Category: F

Fenland: A large area of flat marshy land with alkaline water. Managing fenland provides opportunities for agriculture, conservation, and recreation.

Fasciation: An abnormal plant growth where several stems become fused together. This condition can affect crop yields and quality, requiring management practices to mitigate its impact.

Furze: A common shrub (Ulex europaeus) found in wasteland and formerly often cut and used as fodder after chaffing. Managing furze supports livestock nutrition and biodiversity.

Fat Class: The amount of external fat present on a beef or sheep carcass, classified from lean (class 1) to very fat (class 5). Understanding fat classes helps farmers meet market standards and optimize meat quality.

Factory Farm: A farm that uses intensive methods of rearing animals. Such methods can increase production efficiency and output, though farmers must balance these benefits with considerations for animal welfare and environmental impact.

Feed Compounds: A mixture of different ingredients, including major minerals, trace elements, and vitamins, blended to provide balanced diets for stock. Formulating feed compounds ensures optimal animal nutrition and performance.

Ferment: To produce alcohol and heat under the effect of yeast. Fermentation processes are used in making silage, wine, and other agricultural products.

Fibre: A long narrow plant cell with thickened walls that forms part of a plant’s supporting tissue, especially in the outer region of a stem. Fibre is also a hair, e.g., of a rabbit or goat. High-fibre crops and products provide valuable resources for agriculture and industry.

Foxtail Millet: The first cereal to be cultivated in China, used for silage, hay, brewing, and flour in many parts of the world, and in Britain it is used as birdseed. Properly managing foxtail millet production supports diverse crop options and agricultural productivity.

Food Processing Industry: The industry involved in treating raw materials to produce foodstuffs. Properly managing food processing supports food safety, quality, and marketability.

Flail: A wooden hand tool used for beating grain to separate the seeds from the waste parts. Proper use of flails supports traditional farming practices and efficient grain processing.

Farmers’ List: A list of veterinary medicines obtainable from agricultural merchants with a prescription from a veterinary surgeon. This list helps farmers manage animal health and ensure proper medication use.

Forestry: The management of forests, woodlands, and plantations of trees. Proper forestry practices ensure sustainable timber production and environmental health.

Floral: Referring to plants or flowers. Properly managing floral resources supports pollination and enhances farm productivity.

Farmworker: A person who works on a farm. Farmworkers are essential for the daily operations and success of a farm.

Flour Corn: A variety of maize with large soft grains and friable endosperm, making it easy to grind to flour. Growing flour corn provides a valuable food source and supports diverse crop production.

Flat Deck Piggery: A piggery used for rearing weaned piglets from between two and eight weeks of age, featuring a mesh floor, self-feed hoppers, and controlled heating and ventilation. Properly managing a flat deck piggery ensures the health and growth of piglets.

Foul of the Foot: A disease of cattle caused by damage to the cleft of the hoof and invasion by a germ (Fusiformis necrophorus). Managing foul of the foot through proper practices ensures cattle health and productivity.

Feces: Solid waste matter passed from the bowels of a human or other animal after food has been digested. Proper management of feces is essential for sanitation and disease prevention on farms.

Fat Hen: A weed (Chenopodium album) affecting spring cereals, peas, and row crops. Effective weed management practices are necessary to control fat hen and protect crop yields.

F1 Hybrid: An animal or plant that is the result of a cross between two different plants or animals. F1 hybrids can be crossbred to produce F2 hybrids and the process can continue for many generations. These hybrids offer traits like higher yields and disease resistance, enhancing farm efficiency and profitability.

Fingers: Pieces of metal attached to the cutter bar of a binder, mower, or harvester. Proper maintenance of machinery, including fingers, ensures efficient operation and crop harvesting.

Fleece: A coat of wool covering a sheep or goat. Properly managing and shearing fleece ensures high-quality wool production.

Farmland Bird Indicator: A standard way of measuring the frequency of birds found in agricultural areas. This indicator helps farmers monitor and enhance biodiversity on their land.

Fe: Abbreviation for the chemical element iron. Iron is essential for plant and animal health, playing a critical role in growth and metabolism.

Fish Farm: A place where edible fish are bred or reared in special pools for sale as food. Fish farming, or aquaculture, helps meet the demand for fish and provides farmers with a profitable enterprise.

Flex-Fuel: Referring to a vehicle designed to run on petrol, an alcohol-based fuel such as ethanol, or any combination of the two. Using flex-fuel vehicles supports sustainable energy use and reduces reliance on fossil fuels.

Fair: A regular meeting for the sale of goods or animals, often with sideshows and other entertainments. Fairs provide farmers with opportunities to market their products, network with other farmers, and learn about new farming techniques and technologies.

Fair: A regular meeting for the sale of goods or animals, often with sideshows and other entertainments. Fairs provide farmers with opportunities to market their products, network with other farmers, and learn about new farming techniques and technologies.

Fallow Length: The period between cultivation periods. Adjusting fallow lengths helps farmers manage soil health and crop rotation effectively.

Food Value: The amount of energy produced by a specific amount of a type of food. Understanding food value helps farmers manage livestock nutrition and optimize feed use.

Flood: A large amount of water covering land that is usually dry, caused by phenomena such as melting snow, heavy rain, high tides, or storms. Managing flood risks and implementing flood control measures help protect farmland and infrastructure.

Freestone: Referring to varieties of peach where the flesh does not cling to the stone. Properly managing freestone peach varieties ensures high-quality fruit production.

Fleeced: Covered with a coat of wool. Fleeced animals provide valuable wool for the textile industry.

Fallow Cultivation: A type of cultivation where the period under crops is increased and the length of the fallow is reduced. This method helps maximize land use efficiency and productivity.

Fungoid: Referring to something shaped like a fungus. Properly managing fungoid growths supports plant health and farm hygiene.

Fireblight: A disease of apples and pears characterized by dead flowers and branches, caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora. Managing fireblight through proper practices helps protect fruit trees and maintain yields.

Frost: 1. A deposit of crystals of ice on surfaces. 2. Freezing weather when the temperature is below the freezing point of water, which may lead to a deposit of crystals of ice on surfaces. Properly managing frost risks helps protect crops and infrastructure.

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

Formulation: The form in which a pesticide is sold for use, e.g., emulsions, wettable powders, etc., which can be mixed with water. Properly managing pesticide formulations ensures effective pest control and environmental safety.

Freezer: An appliance for preserving perishable items by keeping them at a very low temperature. Properly using freezers supports food preservation and reduces waste.

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.

Forested: Referring to land covered with forest. Properly managing forested areas supports timber production, biodiversity, and environmental health.

Farm Health Planning: An official set of guidelines from Defra for preventing, managing, and treating diseases in farm animals. Implementing health plans helps farmers maintain healthy livestock and reduce disease outbreaks.

Fungicide: A substance used to kill fungi. Properly managing fungicides ensures effective disease control and crop health.

Fullering: Making a groove on the lower surface of a horse’s shoes into which the heads of the nails will fit. Properly managing fullering supports horse hoof health and performance.

Freeholder: A person who holds a freehold property. Properly managing freehold property supports long-term farm stability and investment.

Fortified Wine: Wine such as sherry or port with extra alcohol added. Properly managing fortified wine production supports high-quality beverage production and marketability.

French Bean: A common green vegetable (Phaseolus vulgaris) grown for sale fresh or for processing as canned, frozen, or dried vegetables. Properly managing French beans ensures high-quality vegetable production and marketability.

Fat Hen: A weed (Chenopodium album) affecting spring cereals, peas, and row crops. Effective weed management practices are necessary to control fat hen and protect crop yields.