Category: F

Foliar: Referring to leaves. Proper foliar management practices support plant health and productivity.

Furlong: One-eighth of a mile, or 220 yards. Properly managing measurements supports accurate farm planning and operations.

Flail Forage Harvester: A type of forage harvester that uses a high-speed flail rotor. The cut crop passes through a vertical chute and is discharged into a trailer. Using a flail forage harvester ensures efficient harvesting and feed preparation.

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.

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.

FCE: Abbreviation for feed conversion efficiency. This measure helps farmers optimize animal feeding practices to improve growth rates and reduce feed costs.

Farm Support Scheme: Article 39 of the Treaty of Rome providing the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy. Each member state contributes to the European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund. Payments are made for structural changes under the guidance fund and much larger payments under the guarantee section. This scheme helps farmers manage financial risks and support agricultural development.

FARMA: Abbreviation for National Farmer’s Retail and Markets Association. This association supports farmers in marketing their products and improving sales through direct-to-consumer models.

Food Balance: The balance between food supply and the demand for food from a population. Understanding food balance helps farmers plan production and manage resources effectively.

F: Fahrenheit (°F) is a scale of temperature measurement where the freezing point of water is 32°F and the boiling point is 212°F. Farmers use Fahrenheit to monitor and manage the climate conditions essential for crop growth and livestock health.

Forest: 1. An area of land greater than 0.5 ha, 10% of which is occupied by trees. Properly managing forests supports timber production, biodiversity, and environmental health.

Fodder: Plant material or a crop grown to give to animals as food, e.g., grass or clover. Growing and managing fodder crops provides nutritious feed for livestock and supports sustainable farming practices.

Four Tooth Sheep: A sheep that is 18–21 months of age. Properly managing four tooth sheep ensures their health and productivity.

Fishmeal: A powder of dried fish, used as an animal feed or fertilizer. Using fishmeal as feed enhances livestock nutrition and supports sustainable farming practices.

FVO: Abbreviation for Food and Veterinary Office. This office provides valuable guidance to farmers on best practices for food safety and animal health.

Fallowing: The process of allowing land to lie fallow for a period. It helps improve soil structure, fertility, and reduce pest and weed pressure.

Fen: An area of flat marshy land with plants such as reeds and mosses growing in alkaline water. Managing fenland can provide valuable wildlife habitats and agricultural resources.

Feed Grain: A cereal fed to animals and birds, e.g., wheat or maize. Choosing high-quality feed grain supports animal health and growth.

Forage Maize: Maize grown for ensilage. Properly managing forage maize production ensures a valuable feed source for livestock and supports crop rotation.

Field Trial: A trial that tests the ability of a crop variety to perform under normal cultivation conditions. Conducting field trials helps farmers select the best varieties for their specific conditions and improve crop performance.

Folic Acid: A vitamin in the vitamin B complex found in milk, liver, yeast, and green plants such as spinach. Ensuring adequate folic acid levels supports livestock health and reproduction.

Four-Course Rotation: Same as Norfolk rotation. Implementing four-course rotation helps maintain soil fertility and reduce pest and disease pressures.

Fancy Breed: A breed reared for decoration or show rather than produce. These breeds add diversity to farming and can be a source of income through shows and exhibitions.

Fermentation: The process whereby carbohydrates are broken down by enzymes from yeast, producing heat and alcohol. Proper fermentation techniques are essential for producing high-quality silage and other products.

Feed Concentrate: An animal feed with a high food value relative to volume. Using feed concentrates efficiently supports livestock growth and productivity.

Fish Farming: The commercial activity of keeping fish in ponds or fenced areas of the sea for sale as food. Also called aquaculture, aquafarming, aquiculture. Fish farming supports sustainable seafood production and diversifies agricultural activities.

Full-Mouthed: Referring to an animal that has a complete set of permanent teeth. Properly managing full-mouthed animals ensures their health and productivity.

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.

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.

Fortified: With something added to make stronger. Fortified food and beverages support livestock health and nutrition.

Five Freedoms: A set of guidelines considered when looking after the welfare of farm animals. The five freedoms are: freedom from hunger or thirst; freedom from discomfort; freedom from pain, injury, or disease; freedom to express normal behavior; and freedom from fear and distress. Adhering to these guidelines ensures ethical and humane treatment of livestock.

Forage Box: A large movable container used mainly to transport forage from a silo to a trough. Using forage boxes supports efficient feed transportation and livestock management.

Feed Conversion Efficiency: The number of kilograms of feed required to produce a kilogram of weight gain in an animal such as a pig. Abbr FCE, FCR. Improving feed conversion efficiency reduces feed costs and enhances farm profitability.

FSA: Abbreviation for Farm Service Agency, a US government agency providing information and support for farmers, and Food Standards Agency, a British government agency offering advice on food safety and quality. Properly using FSA resources supports farm management and food safety.

Follicle: 1. The small structure in the skin from which each hair develops. 2. One of many small structures in the ovaries where egg cells develop. Properly managing follicles ensures animal health and reproductive success.

free-range: Referring to livestock, especially poultry, that are allowed to roam freely. Free-range farming practices can improve animal welfare and product quality.

Fallopian Tube: In mammals, a tube that conveys eggs from an ovary to the womb. Understanding reproductive anatomy helps farmers in breeding and managing livestock health.

Feed Preparation: The milling and crushing of grain, mixing of the ingredients, and making into cubes or pellets. Proper feed preparation ensures balanced diets and supports livestock health.

Faeces: Solid waste matter passed from the bowels of a human or other animal after food has been eaten and digested. (The US spelling is feces.) Effective disposal and treatment of faeces help maintain farm hygiene, reduce disease risk, and can be used in composting to enhance soil fertility.

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

Fawn: A young deer. Understanding the needs and behavior of fawns helps farmers manage wildlife and livestock interactions.

FISS: Abbreviation for Food Industry Sustainability Strategy. This strategy promotes sustainable development across the food supply chain, helping farmers adopt practices that protect the environment and ensure long-term productivity.

FoE: Abbreviation for Friends of the Earth. This organization advocates for environmental protection and sustainable farming practices.

Feedlot: An area of land where livestock are kept at a high density, with small pens in which the animals are fattened. All feed is brought into the feedlot from outside sources. Efficient feedlot management supports high-density livestock production.

Feedstuff: Food for farm animals. Also called feedingstuff. Providing high-quality feedstuff is essential for livestock health and productivity.

Flightless Bird: A bird with small wings that cannot fly, e.g., an ostrich or a penguin. Understanding the care and management of flightless birds supports diverse farming operations.

Fallow Crop: A crop grown in widely spaced rows, allowing for hoeing and cultivation between the rows. This practice helps manage soil health and weed control.

Fat: A white oily substance in the body of mammals, which stores energy and protects against cold. In farming, managing animal fat levels is important for meat quality and marketability.

Farm Manager: A person who runs a farm on behalf of the owner. Farm managers ensure that farm operations are efficient, productive, and sustainable.

Flockmaster: A farm worker in charge of a flock of sheep or goats. Effective flock management by a flockmaster ensures the health and productivity of the flock.