Category: F

Flock: A large group of birds or some farm animals such as sheep and goats. Managing flocks effectively ensures animal health and productivity.

Field: 1. An area of land, usually surrounded by a fence or hedge, used for growing crops or for pasture. 2. An area of interest or activity. Proper field management ensures productive farming and sustainable land use.

Feed Passage: 1. The rate at which feed passes through an animal’s digestive system. 2. The area in a livestock shed where the feed is placed so that the animals can access it. Managing feed passage ensures efficient digestion and nutrient absorption.

Flea: A small jumping insect that lives as a parasite on animals, sucking their blood and possibly spreading disease. Order: Siphonaptera. Effective flea control is essential for maintaining livestock health and preventing disease transmission.

Farm Rent: Rent paid by a tenant farmer to a landlord on a regular basis for the use of the farm holding. Understanding farm rent agreements helps farmers manage their finances and maintain good landlord relationships.

FWAG: Abbreviation for Farm and Wildlife Advisory Group. This group provides valuable resources and guidance to farmers on environmental and conservation issues.

Foreleg: One of the two front legs of an animal, as opposed to the hind legs. Proper care of forelegs ensures the health and mobility of livestock.

FAWC: Abbreviation for Farm Animal Welfare Council. This council provides guidelines and reviews to ensure the ethical treatment and welfare of farm animals.

F1: In breeding experiments, the first generation of offspring from a cross between two different plants or animals. F1 hybrids often exhibit hybrid vigor, resulting in improved yield, disease resistance, and overall better performance, beneficial for farming productivity.

Fly-Tipping: The dumping of rubbish somewhere other than at an official site. Proper waste management practices prevent fly-tipping and protect farm environments.

Feed Additive: A supplement added to the feed of farm livestock, particularly pigs and poultry, to promote growth, e.g., an antibiotic or hormone. Using feed additives responsibly enhances livestock growth and productivity.

Frit Fly: A small black fly (Oscinella frit) that attacks wheat, maize, and oats. Properly managing frit flies helps protect cereal crops and ensure healthy growth.

Fly Strike: A serious condition caused by maggots breeding on the animal’s hindquarters, which can quickly cause death from shock. Proper monitoring and treatment of fly strike ensure livestock health and welfare.

Flatworm: A worm with a flat body, a single gut opening, and no circulatory system. Phylum: Platyhelminthes. Flatworms include both free-living species and parasites such as flukes and tapeworms. Monitoring and controlling flatworm infestations help maintain animal health.

Fertiliser Distributor: A machine used to spread fertiliser. Efficient use of a fertiliser distributor ensures even application and optimal nutrient availability for crops.

Farming Systems: Different types of farming and methods of cultivation, e.g., shifting cultivation systems, ley systems, systems with permanent upland cultivation, fallow systems, grazing systems, and systems with perennial crops. Understanding various systems helps farmers choose the best practices for their land and resources.

Furrow: A long trench and ridge cut in the soil by the mouldboard of a plough. Properly managing furrows supports efficient planting and crop growth.

foot-and-mouth disease (FMD): A highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals. Understanding and preventing FMD is critical for protecting livestock health and preventing economic losses.

Floodwater: Water that spreads uncontrolled onto land that is usually dry. After floodwater recedes, the center of the town was left buried in mud. Properly managing floodwater helps protect farmland and infrastructure.

Frame: The main part of a plough to which the ploughshare and mouldboard are attached. Properly maintaining the frame ensures efficient plough operation and soil management.

Fertile: Referring to an animal or plant that is able to produce offspring by sexual reproduction. Fertile soil has a high concentration of nutrients that can produce good crops. Managing fertility is crucial for productive and sustainable farming.

FYM: Abbreviation for farmyard manure. Properly managing FYM supports soil fertility and crop growth.

Fenland Rotation: A system of crop rotation developed on the Fens of East Anglia, using potatoes, sugar beet, and wheat in rotation. This rotation helps maintain soil fertility and reduce pest and disease pressures.

forage: Plant material eaten by grazing livestock. Effective forage management ensures adequate nutrition and pasture health.

Funicle: A short stalk attaching a seed to the inside of the pod. Understanding plant anatomy, including funicles, supports efficient seed production and crop management.

Farm Environment Plan: A survey carried out of all a farm’s environmental features, such as its natural resources, landscape, resident wildlife, and points of access. Abbr FEP. This plan helps farmers manage their land sustainably and protect the environment.

Flock Mating: A mating system that uses several males to mate with the females of a flock. Properly managing flock mating enhances genetic diversity and reproductive success.

Fence: A barrier put around a field, either to mark the boundary or to prevent animals from entering or leaving. Effective fencing is essential for livestock management and farm security.

Finncattle: A breed of dairy cattle derived from three Finnish breeds. The animals are medium-sized and brown. Raising Finncattle provides farmers with high-quality milk and robust livestock.

Fir Cone: A hard oval or round structure on a fir tree containing the seeds. The term is sometimes applied to the cones of other trees such as pines. Managing fir cones supports seed production and forest regeneration.

Fertilisation: The joining of an ovum and a sperm to form a zygote and start the development of an embryo. Understanding fertilization processes helps farmers optimize breeding programs and improve reproductive success.

Food and Environmental Protection Act, 1986: Legislation bringing the use of agrochemicals under statutory control, as opposed to the previous voluntary arrangement. Abbr FEPA. This act helps ensure the safe use of agrochemicals, protecting farm environments and public health.

Falling Time: The time taken for wheat grain to fall to the bottom of a container of water, measured by the Hagberg test. This helps farmers determine the quality and baking properties of wheat.

Fatstock: Livestock fattened for meat production. Proper feeding and management of fatstock ensure high-quality meat and profitable market returns.

Fallen Stock: Dead animals on a farm. Proper disposal and management of fallen stock are crucial for biosecurity and preventing the spread of diseases.

Fodder Radish: A type of brassica grown primarily for use as a green fodder crop. Growing fodder radish provides nutritious feed for livestock and supports soil health.

Flat Rate Feeding: A system of feeding concentrates to dairy cows, involving few changes to the level of concentrate input from calving to turnout. Implementing flat rate feeding can simplify feed management and ensure consistent nutrition for dairy cows.

Farrowing Rails: Rails that prevent the sow from overlying the piglets. Using farrowing rails helps reduce piglet mortality.

Fraxinus: The Latin name for the ash tree. Growing Fraxinus trees supports timber production and biodiversity in agroforestry systems.

Flocculation: The grouping of small particles of soil together to form larger ones. Flocculation is very important in making clay soils easy to work. Proper soil management practices encourage flocculation and improve soil structure.

FEP: Abbreviation for Farm Environment Plan. This plan helps farmers manage their land sustainably and protect environmental resources.

Freehold Property: Property held in freehold. Properly managing freehold property supports long-term farm stability and investment.

Free-Range Eggs: Eggs from hens that are allowed to run about in the open and eat more natural food. Properly managing free-range hens ensures high-quality egg production and animal welfare.

Field Capacity: The maximum possible amount of water remaining in the soil after excess water has drained away. Understanding field capacity helps farmers optimize irrigation practices and maintain soil health.

FAQ: Abbreviation for frequently asked questions. Providing FAQs helps farmers easily access important information and best practices for farm management.

Feed Intake: The amount of food eaten by an animal. Monitoring feed intake helps detect health issues and optimize feeding practices.

Faecal: Referring to faeces. (The US spelling is fecal.) Proper management of faecal matter is crucial on farms to prevent contamination, manage waste effectively, and maintain sanitary conditions for both livestock and crops.

Friends of the Earth: A pressure group formed to influence local and central governments on environmental matters. Abbr FoE. This organization advocates for sustainable farming practices and environmental protection.

FAC: Abbreviation for Food Advisory Committee. This committee provides guidance on food safety and standards, ensuring that farmers’ products meet regulatory requirements and are safe for consumption, thereby protecting public health and enhancing marketability.

Fair Trade: An international system where food companies agree to pay producers in developing countries a fair price for their products. Fair trade practices support sustainable farming, fair wages, and ethical production, benefiting small-scale farmers and promoting global equity.