Category: F

Flock Book: A record of the pedigree of a particular breed of sheep or goat, kept by the breed society. Maintaining accurate flock books helps farmers manage breeding programs and improve genetic quality.

Fetlock: The thicker back part of a horse’s leg near the hoof. Proper care of the fetlock ensures the health and performance of horses.

Food Crop: A plant grown for food. Properly managing food crops ensures high yields and supports food security.

Filly: A young female horse. Understanding the care and development of fillies ensures their health and prepares them for productive roles on the farm.

FER: Abbreviation for Farm Environment Record. Keeping an environment record helps farmers monitor and improve their environmental practices.

Foliar Spray: A method of applying pesticides or liquid nutrients as droplets to plant leaves. Using foliar sprays helps protect crops from pests and diseases and ensures optimal nutrient uptake.

Feed Ring: A circular container for forage, from which livestock can feed. Using feed rings helps manage forage intake and reduce waste.

Footpath: A route along which people walk on foot but along which vehicles are not permitted. Managing footpaths supports farm accessibility and safety.

Farm: An area of land used for growing crops and keeping animals to provide food, along with associated buildings. Effective farm management practices ensure productivity, sustainability, and profitability.

Feeding: The action of giving animals food to eat. Proper feeding schedules and practices are crucial for maintaining animal health and productivity.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease: A disease of livestock, especially animals with cloven hooves, characterized by fever and ulcerating cysts. Abbr FMD. Proper monitoring and control measures are essential to prevent the spread of FMD and maintain livestock health.

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

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.

Farm Trail: A walking trail around a farm open to the public. Farm trails can promote agri-tourism, educate the public, and provide additional income for farmers.

Family: A group of genera with some characteristics in common. Understanding plant and animal families helps farmers with breeding, cultivation, and pest management.

Flying Flock: A flock of sheep imported onto a farm for a time, normally for less than a year, and then sold. Managing flying flocks supports flexible farming operations and market responsiveness.

Fluorosis: A condition caused by excessive fluoride in drinking water or food, causing discoloration of the teeth and affecting milk yields of cattle. Monitoring and managing fluoride levels help prevent fluorosis and maintain livestock health.

Fowl: A bird, especially a hen, raised on a farm for food. Properly managing fowl ensures high-quality meat and egg production.

Fork: A common hand implement for turning over soil and lifting out weeds. Properly using forks supports efficient soil management and weed control.

Food and Veterinary Office: A committee working for the European Commission advising on policy in the food safety and quality, veterinary, and plant health sectors. Abbr FVO. This office provides valuable guidance to farmers on best practices for food safety and animal health.

Farm Service Agency: A government agency providing information and support for farmers in the United States, part of the USDA. Abbr FSA. This agency offers resources and programs to help farmers improve their operations and manage risks.

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.

Flora: The wild plants that grow naturally in a specific area. Compare fauna. Protecting flora supports biodiversity and ecological balance on farms.

Fish: A cold-blooded vertebrate that lives in water. Some species are eaten for food. Fish are high in protein, phosphorus, iodine, and vitamins A and D. White fish have very little oil. Aquaculture and fish farming provide farmers with valuable protein sources and diversify farm income.

Fascioliasis: A disease caused by an infestation of parasitic liver flukes. Farmers must monitor and treat livestock for fascioliasis to maintain herd health and productivity.

Finishing Ration: Feed given to animals to prepare them for slaughter. A finishing ration includes silage, beet pulp, and by-products such as outsize carrots. Proper formulation of finishing rations ensures optimal growth and meat quality.

Food Pyramid: A chart of a food chain showing the number of organisms at each level. Understanding food pyramids helps farmers manage ecosystems and support biodiversity on their farms.

Fowl Pest: A viral disease of chickens. Proper monitoring and control measures are essential to prevent the spread of fowl pest and maintain poultry health.

Flood Irrigation: A method of irrigation using water brought down by a river in flood. The floodwaters are led off into specially prepared basins. Proper flood irrigation techniques ensure efficient water use and crop irrigation.

Family Farm: A farm unit owned and operated by one family. Family farms often focus on sustainable practices and community-oriented farming.

Food Advisory Committee: A UK agency advising ministers on matters relating to the labeling, composition, and safety of food. Abbr FAC. This committee helps ensure food safety and quality, benefiting farmers and consumers.

Friesian: A breed of black and white dairy cattle, famous for its very high milk yields. Properly managing Friesian cattle ensures high-quality milk production and dairy farm profitability.

Fig: A tree (Ficus spp) with soft sweet fruit with many small seeds, grown mainly in Mediterranean countries. Growing figs adds diversity to farm crops and provides nutritious fruit for consumption and sale.

Full-Time Farmer: A farmer who derives their living from agriculture, as distinct from a part-time farmer. Properly managing full-time farming operations ensures farm productivity and profitability.

First Calf Heifer: A heifer that has borne its first calf. Managing first calf heifers ensures their health and productivity as they enter the milking herd.

Fruitwaste: A residue left after juice has been extracted from fruit, used as animal feed. Properly managing fruitwaste supports sustainable farming practices and livestock nutrition.

Forestry Commission: A UK government agency responsible for the management of state-owned forests. This commission provides valuable resources and guidance to farmers on best practices for forest management.

Farming Community: A group of families living near each other and having farming as their main source of income. Strong farming communities support knowledge sharing, cooperation, and local economies.

Field Book: An annual record of field utilization and other operations, kept on a farm. Maintaining a field book helps farmers track their activities, plan crop rotations, and manage resources effectively.

Farm Gate Prices: Prices which a farmer receives for his or her produce. Understanding farm gate prices helps farmers negotiate better deals and plan their finances.

Farmyard Manure: Manure formed of cattle excreta mixed with straw, used as a fertilizer. Abbr FYM. Proper use of farmyard manure improves soil fertility and reduces waste.

Freeze Drying: A method of preserving food or tissue specimens by freezing rapidly and drying in a vacuum. Properly managing freeze drying ensures high-quality preservation and storage of food products.

Feeder: 1. Something which supplies or adds to something else of the same type. 2. A container from which livestock are fed. Proper use of feeders ensures efficient feeding and reduces waste.

Fagopyrum: The Latin name for buckwheat, a plant cultivated for its grain-like seeds and as a cover crop. Buckwheat is beneficial for farmers as it improves soil health, prevents erosion, and provides a nutritious food source.

Firm: Solid. The soil is firm and not too crumbly. Firm soil conditions support planting and crop establishment.

Furrow Slice: The soil displaced by the mouldboard of a plough when it creates a furrow. Properly managing furrow slices supports efficient soil management and crop establishment.

Fixed Costs: Costs such as rent that do not increase with the quantity of a product produced. Managing fixed costs is crucial for farm financial planning and profitability.

Fungus: A simple plant organism such as yeast, mushrooms, or mold with thread-like cells and without green chlorophyll. Properly managing fungal organisms supports crop and livestock health.

Flaxseed: Seed from the flax plant, crushed to produce linseed oil. Flaxseed is a valuable crop for its oil and nutritional benefits, providing farmers with a profitable and versatile product.

Fixation: The act of fixing something. Nitrogen fixation. Understanding nitrogen fixation helps farmers manage soil fertility and improve crop growth.