Category: E

ethical trading: Business practices which are socially responsible and protect the environment and the rights of workers. Adopting ethical trading practices helps farmers promote sustainability and fair labor practices.

ETA: Abbreviation for estimated transmitting ability. Knowing ETA helps farmers make informed breeding decisions to improve livestock quality.

establishment grant: An amount of money given to farmers under the Energy Crops Scheme which covers some of the costs of planting energy crops. Accessing establishment grants helps farmers invest in sustainable energy production.

EHF: Abbreviation for experimental husbandry farm. Farmers can learn from EHF research to improve their livestock management practices.

embryo transfer: The transplanting of an embryo from one animal into the womb of another, used as a method of improving breeding quality. Abbr ET. Embryo transfer helps farmers enhance livestock genetics and improve herd quality.

exotic: Referring to an organism or species that is not native and has been introduced from another place or region. An organism or species that is not native to its current environment. Also called alien. Managing exotic species helps farmers protect native biodiversity and prevent invasive species.

energy crop: A crop which is grown to be used to provide energy, e.g., a fast-growing tree. Biomass itself can come from a variety of sources, including energy crops such as miscanthus and short-rotation willow, forestry trimmings, off-cuts and roots, tree surgeons’ chips, reclaimed timber and municipal solid waste, some industrial waste, sewage sludge, liquid animal waste, and the enormous amount of food waste. Growing energy crops provides farmers with renewable energy sources and additional income.

erect habit: The habit of a plant which grows upright and does not lie on the ground. Understanding plant habits helps farmers manage crop growth and optimize planting strategies.

enterotoxin: A bacterial exotoxin which particularly affects the intestine. Managing enterotoxins helps farmers ensure food safety and protect consumer health.

Environment Agency: In England and Wales, the government agency responsible for the protection of the environment, including flood and sea defenses. Abbr EA. Understanding the role of the EA helps farmers comply with environmental regulations and improve sustainable farming practices.

erucic acid: A fatty acid found in rape oil, which is linked to heart disease. Varieties of oilseed rape with low erucic acid content are considered the best. Understanding erucic acid helps farmers select and grow healthier crop varieties.

ectoparasite disease: A disease caused by lice and other insects, usually characterized by intense irritation. Farmers need to manage ectoparasite diseases to ensure the health and welfare of their livestock.

epiphyte: A plant that lives on another plant for physical support but is not a parasite of it. (NOTE: Many orchids are epiphytes.) Growing epiphytes can provide farmers with unique and profitable crops.

endoparasite: A parasite that lives inside its host. Compare ectoparasite. Managing endoparasites is crucial for maintaining animal health and productivity on farms.

ensile: To make silage from something. We ensile lush young material. Ensiling practices help farmers preserve feed quality and ensure a consistent supply of nutritious feed for livestock.

enzootic disease: An outbreak of disease among certain species of animals in a certain area. Compare epizootic disease. Managing enzootic diseases helps farmers protect animal health and prevent the spread of infections.

EH: Abbreviation for English Heritage. Awareness of EH can help farmers understand and comply with regulations for preserving historical sites on their land.

ergotism: Poisoning by eating cereals or bread contaminated by ergot. Managing ergotism is crucial for farmers to ensure food safety and protect consumer health.

epidemic: 1. An infectious disease that spreads quickly through a large part of the population. The health authorities are taking steps to prevent an epidemic of cholera or a cholera epidemic. 2. A rapidly spreading infection or disease. Endemic, pandemic. Understanding epidemics helps farmers implement effective biosecurity measures and prevent disease outbreaks.

enter-: Prefix meaning inside or within. Compare entero-. Understanding prefixes like “enter-” helps farmers and agricultural scientists accurately describe and manage pests and diseases.

epizootic disease: A disease which spreads to large numbers of animals over a large area. Compare enzootic disease. Managing epizootic diseases helps farmers protect animal health and prevent the spread of infections.

ethnobotany: The study of the way plants are used by humans. Understanding ethnobotany helps farmers explore traditional uses of plants and diversify crop production.

established: Living or growing successfully. Established crops and livestock ensure stable and productive farm operations.

epidermis: An outer layer of cells of a plant or animal. Understanding epidermis structure helps farmers manage crop health and protect against pests and diseases.

environmental protection: The activity of protecting the environment by regulating the discharge of waste, the emission of pollutants, and other human activities. Also called environment protection. Understanding environmental protection helps farmers adopt practices that minimize harm to the natural world.

environmental directive: An EU policy statement on the appropriate ways of dealing with a specific environmental issue. Understanding environmental directives helps farmers comply with regulations and adopt sustainable practices.

enzyme: A protein substance produced by living cells which promotes a biochemical reaction in living organisms. (NOTE: The names of enzymes mostly end with the suffix -ase.) Understanding enzymes helps farmers manage livestock nutrition and health.

estimated transmitting ability: The value of an animal, calculated using an estimate of how many offspring it will have and how much genetic material it will transfer to each one. It is equal to half the animal’s estimated breeding value. Abbr ETA. Understanding ETA helps farmers make informed breeding decisions.

essential fatty acid: An unsaturated fatty acid essential for growth but which cannot be synthesized by the body and has to be obtained from the food supply. Abbr EFA. (NOTE: The two essential fatty acids are linoleic acid and linolenic acid.) Understanding essential fatty acids helps farmers formulate balanced diets for their livestock.

element: A chemical substance that cannot be broken down to a simpler substance. Understanding elements is essential for farmers to manage soil health and nutrient availability.

endocarp: The innermost of the layers of the wall (pericarp) of a fruit. Sometimes it is toughened or hardened, as in a cherry stone or peach stone. Knowledge of endocarp structure helps farmers in fruit cultivation and harvesting.

exocarp: Same as epicarp. Understanding exocarp structure helps farmers in fruit cultivation and harvesting.

emission charge: A fee paid by a company to be allowed to discharge waste into the environment. Understanding emission charges helps farmers plan for environmental compliance costs.

environmental: Referring to the environment. Understanding environmental factors helps farmers adopt practices that protect and sustain the natural world.

environmental enrichment: The practice of improving the living conditions and welfare of animals, such as by increasing the amount of space they have to live in. Implementing environmental enrichment practices helps farmers enhance animal welfare and productivity.

ELS: Abbreviation for Entry Level Stewardship. Participating in ELS helps farmers receive funding for implementing environmentally friendly farming practices.

electric dog: An electric wire at the side of the fence at the entrance to a milking parlour, which encourages the cows to go into the parlour. Using an electric dog can streamline the milking process and reduce labor for farmers.

endemic: 1. Referring to an organism that exists or originated from a specific area. The isolation of the islands has led to the evolution of endemic forms. 2. Referring to a disease that occurs within a specific area. This disease is endemic to Mediterranean countries. Understanding endemic species and diseases helps farmers manage biodiversity and animal health.

EHS: Abbreviation for experimental horticulture station. Farmers can benefit from EHS research to enhance their crop production techniques.

extensive agriculture: A way of farming which is characterized by a low level of inputs per unit of land. Compare intensive agriculture. Adopting extensive agriculture helps farmers promote sustainability and reduce environmental impact.

eject: To throw something out. Ejectors on manure spreaders help farmers distribute manure evenly over fields, improving soil fertility.

extract: 1. To take something out of somewhere. Vanilla essence is extracted from an orchid. 2. To produce a substance from another. Coconut oil is extracted from copra. Understanding extraction processes helps farmers produce value-added products and increase income.

earth up: To move soil to make a ridge, in which a crop such as potatoes or celery can grow. Plants are earthed up to protect the tender stems from frost or to make them white. Potatoes are earthed up to prevent the tubers from turning green and tasting bitter. This practice helps farmers protect crops from environmental stressors and improve quality.

England Rural Development Programme: A set of schemes run by Defra in the UK to develop sustainable farming methods in rural areas. Abbr ERDP. Participating in the ERDP helps farmers access funding and support for sustainable farming practices.

enzootic bovine leucosis: A blood cancer disease of cattle. It is a notifiable disease. Managing enzootic bovine leucosis is crucial for farmers to ensure the health and productivity of their herds.

equine: Relating to horses. Understanding equine health and behavior helps farmers manage horse care and breeding.

EUROP: Letters which make up the conformation classes in the Carcass Classification System. Understanding EUROP classifications helps farmers market their meat products more effectively.

environmental assessment: The identification of the expected environmental effects of a proposed action. Conducting an environmental assessment helps farmers plan sustainable agricultural practices and comply with environmental regulations.

energy: The force or strength to carry out activities. You need to eat carbohydrates to give you energy. 2. Electricity or other fuel. We have to review our energy requirements regularly. Managing energy efficiently helps farmers reduce costs and improve sustainability.

English Leicester: A breed of sheep derived from Robert Bakewell’s flock, used for breeding many other longwool breeds. It produces a heavy fleece and is now a rare breed. Raising English Leicester sheep can provide farmers with high-quality wool and contribute to the preservation of rare breeds.