Category: M

maincrop potatoes: varieties of potato grown as a main crop. Choosing the right variety of maincrop potatoes can impact yield and marketability for farmers, leading to better income and farm profitability.

mite: a tiny animal of the spider family which may be free-living in the soil or on stored products, or parasitic on animals or plants. Understanding the role and management of mites can help farmers protect their crops and livestock, ensuring better health and productivity.

maltase: an enzyme in the small intestine that converts maltose into glucose. Understanding the role of maltase in digestion can help farmers manage livestock nutrition more effectively, leading to better animal health and productivity.

mycotoxin: a toxin produced by a fungus. Understanding and managing mycotoxins can help farmers protect their crops and livestock, ensuring better health and productivity.

mating: The process of pairing male and female animals for reproduction. Proper management of mating is essential for successful breeding programs and genetic improvement.

Maran: a heavy continental breed of fowl, which has a greyish-brown barred plumage and produces dark brown eggs. Raising Maran chickens can provide farmers with high-quality eggs and meat, contributing to diversified income and improved farm sustainability.

mercuric chloride: same as mercury (II) chloride. Understanding the uses and effects of mercuric chloride can help farmers manage pest control and other applications more effectively.

meat chicken: a chicken which is raised for its meat rather than for its eggs or to produce chicks. Understanding the growth requirements and management of meat chickens can help farmers optimize their poultry production, leading to better yields and profitability.

milk cooler: a stainless steel bulk storage tank, in which milk is cooled by running water passing over the outside of the tank. Proper use and maintenance of milk coolers can ensure better milk quality and safety, contributing to marketability and consumer trust.

Meat and Livestock Commission: an organisation which provides services to livestock breeders, including the evaluation of breeding stock potential and carcass grading and classification. The Commission also carries out various research projects. Its staff also provide services for abattoirs and livestock auction markets. The Commission promotes the sale of British meat. Abbr MLC. Understanding the role of the Meat and Livestock Commission can help farmers access valuable resources and support for improving their livestock production and marketability.

Midterm Review: the review of the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union carried out in 2003. Understanding the outcomes of the Midterm Review can help farmers adapt to policy changes and ensure better compliance and sustainability.

mammal: an animal that gives birth to live young, secretes milk to feed them, keeps a constant body temperature and is covered with hair. Class: Mammalia. Understanding the characteristics of mammals can help farmers manage livestock more effectively, ensuring better health and productivity.

manioc: the French name for cassava, used as an animal feedingstuff. Growing manioc can provide a valuable feed source for livestock, particularly in regions where it is a staple crop, improving farm sustainability and reducing feed costs.

Minorca: a breed of poultry, originating in the Mediterranean. The birds are black or white in colour. Raising Minorca chickens can provide farmers with high-quality eggs and meat, contributing to diversified income and improved farm sustainability.

monilia brown rot: same as brown rot. Understanding and managing brown rot can help farmers protect their fruit crops and ensure better yields.

MDC: abbreviation Milk Development Council. Understanding the role of the Milk Development Council can help farmers access resources and support for improving milk production and quality.

mouldboard: the main part of a plough, which turns over the surface soil. Proper maintenance and use of mouldboards can help farmers improve soil cultivation and crop production, ensuring better productivity.

metre: an SI unit of length. The area is four metres by three. Symbol m. Understanding the metric system can help farmers communicate and manage resources more effectively, ensuring better accuracy and efficiency.

myrmecology: the study of ants. Understanding myrmecology can help farmers manage ant populations and protect their crops, ensuring better productivity.

minimum tillage: a method of ploughing in which disturbance of the soil does not affect the deeper layers. The benefits are conservation of organic matter, leading to a better soil structure and less soil erosion, better soil biodiversity and the use of less energy. The disadvantages include the easier germination of grass seeds. Also called min-till. Understanding minimum tillage can help farmers optimize their soil and crop management practices, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

marsh: an area of permanently wet land and the plants that grow on it. Marshes may be fresh water or salt water and tidal or non-tidal. A marsh usually has a soil base, as opposed to a bog or fen, which is composed of peat. Understanding the role of marshes in the ecosystem can help farmers manage wetland areas on their property, contributing to environmental sustainability.

mineral nutrients: nutrients except carbon, hydrogen and oxygen which are inorganic and are absorbed by plants from the soil. Understanding the role of mineral nutrients can help farmers manage soil and crop health more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

multi-storey system: a pig-rearing system in which pigs are kept in a building which has several floors or tiers. Understanding multi-storey systems can help farmers manage pig production more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

MLC: abbreviation Meat and Livestock Commission. Understanding the role of the Meat and Livestock Commission can help farmers access valuable resources and support for improving their livestock production and marketability.

muley: a cow or bull which does not have horns. Raising muley cattle can provide farmers with a unique and high-value product, particularly for niche markets interested in hornless breeds.

micronutrient: a nutrient which an organism uses in very small quantities, e.g. iron, zinc or copper. Understanding the role of micronutrients can help farmers manage soil and livestock nutrition more effectively, ensuring better crop and animal health and productivity.

moss: a small flowerless green plant which usually grows in clumps in damp and shaded places. Understanding the role and management of moss can help farmers protect their crops and improve soil health, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

meat-eating animal: same as carnivore. Understanding the dietary needs of meat-eating animals can help farmers manage livestock nutrition more effectively, ensuring better health and productivity.

mountain: land which rises above the surrounding land, forming a natural feature of the landscape. Understanding the characteristics and management of mountain land can help farmers optimize their agricultural practices and improve sustainability.

miscanthus: a plant related to sugar cane that is grown for use as a fuel. Also called elephant grass. Growing miscanthus can provide farmers with a renewable energy source, contributing to environmental sustainability and economic stability.

milk composition: the percentages of protein, lactose, fat, minerals and water which make up milk. The composition varies according to the breed of cow, but average percentages are: protein (3.4%), milk sugar (4.75%), fat (3.75%), minerals (0.75%), water (87.35%). Understanding milk composition can help farmers manage dairy production more effectively, ensuring better quality and marketability.

mast: the small hard fruits that have fallen from a beech tree, used as food by pigs and other animals. Utilizing mast can provide farmers with a natural and cost-effective feed source for livestock.

mesoclimate: the climate over a specific locality such as a hillside or valley, extending no more than a few kilometres in radius. Understanding mesoclimate can help farmers manage microenvironments more effectively, ensuring better crop and livestock productivity.

mineralisation: the breaking down of organic waste into its inorganic chemical components. Understanding mineralisation can help farmers manage soil health and fertility more effectively, ensuring better crop yields.

meat: animal flesh that is eaten as food. Understanding the nutritional value and uses of meat can help farmers manage livestock production more effectively, ensuring better marketability and income.

morning milk: milk obtained from the first milking of the day. Proper management of morning milk can ensure better quality and yield, contributing to farm profitability and sustainability.

mow: a quantity of hay which has been cut, dried and stored in a stack or a barn. Proper management of mows can help farmers ensure better feed quality and availability for livestock, contributing to better health and productivity.

mononucleosis: an infection in humans caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. Understanding and managing mononucleosis can help farmers protect their health and productivity.

motility: the ability of organisms to move. Understanding motility can help farmers manage livestock health and breeding programs more effectively, ensuring better productivity.

Multilateral : multilateral involving more than two countries or groups. Understanding multilateral agreements can help farmers navigate international trade and market dynamics, ensuring better compliance and profitability.

mountain forest: a forest that grows in mountainous areas. Understanding the characteristics and management of mountain forests can help farmers optimize their timber production and environmental sustainability.

methionine: an essential amino acid. Understanding the role of methionine in livestock nutrition can help farmers ensure balanced diets and better animal health and productivity.

micropropagation: the propagation of plants by cloning a small piece of plant tissue cultured in a growth medium. Understanding the techniques and applications of micropropagation can help farmers improve crop production and genetic diversity.

monomolecular layer: a layer only one molecule thick. Understanding the applications of monomolecular layers can help farmers manage crop protection and other agricultural processes more effectively.

mixed culture: the process of growing several species of tree together on the same piece of land. Understanding mixed culture can help farmers manage forest resources more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

mangold: same as mangel. Growing mangold can provide a valuable fodder crop for livestock, ensuring a steady supply of feed and improving farm sustainability.

myology: the study of muscles. Understanding myology can help farmers manage livestock health and productivity more effectively.

milk products: milk and other foodstuffs produced from it, which are sold for human consumption. The main milk products are liquid milk (homogenised, pasteurised, sterilised or UHT), butter, cheese, cream, condensed milk and milk powder. Understanding the production and marketability of milk products can help farmers diversify their income streams and improve profitability.

mercury: a metal element that is liquid at room temperature. It is used in thermometers, barometers and electric batteries and is poisonous. Also called quicksilver. Understanding the properties and risks of mercury can help farmers manage its use and disposal safely.

monogerm seed: a seed that produces a single seedling. Compare multigerm seed. Understanding the characteristics of monogerm seeds can help farmers manage crop production more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.