Category: F

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.

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.