Category: E

ECN: Abbreviation for Environmental Change Network. Participation in the ECN helps farmers stay informed about climate trends and adapt farming practices for sustainability.

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.

Exmoor Horn: A stock fat sheep, with a broad head, curled horns, and dense fleece. Mainly found on Exmoor, the breed has been crossed with the Devon Longwool to create the Devon Closewool. Raising Exmoor Horn sheep helps farmers produce high-quality wool and meat.

earlies: Potatoes grown for harvesting early in the season. Compare maincrop potatoes. Early potatoes can provide farmers with a quick return on investment and an early market presence.

epicarp: The outer skin of a fruit. Also called exocarp. Understanding epicarp structure helps farmers in fruit cultivation and harvesting.

ecological: Referring to ecology. Ecological knowledge helps farmers adopt practices that support environmental health and biodiversity.

ergotamine: The toxin that causes ergotism. Understanding ergotamine helps farmers manage crop health and prevent contamination.

emaciation: Becoming extremely thin. Scab causes emaciation in sheep. Managing emaciation is crucial for farmers to ensure the health and productivity of their livestock.

egg eating: A form of behavior by intensively housed poultry in which birds eat their own eggs. It may be due to eggs being broken because of thin shells. Managing egg eating behavior helps farmers reduce losses and improve egg quality.

elder: A small tree (Sambucus nigra) with little black berries used to make wine. Growing elder can provide farmers with additional income from berry and wine production.

earth: 1. Soil 2. The ground or land surface. Understanding soil composition and health is crucial for farmers to enhance crop yield and sustainability.

eutrophic: Referring to water which is high in dissolved mineral nutrients. Understanding eutrophic conditions helps farmers manage water quality and prevent nutrient pollution.

ewe lamb: A female lamb less than six months old. Raising ewe lambs helps farmers manage breeding programs and ensure flock growth.

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.

Enterobius: A threadworm or nematode which infests the intestine. Managing Enterobius infestations is crucial for farmers to ensure the health and productivity of their livestock.

enhancer: An artificial substance that increases the flavor of food or of an artificial flavoring that has been added to food. (NOTE: In the European Union, flavor enhancers added to food have the E numbers E620 to E637.) Understanding enhancers helps farmers in food processing and product formulation.

evening primrose: A biennial plant with hairy leaves and seeds that produce an oil which is used by the pharmaceutical industry. Growing evening primrose can provide farmers with an alternative income source from oil production.

Environmental Protection Act 1990: A UK regulation to allow the introduction of integrated pollution control, regulations for the disposal of waste, and other provisions. Abbr EPA. Complying with the EPA helps farmers reduce pollution and protect the environment.

expander: A device behind a mole which widens a drain. Using expanders helps farmers manage drainage and prevent waterlogging.

Emmer: A species of wheat (Triticum dicoccoides) which is a natural hybrid of wild wheat and a goat grass. A further crossing between Emmer and a goat grass produced wheat (Triticum aestivum). Growing Emmer can provide farmers with a resilient and nutritious crop.

ECS: Abbreviation for Energy Crops Scheme. The ECS provides financial support to farmers for growing energy crops, promoting sustainable energy production.

effective field capacity: The actual average rate of work achieved by a machine, usually expressed in acres or hectares per hour. Understanding effective field capacity helps farmers plan and optimize machinery use for efficient farm operations.

EU: Abbreviation for European Union. Understanding EU regulations helps farmers comply with agricultural standards and access funding opportunities.

EBV: Abbreviation for estimated breeding value. Knowing EBV helps farmers select and breed livestock for desirable traits, improving herd quality and productivity.

ecological restoration: The process of renewing and maintaining the health of an ecosystem. Ecological restoration benefits farmers by enhancing ecosystem services and land productivity.

experimental horticulture station: An experimental farm which specializes in plants, rather than livestock. Abbr EHS. Learning from EHS research helps farmers enhance their crop production techniques.

energy balance: A series of measurements showing the movement of energy between organisms and their environment. In farming, a common use of the energy balance is to assess the ratio between the amount of energy used to grow a crop and the amount of energy that crop produces. Understanding energy balance helps farmers optimize resource use and improve sustainability.

Environmental Change Network: An association which monitors trends in climate change and produces statistics. Abbr ECN. Participation in the ECN helps farmers stay informed about climate trends and adapt farming practices for sustainability.

ethanol: A type of alcohol used as a biofuel. Producing ethanol from crops can provide renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

egg eating: A form of behavior by intensively housed poultry in which birds eat their own eggs. It may be due to eggs being broken because of thin shells. Managing egg eating behavior helps farmers reduce losses and improve egg quality.

ethylene: A hydrocarbon occurring in natural gas and ripening fruits. It is used in the production of polythene and as an anesthetic. Also called ethene. Understanding ethylene helps farmers manage crop ripening and storage.

ecotone: An area between two different types of vegetation which may share the characteristics of both, e.g., the border between forest and moorland. Ecotones can be managed by farmers to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services.

entomology: The study of insects. Understanding entomology helps farmers manage pests and protect crops.

essence: A concentrated oil extracted from a plant, used in food, cosmetics, analgesics, and antiseptics. Vanilla essence. Understanding essence extraction helps farmers in value-added production and marketing.

ecto-: Prefix meaning outside. Compare endo-. Understanding prefixes like “ecto-” helps farmers and agricultural scientists accurately describe and manage pests and diseases.

endotoxin: A poison from bacteria which passes into the body when contaminated food is eaten. Managing endotoxins helps farmers ensure food safety and protect consumer health.

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.

ectoparasite: A parasite which lives on the skin or outer surface of its host but feeds by piercing the skin. Compare endoparasite. Managing ectoparasites is crucial for maintaining animal health and productivity on farms.

EN: Abbreviation for 1. Endangered species 2. English Nature. Understanding EN helps farmers contribute to conservation efforts and comply with environmental regulations.

existing chemicals: The chemicals listed in the European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances between January 1971 and September 1981, a total of over 100,000. Compare new chemicals. Understanding existing chemicals helps farmers comply with regulations and manage inputs safely.

establishment: 1. The germination and emergence of seedlings. There was a good crop establishment. 2. A period when a newly seeded sward is becoming established. Successful establishment is crucial for farmers to ensure healthy crop growth and yield.

enrichment: The increase in nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon compounds or other nutrients in water, especially as a result of sewage flow or agricultural run-off, which encourages the growth of algae and other water plants. Understanding enrichment helps farmers manage nutrient runoff and protect water quality.

ewe: An adult female sheep. Managing ewes is crucial for farmers to ensure healthy lamb production and flock management.

elder: A small tree (Sambucus nigra) with little black berries used to make wine. Growing elder can provide farmers with additional income from berry and wine production.

EPA: Abbreviation for 1. Environmental Protection Act 1990 2. Environmental Protection Agency. Understanding EPA regulations helps farmers comply with environmental standards and adopt sustainable practices.

eviscerate: To remove the intestines and offal from a carcass. Understanding evisceration practices helps farmers process livestock efficiently and ensure food safety.

eggbound: Referring to a hen that produces an egg but is unable to lay it. Addressing eggbound conditions promptly helps maintain hen health and egg production.

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

ecofarming: A sustainable farming practice that integrates ecological principles. Ecofarming helps maintain biodiversity, improve soil health, and reduce environmental impact.

evergreen: Referring to a plant which has leaves all year round. A tree or shrub which has leaves all year round. (NOTE: Yew trees and holly are evergreens.) Compare deciduous. Growing evergreen plants helps farmers provide year-round foliage and maintain landscape aesthetics.