Category: M

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 Earth’s 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.

mash: a mixture of feeding meals combined to provide all the necessary elements for a balanced diet. Using mash can help farmers provide balanced nutrition for their livestock, ensuring better health and productivity.

maiden: a tree in its first year after grafting or budding, when it is formed of a single stem. Understanding the growth stages of trees can help farmers manage orchards more effectively, ensuring healthy tree development and better fruit yields.

myiasis: infestation by fly maggots. Understanding and managing myiasis can help farmers protect their livestock and ensure better health and productivity.

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.

melon: a plant of the cucumber family (Cucumis melo) with a sweet fruit. The flesh of the fruit varies from green to orange or white. Growing melons can provide farmers with a high-value crop, particularly for markets interested in fresh fruit.

marking: the practice of putting a mark on an animal to identify who it belongs to, e.g. a brand on the skin. Effective marking can help farmers manage their livestock more efficiently, ensuring better record-keeping and traceability.

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.

meter: a device to measure a physical property such as current, rate of flow or air speed. Understanding the uses and applications of meters can help farmers manage resources and operations more effectively, ensuring better 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.

mutation: a change in the structure of a gene, which may result in a change in a characteristic of an organism, and which can be inherited by later generations. Understanding the role and implications of mutations can help farmers improve their breeding programs and genetic studies.

mangosteen: a tree (Garcinia mangostana) which is native to Malaysia, but which is now cultivated in the West Indies. The fruit has a dark shiny rind and a soft sweet white flesh. Growing mangosteen can provide farmers with a unique and high-value crop, particularly in regions with suitable climates, contributing to income diversification and economic stability.

monocotyledon: a flowering plant which has only one seed leaf (cotyledon). Compare dicotyledon. Understanding the characteristics of monocotyledons can help farmers manage crop production and biodiversity more effectively.

mode of action: the way in which a pesticide acts. For example, organophosphorous compounds disrupt the nerve impulses in insects. Understanding the mode of action of pesticides can help farmers manage pest control more effectively, ensuring better crop health and yields.

mixed cropping: the practice of growing more than one type of plant on the same piece of land at the same time. Opposite monocropping. Understanding mixed cropping can help farmers optimize their crop production and improve soil health and biodiversity.

Marek’s disease: a virus disease of poultry, causing lameness and paralysis. Managing and preventing Marek’s disease is crucial for maintaining the health and productivity of poultry, reducing mortality rates and ensuring better economic outcomes for farmers.

microbe: a microorganism. Viruses, bacteria, protozoa and microscopic fungi are informally referred to as microbes. Understanding the role of microbes can help farmers manage soil and livestock health more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

meal: a finely ground compound feedingstuff for poultry and pigs, containing all the elements necessary for good health and steady growth. Using meal can help farmers provide balanced nutrition for their livestock, ensuring better health and productivity.

malnutrition: the state of not having enough to eat. Addressing malnutrition in livestock and humans is crucial for health and productivity, ensuring better growth, development, and overall well-being.

malathion: an organophosphorus insecticide used to kill aphids, mainly on flowers grown in glasshouses. Proper use of malathion can help control pest populations and protect crops from damage, ensuring better crop health and yields.

mastication: the process of grinding food in the mouth, using the teeth and jaws. Understanding mastication can help farmers manage livestock nutrition more effectively, ensuring better digestion and health.

management: the organised use of resources or materials, or the people who control an organisation or business. Effective management practices can help farmers optimize their resources and improve farm productivity.

mutton: the meat of an adult sheep, as opposed to a lamb. Understanding the market dynamics and nutritional value of mutton can help farmers optimize their sheep production and marketability, ensuring better profitability.

mane: long hair on the neck of a horse. Proper grooming and care of a horse’s mane can ensure better health and appearance of the animal, leading to better marketability.

Meuse-Rhine-Ijssel: a dual-purpose breed of cattle, originating from the Netherlands. It is used by breeders in Britain to upgrade Dairy Shorthorn. The breed’s dairy performance is similar to that of the British Friesian, and it has a fine beef conformation. Cattle are red and white in colour. Abbr MRI. Raising Meuse-Rhine-Ijssel cattle can provide farmers with a versatile and productive breed, contributing to better income and farm sustainability.

Middle White: a breed of white pig which comes from a cross between the Large White and the Small White. It is short and compact with long upright ears and a turned-up snout. It is now a rare breed. Raising Middle White pigs can provide farmers with a unique and high-value product, particularly for niche markets interested in rare breeds and specialty pork.

Monilia: a genus of fungi which causes brown rot of fruit such as apples and pears. Understanding and managing Monilia infestations can help farmers protect their fruit crops and ensure better yields.

MSG: abbreviation monosodium glutamate. Understanding the uses and effects of monosodium glutamate can help farmers manage food production and marketability more effectively.

mast swine: a German term for a fattening pig. Understanding the growth requirements and management of mast swine can help farmers optimize their pig production, leading to better yields and profitability.

mineral: an inorganic solid substance with a characteristic chemical composition that occurs naturally. The names of many minerals end with the suffix -ite. The most important minerals required by the body are: calcium (found in cheese, milk and green vegetables) which helps the growth of bones and encourages blood clotting; iron (found in bread and liver) which helps produce red blood cells; phosphorus (found in bread and fish) which helps in the growth of bones and the metabolism of fats; and iodine (found in fish) which is essential to the functioning of the thyroid gland. Understanding the role of minerals in soil and livestock nutrition can help farmers prevent deficiencies and ensure better crop and animal health and productivity.

Mutual: mutual benefiting both partners. Understanding mutual relationships can help farmers optimize their collaborations and partnerships, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

mor: slowly decaying humus found in acid soil in areas of high rainfall. Compare moder, mull. Understanding the role of mor in soil health can help farmers manage soil fertility more effectively, ensuring better crop yields.

may: a popular name for hawthorn, a common plant for making hedges. Growing may can provide farmers with valuable hedging material, contributing to better farm boundaries and environmental sustainability.

market garden: a place for the commercial cultivation of plants, usually vegetables, soft fruit, salad crops and flowers, found near a large urban centre that provides a steady outlet for the sale of its produce. Operating a market garden can provide farmers with a reliable source of income, particularly in areas with high demand for fresh produce.

microbial insecticide: an insecticide based on fungal, bacterial or other microorganisms that are pathogens of insects, or their toxins, e.g. the fungus Verticillium lecanii is used to control whitefly in glasshouses. Understanding the uses and effects of microbial insecticides can help farmers manage pest infestations more effectively, ensuring better crop health and yields.

metric ton: same as tonne. Understanding the metric system can help farmers communicate and manage resources more effectively, ensuring better accuracy and efficiency.

monogastric: an animal such as a pig or human that has a single-compartment stomach. Compare ruminant. Understanding the digestive processes of monogastric animals can help farmers manage livestock nutrition more effectively, ensuring better health and productivity.

MOET: abbreviation multiple ovulation and embryo transfer. Understanding the techniques and applications of MOET can help farmers improve their breeding programs and livestock productivity.

Montbéliarde: a breed of dairy cow from the Montbéliard region of France. It is red and white in colour, hardy and heavy and used for beef or dairy crossbreeding. Raising Montbéliarde cows can provide farmers with a versatile and productive breed, contributing to better income and farm sustainability.

monosodium glutamate: a form of glutamate, used as a flavour enhancer in food. Abbr MSG. Understanding the uses and effects of monosodium glutamate can help farmers manage food production and marketability more effectively.

malodours: unpleasant smells. Managing malodours is important for maintaining a pleasant farm environment and reducing nuisance to neighbors, leading to better community relations and farm sustainability.

multi-seeding: machinery which sows many different types of seed at once. Understanding the techniques and applications of multi-seeding can help farmers optimize their crop production and improve yields and sustainability.

mixed fertiliser: same as compound fertiliser. Understanding the role and application of mixed fertilisers can help farmers optimize their soil and crop health, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

manage: to organise something or control the way in which something happens. Effective management practices can help farmers optimize their resources and improve farm productivity.

milling quality: the calculation of how easy it is to separate the white endosperm from the brown seed coat or bran in the milling process. In general, hard wheats are of higher milling quality than soft wheats. Understanding milling quality can help farmers optimize their grain production and marketability, ensuring better profitability.

markings: colored patterns on the coat of an animal or in the feathers of a bird. Understanding and breeding for desirable markings can improve the marketability of livestock and poultry.