Category: I

IACS: Integrated Administration and Control System – measures intended to combat fraud in aid applications and ensure fair competition in Europe, part of the CAP reforms of 1992. Helps farmers comply with regulations and secure necessary subsidies.

incompatible: Unable to cross-fertilize and produce offspring. Helps farmers understand breeding limitations and compatibility.

invertebrate: An animal that has no backbone. Helps farmers understand the role of invertebrates in agriculture. Compare vertebrate.

irrigate: To supply water to land to allow plants to grow, by channels, pipes, sprays or other means. Helps farmers manage irrigation practices.

IACR: Institute of Arable Crops Research – a research group based in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, which investigates techniques in crop growing. Farmers can benefit from the latest research and advancements in arable crop management.

infect: 1. (of an organism) To enter a host organism and cause disease. The new strain has infected many people, and the disease is spreading fast. All these plants have been infected by a virus. 2. To contaminate something with a microorganism that causes disease. Helps farmers manage disease prevention and control in crops and livestock.

interrelay cropping: A cropping system in which the crops are grown in quick succession, so that the succeeding crop is sown in the standing one, some time before it is harvested. Helps farmers optimize crop production and land use.

insect bite: A sting caused by an insect which punctures the skin and in so doing introduces irritants. Helps farmers understand and treat insect bites in livestock.

irongrass: Same as knotgrass. Helps farmers identify and manage this plant species.

IBR: Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis – a virus disease of cattle which affects the reproductive, nervous, respiratory or digestive systems. Milk yield is depressed as adults run a high fever. Understanding IBR helps farmers manage herd health.

isohyet: A line on a map linking points of equal rainfall. Helps farmers understand precipitation patterns.

infiltration: The passing of water into the soil or into a drainage system. Helps farmers manage irrigation and soil water levels.

International Livestock Centre for Africa: An organization established in 1974 at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Abbr ILCA. Provides research and resources for livestock farmers in Africa.

International Programme on Chemical Safety: A collaboration between the World Health Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme, to investigate issues relating to chemical safety. Abbr IPCS. Helps farmers understand chemical safety regulations.

Ig: Immunoglobulin – a protein produced by specific white blood cells that acts as an antibody in immune responses. Abbr Ig. Important for livestock health and disease management.

ironweed: Same as knotgrass. Helps farmers identify and manage this plant species.

ICCA: International Cocoa Agreement – an agreement between countries to stabilize the price of cocoa. Ensures fair trade practices and stable income for cocoa farmers.

intervention buying: A feature of the Common Agricultural Policy, whereby governments or their agents offer to buy surplus agricultural produce at a predetermined price. Helps farmers manage surplus production.

interspecific: Involving two or more species. Helps farmers understand interactions between different species in agriculture.

induced twinning: The act of producing twin young after embryo transfer with twin embryos. Helps farmers increase livestock production.

incisor: A flat sharp-edged tooth in the front of the mouth for cutting and tearing food. Helps farmers understand animal anatomy and health.

intersow: To sow seed between rows of existing plants. Helps farmers manage intercropping practices.

inoculum: 1. Material used to inoculate a person or animal against a disease. 2. Microscopic airborne spores or other material from an organism that causes disease. Helps farmers understand and apply inoculation practices.

injurious weed: A weed which causes damage to crops or livestock, e.g. ragwort or creeping thistle. Helps farmers identify and manage harmful weeds.

integrated pest management: An appropriate combination of different methods of pest control, involving good cultivation practices, use of chemical pesticides, resistant crop varieties and biological control. Abbr IPM. Helps farmers effectively manage pests with minimal environmental impact.

interveinal: Between the veins. Helps farmers understand plant anatomy and health.

inflorescence: A flower or a group of flowers on a stem. Helps farmers understand plant reproduction and flowering.

infestation: The presence of large numbers of pests. The crop showed a serious infestation of greenfly. The condition is caused by an infestation of lice. Helps farmers identify and control pest infestations.

impoverished: Referring to something with reduced quality. If impoverished soil is left fallow for some years, nutrients may build up in the soil again. Helps farmers recognize and restore degraded land.

improvement: The act or an instance of something becoming or being made better. The improvement of crop varieties by selection. There is still room for improvement in performance. We need to achieve improvements in efficiency. Helps farmers continuously enhance their practices and outputs.

inorganic fungicide: A fungicide made from inorganic substances such as sulfur. Helps farmers manage fungal diseases in crops.

inbreeding: The process of mating or crossing between closely related individuals, leading to a reduction in variation. Compare outbreeding. Helps farmers manage genetic diversity in livestock.

inorganic fertiliser: An artificially synthesized fertilizer. Helps farmers use inorganic fertilizers to enhance soil fertility and crop production.

immunisation: The production of immunity to a specific disease, either by injecting an antiserum or by giving an individual the disease in such a small dose that the body does not develop the disease, but produces antibodies to counteract it. Helps farmers protect livestock from diseases.

interveinal yellowing: A condition of plants caused by magnesium deficiency, where the surface of the leaves turns yellow and the veins stay green. Helps farmers identify and correct nutrient deficiencies in crops.

ICA: International Coffee Agreement – an agreement between countries to stabilize the price of coffee. Helps coffee farmers by providing market stability.

inbreeding depression: A reduction in variation and vigor arising in a population that is repeatedly inbred. Compare heterosis. Helps farmers recognize and avoid negative effects of inbreeding.

irrigation: The artificial supplying and application of water to land with growing crops. Helps farmers understand and implement effective irrigation systems.

Institute of Terrestrial Ecology: A former ecological research organization, now merged with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Abbr ITE. Helps farmers access ecological research for better land management.

International Livestock Centre for Africa: An organization established in 1974 at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Abbr ILCA. Provides research and resources for livestock farmers in Africa.

internode: The part of a plant stem between two adjacent nodes. Helps farmers understand plant growth and pruning techniques.

infertile: 1. Referring to any organism that is not able to reproduce or produce offspring. 2. Referring to trees and plants that are not able to produce fruit or seeds. 3. Referring to soil that is not able to produce good crops. Helps farmers manage breeding and soil fertility.

International Wool Secretariat: A group which represents countries which export wool. Abbr IWS. Helps wool farmers with market support and research.

intensive agriculture: A method of farming in which as much use is made of the land as possible by growing crops close together, growing several crops in a year or using large amounts of fertilizer. Opposite extensive agriculture. Also called productive agriculture. Helps farmers maximize land use efficiency.

in-field: Formerly, the field nearest the farmstead, regularly manured and cultivated. In-fields are still preserved on some hill farms. Helps farmers manage land use and cultivation practices.

inbred: Resulting from inbreeding. Helps farmers understand the genetic implications of breeding practices.

in-lay: A period when a hen is laying eggs. Helps farmers manage poultry production cycles.

indigo: A tropical plant of the pea family which is a source of blue dye. Genus: Indigofera. Helps farmers grow crops for natural dyes.

immunity: 1. The natural or acquired ability of a person or other animal to resist a microorganism and the disease it causes. The vaccine gives immunity to tuberculosis. 2. The ability of a plant to resist disease through a protective covering on leaves, through the formation of protoplasts or through the development of inactive forms of viruses. Knowledge of immunity helps farmers protect crops and livestock from diseases.

International Rice Research Institute: An organization established at Los Banos, Philippines in 1959. Abbr IRRI. Supports farmers with research on rice production.