Agricultural Terms and Helpful Expert Insight
exploitation: The action of taking advantage of something. The utilization of natural resources. The unfair use of something or treatment of someone for personal benefit. Adopting fair and sustainable practices helps farmers manage resources responsibly.
elevator digger: A machine for harvesting crops such as potatoes, which can be adapted to harvest carrots, onions, or flower bulbs. Using elevator diggers helps farmers streamline the harvesting process and reduce labor costs.
exhausted fallow: Fallow land which is no longer fertile. Managing exhausted fallow helps farmers restore soil health and productivity.
early bite: Grazing in the spring provided by new growths of grass which sprout when the weather gets warmer. Early bite can help farmers optimize grazing schedules and improve livestock health.
eucalyptus: An Australian hardwood tree (Eucalyptus spp.) with strong-smelling resin. The trees are quick-growing and often used for afforestation but are susceptible to fire. Growing eucalyptus can provide farmers with a fast-growing timber source.
enterovirus: A virus which prefers to live in the intestine. Understanding enteroviruses helps farmers implement effective biosecurity measures and prevent disease outbreaks.
ecological factors: Factors which influence the distribution of a plant species in a habitat. Knowledge of ecological factors helps farmers manage crops and land use effectively.
European Union: An alliance of 25 European countries, originally established with six members in 1957 by the Treaty of Rome. Among its powers are those for environmental and agricultural policy in its member states. Abbr EU. (NOTE: Formerly called the European Community or European Economic Community.) Understanding EU policies helps farmers comply with regulations and access funding opportunities.
exhaustive: Complete and thorough. An exhaustive reply to the safety concerns. An exhaustive search for the information. Conducting exhaustive research helps farmers make informed decisions and implement best practices.
environmental degradation: A reduction in the quality of the environment. Preventing environmental degradation helps farmers maintain productive land and healthy ecosystems.
eradication: The complete removal of something. The total extinction of a species. Implementing eradication practices helps farmers control pests and diseases and protect crop health.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
entomology: The study of insects. Understanding entomology helps farmers manage pests and protect crops.
by