Agricultural Terms and Helpful Expert Insight
moisture content: the percentage of water contained in something such as the soil, hay or straw. Understanding moisture content can help farmers manage irrigation, crop storage, and livestock feed more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.
malt culms: roots and shoots of partly germinated malting barley. A by-product of the malting process, the culms are used as a feedingstuff for livestock. Utilizing malt culms can provide an additional feed source for livestock, reducing feed costs and improving farm sustainability.
milking parlour: a building in which cows are milked, and often are also fed, washed and cleaned. There are four basic designs of parlour: the herringbone parlour, where the cow stands at an angle of 45° to the milker, is commonest for large herds; the abreast parlour, where the cows stand side by side with their backs to the milker; the tandem parlour where they stand in line with their sides to the milker; the most expensive and complex of the four systems is the rotary parlour, where the cows stand on a rotating platform with the milker in the middle. Proper management of milking parlours can ensure better milk quality and yield, contributing to farm profitability and sustainability.
mixed grazing: a grazing system where more than one type of animal grazes the same pasture at the same time. Mixed grazing regimes provide a range of sward lengths which are attractive areas for birds to nest and feed and encourage regeneration of grassland and moorland areas. Understanding mixed grazing can help farmers optimize their livestock management practices, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.
milk sugar: same as lactose. Understanding the role of lactose in milk can help farmers manage dairy production more effectively, ensuring better quality and marketability.
marine flora: the plants that live in the sea. Understanding marine flora can help farmers engaged in mariculture manage their resources more effectively, ensuring better productivity and environmental sustainability.
metaldehyde: a substance used in the form of pellets to kill slugs and snails, or in the form of small blocks to light fires. Understanding the application and effects of metaldehyde can help farmers manage pest infestations more effectively, ensuring better crop health and yields.
malted meal: a brown wheat flour mixed with flour made from barley. Understanding the uses of malted meal can help farmers diversify their products and find new market opportunities.
milking machine: a machine which imitates the sucking action of a calf, used to extract milk from the cows udder. It uses a pulsator mechanism to apply pressure to the teats, causing the release of the milk. The milk is then passed into a collecting jar or may pass by pipeline to a large tank. Proper use and maintenance of milking machines can ensure better milk quality and yield, contributing to farm profitability and sustainability.
multipurpose breed: a breed of animal such as the Large White pig which can be used for various purposes, e.g. milk production, draught or meat production. Understanding the characteristics and uses of multipurpose breeds can help farmers optimize their livestock production and marketability, ensuring better profitability.
Masham: a crossbred type of sheep which results from a Wensleydale or Teeswater ram mated with a hill ewe of the Swaledale type and has black markings on the face and legs. The breed is an economical ewe with a good lambing average and a useful fleece. Raising Masham sheep can provide farmers with a versatile and productive breed, contributing to better income and farm sustainability.
margin over purchased feed: the amount of money received for produce such as per litre of milk, shown as a percentage above the amount spent in purchasing feed for the animals. Abbr MOPF. Understanding margin over purchased feed can help farmers manage their costs and improve profitability.
Master of Foxhounds Association: a group which provides information to foxhunters and hunt leaders. Abbr MFHA. Understanding the role of the Master of Foxhounds Association can help farmers engaged in foxhunting activities manage their operations more effectively.
milk quota: a system by which farmers are only allowed to produce certain amounts of milk, introduced to restrict the overproduction of milk in member states of the EU. Abbr MQ. Quotas were introduced in 1984, and were based on each states 1981 production, plus 1%. A further 1% was allowed in the first year. A supplementary levy or superlevy, was introduced to penalise milk production over the quota level. In the UK, milk quotas can be bought and sold, either together with or separate from farmland, and are a valuable asset. The government is responsible for the setting of quotas for milk production, according to the directives of the EU commission. Understanding the regulations and market dynamics of milk quotas can help farmers optimize their dairy production and profitability.
Maedi-Visna: a virus disease of sheep, which causes breathing difficulties. Abbr MV. Managing and preventing Maedi-Visna is essential for maintaining flock health and productivity, reducing mortality rates, and ensuring the economic viability of sheep farming.
market town: a town with a permanent or regular market, which serves as a trading centre for the surrounding area. Some markets specialise in certain types of livestock or produce. Understanding the dynamics of market towns can help farmers find reliable outlets for their products, improving marketability and income.
Milk Marque: the name of a national cooperative which replaced the Milk Marketing Board, with the aim of liberalising the milk market. It was split into 3 regional companies in 1999. Understanding the role and history of Milk Marque can help farmers adapt to changes in the dairy industry and improve marketability.
mangel fly: a fly whose yellow-white legless larvae cause blistering of the leaves of mangels and sugar beet. This holds back plant growth and in severe cases can kill the plant. Also called mangold fly. Controlling mangel fly infestations is important to protect crops and ensure healthy growth, leading to better yields and farm sustainability.
magnetic resonance imaging: a technique that uses electromagnetic radiation to obtain images of invisible parts of a structure or the bodys soft tissues. Abbr MRI. MRI can be useful in veterinary diagnostics, allowing for detailed examination of livestock health issues, leading to accurate diagnoses and effective treatments.
methanol: an alcohol manufactured from coal, natural gas or waste wood, which is used as a fuel or solvent. Formula: CH3OH. Also called methyl alcohol, wood alcohol. Biodiesel is made by mixing vegetable oil with methanol, giving glycerine as a by-product. Its source is natural and renewable and it dramatically reduces exhaust emissions of smoke and soot, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide, the cause of acid rain. Methanol can be used as a fuel in any type of burner. Its main disadvantage is that it is less efficient than petrol and can cause pollution if it escapes into the environment, as it mixes easily with water. Production of methanol from coal or natural gas does not help fuel conservation, since it depletes Earths fossil fuel resources. Understanding the production and uses of methanol can help farmers utilize alternative fuels more effectively, contributing to environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.
mulefooted hog: a breed of pig which has solid hooves rather than cloven hooves. Raising mulefooted hogs can provide farmers with a unique and high-value product, particularly for niche markets interested in specialty breeds.
mechanization: The use of machinery in agriculture to increase efficiency and productivity. Mechanization can reduce labor costs and improve farm operations.
manganese: a metallic trace element. It is essential for biological life and is also used in making steel. Manganese deficiency is associated with high pH and soils that are rich in organic matter. It can cause grey leaf of cereals, marsh spot in peas and speckled yellowing of leaves of sugar beet. It is usually cured by applying manganese sulfate as foliar spray. Ensuring adequate manganese levels in soil can prevent these deficiencies and support healthy crop growth, leading to better yields and farm sustainability.
multigrain: foodstuffs containing more than one type of grain. Understanding the market dynamics and nutritional value of multigrain products can help farmers optimize their crop production and marketability, ensuring better profitability.
Merino: a breed of sheep which originated in North Africa and was then introduced into Spain. It is now bred in all parts of the world, especially in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, for its dense soft fine fleece, with strong and curly fibers. Raising Merino sheep can provide farmers with high-quality wool, contributing to better income and marketability.
monosaccharide: a simple sugar such as glucose. Understanding the role of monosaccharides can help farmers manage livestock nutrition more effectively, ensuring better health and productivity.
Miranda: a breed of cattle found in Portugal. The animals are dark brown in colour, with horns coloured white with black tips. Mirandas are bred for meat and for draught. Raising Miranda cattle can provide farmers with a versatile and productive breed, contributing to better income and farm sustainability.
by