Category: M

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.

milk yield: the quantity of milk produced each year by a cow. In the UK, the average annual milk yield per dairy type cow increased from 3,989 litres per cow in 1974/5 to 6,530 litres per cow in 2006. Understanding milk yield can help farmers manage dairy production more effectively, ensuring better productivity and profitability.

mare: a female horse, five years old or more. Proper care and management of mares can ensure better health and productivity, particularly for breeding purposes.

marrowstem kale: a variety of kale with a thick stem and large leaves, grown as feed for livestock in the autumn and winter months, though it is not winter hardy. Growing marrowstem kale can provide farmers with a valuable fodder crop, ensuring a steady supply of feed for livestock during the colder months.

mate: an animal that reproduces sexually with another. Understanding mating behavior can help farmers manage breeding programs more effectively, ensuring better livestock productivity and genetic diversity.

methyl bromide: an effective chemical for sterilising soil and fumigating spaces. Understanding the application and effects of methyl bromide can help farmers manage pest control and soil sterilization more effectively, ensuring better crop health and yields.

milk fever: a disease of milk cows, milk goats and ewes. Technical name hypocalcaemia. In spite of its name, the disease is not a fever, and may affect a dairy cow just before calving or during the seven days which follow calving. The first symptoms are restlessness, moving the hind feet up and down while standing; these symptoms are followed by loss of balance and later loss of consciousness. The disease is common at the third, fourth or fifth time of calving, and is caused by a metabolic disturbance or imbalance in the system, due to a low calcium content in the blood. The disease is treated by injections of calcium borogluconate. Managing and preventing milk fever is crucial for maintaining the health and productivity of dairy animals, ensuring better milk yield and quality.

mouse: a small rodent (Mus musculus) that may be found in fields, barns, stores, etc., where it may cause damage. Managing mouse infestations can help farmers protect their crops and stored products, ensuring better health and productivity.

meat and bone meal: meal made from waste meat and bones, formerly used in animal feed but now banned in the EU because of fears that it was a contributing factor in the spread of BSE. Abbr MBM. Understanding the regulations and alternatives to meat and bone meal can help farmers ensure the safety and marketability of their feed products.

mountain soil: soil found on high ground. Understanding the characteristics of mountain soil can help farmers manage crop and livestock production more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

mangold fly: same as mangel fly. Controlling mangold fly infestations is important to protect crops and ensure healthy growth, leading to better yields and farm sustainability.

Maine-Anjou: a breed of dual-purpose cattle developed in Brittany, now imported into the UK from France, and exported to many other countries. The animals are roan or red and white in colour. This breed can be beneficial for farmers looking for versatile cattle that provide both milk and meat, leading to diversified farm income and better economic stability.

milling wheat: best-quality wheat used to make flour for making bread. Understanding the characteristics and marketability of milling wheat can help farmers optimize their grain production and income.

Montana State University: a university in Montana, USA, which is noted for its agricultural research and education. Understanding the resources and expertise available at Montana State University can help farmers access valuable information and support for improving their agricultural practices.

mango: a tropical tree (Mangifera indica) and the fruit it produces. Growing mangoes can provide farmers with a high-value crop, especially in tropical regions where the climate is suitable for mango cultivation.

monosex: a system of fish breeding in which only the male fish are reared. Understanding monosex systems can help farmers optimize their fish production and improve yields and profitability.

monocytogenes: Listeria monocytogenes. Understanding the characteristics and risks of Listeria monocytogenes can help farmers manage food safety and protect consumer health.