for optimal farm productivity.

Controlled Atmosphere: Controlled atmosphere noun the conditions in which oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations are regulated and monitored, e.g. to improve the storage of fruit and vegetables. ‘English plum producers are looking at the possibility of storing Victoria plums in controlled atmosphere to extend the season until at least September.’ [The Grocer]. Utilizing controlled atmosphere storage extends the shelf life of produce and maintains product quality.

Convenience Foods: Convenience foods plural noun foods which have been prepared so that they are ready to be served after simply being reheated ‘People are working longer hours. As a result demand for convenience foods has exploded, not just for pre-packed ready meals, but quickly cooked food like chops and steaks.’ [Farmers Guardian]. Producing convenience foods meets market demands and provides quick meal solutions.

Calcium Borogluconate: A chemical given in the form of injections to cows suffering from milk fever due to calcium deficiency. Administering calcium borogluconate helps restore calcium levels in cows, preventing milk fever and maintaining herd health.