Category: L

Levy: A levy is money which is demanded and collected by a government. Understanding agricultural levies can help farmers comply with regulations and manage financial planning.

Light Soil: Light soil is soil consisting mainly of large particles which are loosely held together because of the relatively large pore space. Light soil is usually easier to cultivate than heavy soil, but may dry out too quickly. Understanding soil types and their properties can help farmers choose appropriate crops and cultivation methods.

Layers’ Ailments: Layers’ ailments are disorders of fowls in lay, especially birds that are in heavy production. These disorders include egg binding, internal laying, and layer’s cramp. Managing layers’ ailments through proper nutrition and care can improve poultry health and egg production.

Landside: Landside is the part of the plough which takes the sideways thrust as the furrow is turned. Understanding plough mechanics helps farmers improve soil cultivation practices.

Louping-Ill: Louping-ill is an infective parasitic disease of sheep (Ixodes ricinus), carried by ticks in hill pastures. Animals suffer acute fever and nervous twitch and staggers. Also called staggers, twitch, trembles. Managing louping-ill through proper treatment and prevention measures can protect sheep health and productivity.

Lim: Lim is an abbreviation for Limousin (informal). Raising Limousin cattle can provide farmers with high-quality beef and enhance farm profitability.

Listeria: Listeria is a bacterium found in human and animal feces, one species of which can cause meningitis if ingested in contaminated food. Genus: Listeria. Understanding and preventing listeria contamination can protect food safety and public health.

Lignin: Lignin is the material in plant cell walls that makes plants woody and gives them rigidity and strength. Understanding lignin can help farmers manage plant growth and crop quality.

Long Ton: Long ton is the same as ton. Understanding measurements like long tons can aid in precise farm planning and product management.

Longhorn: Longhorn is a dual-purpose hardy breed of cattle, with long down-curving horns. The animals are usually red or brown in color, with white markings. The breed is now rare. Raising rare breeds like Longhorn can enhance genetic diversity and resilience in cattle farming.

Lima Bean: Lima bean is the same as butter bean. Growing lima beans can provide farmers with a nutritious and marketable crop.

Lease: A lease is a written contract for letting or renting a piece of equipment for a period against payment of a fee. To lease means to let or rent land or equipment for a period. The company has a policy of only using leased equipment. To use land or equipment for a time and pay a fee. All the farm’s tractors are owned, but the combines are leased. Utilizing leasing arrangements can provide farmers with access to necessary equipment without large capital investments.

Lie: A lie is a place where an animal lies down. Livestock benefit from a dry lie at pasture. Providing comfortable resting areas for livestock can enhance their well-being and productivity.

Large White: Large White is an important commercial breed of pig that is white with pricked up ears. Raising Large White pigs can contribute to efficient pork production and farm profitability.

Leguminous: Leguminous refers to a legume. Growing leguminous crops can benefit soil health and support sustainable agriculture.

Lincoln Longwool: Lincoln Longwool is a rare breed of sheep now found mainly in Lincolnshire, with white faces and long shiny wool. The animals are very large and slow to mature. Raising rare breeds like Lincoln Longwool can enhance genetic diversity and resilience in sheep farming.

Linoil: Linoil is linseed oil. Producing linseed oil can add value to flax farming and provide a versatile product for various uses.

Lindane: Lindane is an organochlorine pesticide. It is a persistent organic pollutant and has been banned for all agricultural uses in the European Union. Formula: C6H6Cl6. Understanding the impacts of pesticides like lindane can help farmers adopt sustainable pest management practices.

Lemma: Lemma is the outer bract which encloses the flowers of grass. Knowledge of plant anatomy, such as the lemma, can aid in effective crop management.

Leaseholder: A leaseholder is a person who holds a property on a lease. Being a leaseholder allows farmers to use land or facilities for a specified period, supporting agricultural activities.

Liveweight Marketing: Liveweight marketing is the marketing of live animals. Utilizing liveweight marketing can provide farmers with a platform to sell animals and gain competitive prices.

Laver: Laver is the Welsh name for a variety of seaweed which is edible. Cultivating laver can provide farmers with a nutritious and sustainable food source.

Lugs: Lugs are projections from the tyres of tractor wheels. They increase traction by digging into the soil and by keeping the tyre in contact with solid surfaces in muddy conditions. Using lugs can enhance tractor performance and reduce slippage in challenging soil conditions.

Lonk: Lonk is a breed of moorland sheep, found in the Pennines of Lancashire and Yorkshire. It is one of the Swaledale group, although larger than other varieties, and produces finer wool than most hill sheep. The face and legs are white with dark markings. Raising Lonk sheep can provide farmers with high-quality wool and meat.

Loose-Leaved: Loose-leaved refers to a plant such as a lettuce with a loose collection of leaves and no heart. Growing loose-leaved plants can provide farmers with a diverse and marketable crop.

Livestock Records: Livestock records are simple records of all livestock, which each farm has to make and which are then available for the Defra returns which are compiled each year. Maintaining accurate livestock records can help farmers track animal health and productivity and comply with regulatory requirements.

Leaf Burn: Leaf burn is the same as leaf scorch. Preventing leaf burn through proper plant care and protection from extreme weather can ensure healthy crop growth.

Lump Lime: Lump lime is another name for burnt lime or quicklime. Utilizing lump lime can improve soil health and fertility, supporting crop growth.

Liming: Liming is the spreading of lime on soil to reduce acidity and add calcium. Also called lime treatment. Implementing liming practices can enhance soil fertility and support sustainable agriculture.

Lipase: Lipase is an enzyme that breaks down fats. Understanding enzymes like lipase can help farmers formulate balanced animal feeds and manage livestock nutrition.

List of Chemicals of Concern: List of Chemicals of Concern is a list of chemicals believed to be produced or used in the UK in substantial amounts and which meet specific criteria for concern relating to risks to the environment and human health. The list is drawn up by the UK Chemicals Stakeholder Forum and is intended for discussion and input. Being aware of chemicals of concern can help farmers adopt safe and sustainable farming practices.

Light Grains: Light grains are cereals such as barley and oats. Comparing light grains with heavy grains can help farmers choose appropriate crops for their land and market needs.

Liver Fluke: Liver fluke is a parasitic trematode which lives in the liver and bile ducts of animals, e.g., Fasciola hepatica which infests sheep and cattle, causing loss of condition. Managing liver fluke through proper treatment and prevention measures can protect livestock health and farm productivity.

Lignify: To lignify means to become hard and woody. Plants are less digestible as they become lignified. Managing lignification in forage crops can improve livestock nutrition and digestibility.

Lactate: To lactate means to produce milk as food for young. Understanding lactation is essential for managing dairy herds effectively, ensuring optimal milk production and the health of both mother and offspring.

Lambing: Lambing is the action of giving birth to lambs. Efficient lambing practices improve the health and survival of lambs, contributing to the overall productivity of the farm.

Lignify: To lignify means to become hard and woody. Plants are less digestible as they become lignified. Managing lignification in forage crops can improve livestock nutrition and digestibility.

Laminitis: Laminitis is the inflammation of the lamina in a hoof, causing swelling, and often leading to deformed hooves. It is possibly caused by too much grain feed. Managing laminitis through proper diet and hoof care can prevent lameness in livestock, ensuring their health and productivity.

Loose-Box: A loose-box is a stable for animals that are kept untied. A loose-box should have a hay rack, manger, water bowl, and tying rings. It should also have a grooved floor to make cleaning and drainage easier. Loose-boxes are also useful for housing sick animals. Using loose-boxes can enhance animal welfare and management.

Leader: A leader is an animal which goes first, leading the flock or herd. Understanding animal behavior and leadership dynamics can improve herd management.

Lavender: Lavender is a shrub (Lavandula officinalis) with small lilac-colored flowers and narrow leaves, cultivated for perfume. Growing lavender can provide farmers with high-value essential oils and aromatic products.

Land Use Classification: Land use classification is the classification of land according to the way it is used. Knowing land use classification assists farmers in optimizing land use and adhering to agricultural policies.

Lyophilise: To lyophilise or lyophilize means to preserve food by freezing it rapidly and drying in a vacuum. Utilizing lyophilization can improve food preservation and extend the shelf life of agricultural products.

LEAF: LEAF is an independent organization that promotes better understanding of farming by the public and helps farmers improve the environment by combining the best traditional farming methods with modern technology. Full form Linking Environment and Farming. Partnering with LEAF can enhance sustainable farming practices and public engagement.

Leghorn: Leghorn is an excellent laying breed of hen. It is a hardy bird, colored black, brown, and white. Leghorns produce good-sized white eggs. Raising Leghorn chickens can enhance egg production efficiency and farm profitability.