Finnish Ayrshire
Finnish Ayrshire: A breed of cattle found in northern Finland, similar to the Ayrshire, mainly reared for milk. Managing Finnish Ayrshires supports dairy production and provides high-quality milk.
Agricultural Terms and Helpful Expert Insight
Finnish Ayrshire: A breed of cattle found in northern Finland, similar to the Ayrshire, mainly reared for milk. Managing Finnish Ayrshires supports dairy production and provides high-quality milk.
Feed Ratio: The ratio showing the price of an animal sold on the market against the cost of feeding it. Understanding feed ratios helps farmers make informed financial decisions and optimize profitability.
Flight Feathers: The main feathers on a birds wing, properly called the primaries. Managing flight feathers is important for the health and welfare of poultry and other birds on the farm.
Fusarium Ear Blight: A serious fungal disease of wheat that can cause significant loss in yield and quality. Properly managing Fusarium ear blight ensures crop health and productivity.
Farm and Wildlife Advisory Group: An organization in the UK advising farmers on environmental and conservation issues. Abbr FWAG. This group helps farmers implement sustainable practices and protect biodiversity on their farms.
False Staggers: A disease of sheep caused by maggots, leading to inflammation of the nostrils and head, making the sheep appear dazed. Awareness of this disease helps farmers take preventive measures and maintain flock health.
flail mower: A type of mower that uses flails attached to a rotating drum to cut vegetation. Using a flail mower can help manage pastures and control weeds.
Factory Farming: A highly intensive method of rearing animals characterized by keeping large numbers of animals indoors in confined spaces and feeding them processed foods, with the use of drugs to control diseases. This method allows for high production rates but requires careful management to maintain animal health and comply with welfare standards.
Forage Harvester: A machine that cuts, chops, and loads green crops such as lucerne into a trailer to make silage. Properly using forage harvesters supports efficient feed preparation and storage.
Freemartin: A female calf produced when a male and female embryo share a uterus, causing the reproductive system of the female embryo to be effectively masculinised. Properly managing freemartins ensures their health and productivity.
Feed Refusal: The amount of allotted feed that a farm animal does not eat. Monitoring feed refusal helps identify health issues and adjust feeding practices accordingly.
Feeding Face: The area allowed to each animal to feed from under controlled conditions. Each cow needs 150mm of feeding face. Managing feeding space ensures all animals have access to food and reduces competition.
Feeding Value: The nutritional value of feedingstuffs. Understanding feeding value helps farmers select the best feed for their animals to ensure health and productivity.
Food Poisoning: An illness caused by eating food that is contaminated with bacteria. Properly managing food safety and hygiene helps prevent food poisoning and protect public health.
Footbath: 1. A trough containing disinfectant through which sheep or cattle are driven to prevent or cure various diseases such as foot rot. 2. A shallow container containing disinfectant in which a person walks to disinfect shoes or boots. Properly using footbaths helps prevent the spread of diseases and maintain farm hygiene.
Founder Crop: A crop that was one of the earliest to be used and developed by humans, e.g., wheat, barley, lentils, and chickpeas. Growing founder crops supports food security and agricultural diversity.
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.
Farm Environment Record: A basic plan of a farm describing its landscape and main features. Abbr FER. Keeping an environment record helps farmers monitor and improve their environmental practices.
Fools Parsley: A species of hemlock (Aethusa cynapium) resembling parsley. Properly identifying and managing fools parsley helps prevent poisoning in livestock.
Fahrenheit: Fahrenheit is a temperature scale where water freezes at 32°F and boils at 212°F. Monitoring temperature using Fahrenheit helps farmers manage environmental conditions, crucial for optimizing crop growth and livestock well-being.
Farmer-Controlled Business: A farm owned and controlled by the farmer who also manages the land. These businesses often adopt long-term, proactive approaches to marketing and return value to members through innovative contracts.
Fungicidal: Referring to a substance that kills fungi. Properly using fungicidal products ensures effective disease control and crop health.