Category: F

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.

Food Grain: A cereal crop used as food for humans, e.g., wheat, barley, or rye. Properly managing food grains ensures high-quality food production and marketability.

Fertility: 1. The state of being fertile. 2. The proportion of eggs which develop into young. 3. A measure of the ability of a female to conceive and produce young or of the male to fertilise the female. Managing fertility is crucial for successful breeding and high productivity.

Farm Animal Welfare Council: An agency established by the British government to review the welfare of farm animals on agricultural land, at markets, in transit, and at the place of slaughter. Abbr FAWC. This council helps ensure ethical treatment and welfare standards for farm animals.

Four-Wheel Drive Vehicle: A vehicle in which the power is transmitted to all four wheels, as opposed to only one pair of wheels as is usual in cars. Using four-wheel drive vehicles supports efficient farm operations and transportation on challenging terrains.

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

Foetus: An unborn animal in the womb at the stage when all structural features are visible, i.e., after eight weeks in humans. Proper monitoring and care of pregnant livestock ensure healthy foetus development and successful births.

Fumigation: Disinfection by means of gas or fumes that penetrate into cracks and holes, a process that is probably more efficient than spraying or scrubbing. Properly managing fumigation practices ensures effective pest control and farm hygiene.

Frugivore: An animal that mainly eats fruit. Many bats and birds are frugivores. Understanding frugivore behavior supports biodiversity and ecological balance on farms.

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.

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.

Fennel: An aromatic herb (Foeniculum vulgare) of Mediterranean origin, used to flavour fish dishes and soups. Growing fennel adds diversity to farm crops and can provide culinary and medicinal benefits.

fertigation: The application of fertilizers through an irrigation system. Fertigation can improve nutrient management and crop productivity.

Feed Wheat: Wheat used as an animal feed and not for human consumption. Selecting appropriate feed wheat supports animal nutrition and farm efficiency.

Farm-Scale: Relating to trials or evaluations carried out on farms using regular farming practices rather than on small experimental plots. Farm-scale trials provide realistic data to improve agricultural practices.

Fodder Storage: The storing of fodder for use in winter. Proper fodder storage practices ensure a consistent feed supply for livestock during the winter months.

Foetal: Referring to a foetus. Proper management of foetal development ensures healthy livestock births and productivity.

Fairy Ring: A circle of darker colored grass in a pasture, caused by fungi. Farmers can use this knowledge to identify and manage soil health and fungal issues in their pastures.

Food and Agriculture Organization: An international organization that is an agency of the United Nations, established to improve standards of nutrition and eradicate malnutrition and hunger. Abbr FAO. This organization provides resources and guidance to farmers worldwide, promoting sustainable agriculture and food security.

Fly Blown: Referring to a fleece laden with maggot-fly eggs. Properly managing fly infestations helps protect sheep health and wool quality.

Farm Produce: Food such as fruit, vegetables, meat, milk, and butter, which is produced on a farm. High-quality farm produce is essential for market success and consumer satisfaction.

Flixweed: A common annual weed (Descurainia sophia). Effective weed management practices are necessary to control flixweed and protect crop yields.

Fuel: A substance that can be burnt to provide heat or power, e.g., wood, coal, gas, or oil. Properly managing fuel resources supports energy efficiency and farm operations.

Farm to Fork: The chain of food supply from the farm where it is produced to the consumer. Understanding this chain helps farmers improve food safety, quality, and traceability.

Free: Not attached, confined, or controlled. Ensuring livestock and crops have free access to necessary resources supports their health and productivity.

Feed Stance: An open stall in a building where animals can feed. Proper design of feed stances ensures efficient feeding and animal comfort.

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

Farm Business Survey: A survey carried out by Defra on the financial performance of different types of farms. Abbr FBS. This survey helps farmers benchmark their performance and make informed business decisions.

Fauna: The wild animals and birds that live naturally in a specific area. Compare flora. Protecting fauna supports biodiversity and ecological balance on farms.

Farmed: Grown or produced commercially and not in the wild. For example, farmed salmon. Farmed products help meet market demand and can be managed sustainably.

Food Safety Act 1990: Legislation setting hygiene standards for food producers and suppliers. This act helps ensure food safety and quality, benefiting farmers and consumers.

Floury: Soft and powdery, like flour. Floury potatoes are varieties that turn easily into flour when cooked. Growing floury potatoes provides a valuable food source and supports diverse crop production.