Category: M

milfoil: same as yarrow. Understanding the uses and management of milfoil can help farmers improve soil and crop health, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

macronutrient: a nutrient that an organism uses in very large quantities, e.g. oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium or iron. Knowing the macronutrient requirements of crops and livestock can help farmers ensure proper nutrition, leading to better growth and yields, ultimately improving farm productivity and profitability.

millet: a cereal crop grown in many of the hot, dry regions of Africa and Asia, where it is a staple food. Genera: especially: Panicum or Eleusine. The two most important species are finger millet and bulrush millet. Millet grains are used in various types of food. They can be boiled and eaten like rice, made into flour for porridge, pasta or chapatis, and mixed with wheat flour to make bread. Millets can be malted to make beer. Millets are also grown as forage crops, and the seed is used as a poultry feed. Growing millet can provide farmers with a versatile and high-yield crop, particularly in regions with suitable climates, contributing to food security and economic stability.

Mg: symbol magnesium. Understanding the role of magnesium in soil and livestock nutrition can help farmers prevent deficiencies and ensure better crop and animal health and productivity.

myoglobin: the iron-containing protein that binds oxygen in muscle tissue, similar to the haemoglobin in blood. Understanding the role of myoglobin can help farmers manage livestock health and meat quality more effectively, ensuring better productivity and marketability.

monoplane leaf: a leaf that is flattened out horizontally and does not have a ridge or prominent vein. Understanding the characteristics of monoplane leaves can help farmers manage crop health and productivity more effectively.

modified atmosphere: an oxygen-depleted atmosphere enriched with carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide, used for disinfestation of pests or for increasing the shelf life of food. Abbr MA. Understanding the uses and effects of modified atmosphere can help farmers manage pest control and food preservation more effectively, ensuring better crop and product quality and marketability.

methyl phosphine: a compound with specific action against phosphine-resistant strains of storage pests. Understanding the uses and effects of methyl phosphine can help farmers manage pest infestations in stored products more effectively, ensuring better storage and marketability.

mountain timber: timber grown in mountain forests. Understanding the characteristics and uses of mountain timber can help farmers optimize their timber production and marketability.

MCPP: abbreviation mecoprop. Understanding the uses and effects of MCPP can help farmers manage weed infestations more effectively, ensuring better crop health and yields.

marjoram: a Mediterranean aromatic herb (Origanum), the dried leaves of which are used as flavoring. Growing marjoram can provide farmers with a high-value crop, particularly for markets interested in culinary herbs and natural flavorings.

MFHA: abbreviation Master of Foxhounds Association. Understanding the role of the Master of Foxhounds Association can help farmers engaged in foxhunting activities manage their operations more effectively.

mad cow disease: same as BSE (informal). Awareness and prevention of mad cow disease are crucial for maintaining the health of cattle and ensuring the safety of beef products, which protects the farm’s reputation and consumer trust.

medium: a substance in which an organism lives or is grown. Understanding the characteristics and uses of different media can help farmers optimize their crop and livestock production, leading to better yields and productivity.

micron: a measurement of thickness, one millionth of a metre, used in measuring the fineness of hair or wool. Understanding micron measurements can help farmers manage wool and other products more effectively, ensuring better quality and marketability.

meadowgrass: varieties of grass of the genus Poa. Understanding the characteristics and uses of meadowgrass can help farmers manage their grazing and hay production more effectively, leading to better livestock health and productivity.

manure spreader: a trailer with a moving floor conveyor and a combined shredding and spreading mechanism, used to distribute manure over the soil. Also called muck spreader. Using a manure spreader can help farmers efficiently apply manure to their fields, improving soil fertility and crop growth.

maintenance ration: the quantity of food needed to keep a farm animal healthy but not productive. Knowing the maintenance ration for livestock helps farmers manage feed costs and ensure animal health, leading to better resource allocation and farm efficiency.

multiple cropping: the growing of more than one crop on the same piece of land in one year, especially using early crops followed by later ones. Understanding multiple cropping can help farmers optimize their crop production and improve soil health, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

morels: types of edible fungi which grow on chalky or limestone soils. Understanding the cultivation and marketability of morels can help farmers diversify their income streams and improve profitability.

morning glory: a climbing plant with attractive flowers. Genus: Ipomoea. Understanding the characteristics and uses of morning glory can help farmers manage their gardens and ornamental crops more effectively.

meat fly: same as blowfly. Managing meat fly infestations can help farmers protect their livestock and meat products, ensuring better health and marketability.

marshland: land that is covered with marsh. Managing marshland can provide farmers with important habitats for wildlife, contributing to biodiversity and environmental sustainability.

mullion: same as garlic. Understanding the characteristics and uses of garlic can help farmers diversify their crop production and improve marketability, ensuring better profitability.

mahogany: a tropical hardwood tree producing a dark timber, now becoming rare. Sustainable management of mahogany resources is important for preserving this valuable timber species, ensuring long-term availability and protecting biodiversity.

minimal: very small in amount or importance. Understanding minimal inputs and outputs can help farmers optimize their operations and improve productivity and sustainability.

milk sheep: a sheep which is reared for its milk. Proper care and management of milk sheep can ensure better milk yield and quality, contributing to farm profitability and sustainability.

moveable henhouse: a henhouse which can be moved to different locations, allowing hens to graze on fresh pasture. Using moveable henhouses can help farmers manage poultry health and productivity more effectively, ensuring better yields and sustainability.

meslen: same as mashlum. Understanding the uses of meslen can help farmers provide balanced nutrition for their livestock, ensuring better health and productivity.

monoterpenes: a group of 10-carbon compounds found in plant oils, e.g. camphor and limonene. Understanding the applications and effects of monoterpenes can help farmers manage crop health and pest control more effectively.

myxomycete: a member of the class Myxomycetes, a slime mold. Understanding the role and management of myxomycetes can help farmers protect their crops and ensure better productivity.

mule: 1. an animal which is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse, usually used as a pack animal in rough terrain 2. a crossbreed between a Bluefaced Leicester ram and a Swaledale ewe. Understanding the characteristics and uses of mules can help farmers optimize their livestock production and marketability, ensuring better profitability.

migrant: an animal or bird that moves from one place to another according to the season. Understanding migration patterns can help farmers manage livestock and crop production more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

marrow: a large vegetable (Cucurbita pepo) of the pumpkin family, which may be grown as bush or trailing varieties. Growing marrows can provide farmers with a versatile and high-yield crop, particularly for markets interested in fresh vegetables.

marbling: the appearance of muscle with intramuscular fat, seen on the cut surface of meat. Understanding marbling can help farmers improve the quality of their meat products, leading to better marketability and higher prices.

mangel: a plant similar to sugar beet, but with larger roots. Mangel is mainly grown in southern England as a fodder crop. Also called mangold. Varieties of mangels include Globes, Tankards (oblong-shaped), Longs and Intermediates. Mangels contain less than 15% dry matter and are normally harvested before maturity and dried off in a clamp. Growing mangels can provide a valuable fodder crop for livestock, especially in regions with suitable climates.

monopoly: an organisation which controls the supply of or trade in a commodity or service, and therefore controls its price. Understanding monopolies can help farmers navigate market dynamics and improve their business strategies.

Maine: Refers to Bleu du Maine and Maine-Anjou breeds. Understanding the characteristics of these breeds can help farmers make informed decisions about livestock management and breeding, ensuring better productivity and farm sustainability.

milk ripe stage: a stage in the development of grain such as wheat where the seed has formed but is still soft and white and full of white sap. Also called milky stage. Understanding the milk ripe stage can help farmers manage grain production more effectively, ensuring better yields and quality.

mixed farming: the practice of combining arable and dairy farming. Understanding mixed farming can help farmers diversify their income streams and improve sustainability.

maggot: a soft-bodied, legless larva of a fly such as a bluebottle, warble fly or frit fly. Maggots may attack crops and livestock. Controlling maggot infestations can prevent significant damage to crops and livestock, ensuring better farm productivity and reducing economic losses.

moratorium: an official suspension of an activity. Understanding the implications of moratoriums can help farmers navigate regulatory changes and ensure better compliance and sustainability.

moisture deficit: the difference between the amount of water in the soil and the amount needed by the crop. Understanding moisture deficit can help farmers manage irrigation and crop health more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

milo: US sorghum. Understanding the characteristics and uses of milo can help farmers optimize their grain production and marketability, ensuring better profitability.

mammalian meat and bone meal: same as meat and bone meal. Understanding the nutritional value and uses of mammalian meat and bone meal can help farmers provide balanced diets for their livestock, leading to better growth and productivity.

mecoprop: a commonly used herbicide, mostly used to control weeds in cereal and grass crops, that is found as a contaminant of water. Abbr MCPP, CMPP. Understanding the application and effects of mecoprop can help farmers manage weed infestations more effectively, ensuring better crop health and yields.

metabolism: the chemical processes of breaking down or building up organic compounds in organisms. Metabolism covers all changes which take place in the body: the building of tissue (anabolism), the breaking down of tissue (catabolism), the conversion of nutrients into tissue, the elimination of waste matter and the action of hormones. Understanding metabolism can help farmers manage livestock nutrition and health more effectively, ensuring better growth and productivity.

mosaic: a disease caused by a virus which attacks various plants including sugar beet, potatoes, tobacco and turnips. Understanding and managing mosaic can help farmers protect their crops and ensure better yields.

mangetout: a variety of pea, which is picked before the seeds are developed, and of which the whole pod is cooked and eaten. Growing mangetout can provide a high-value crop for farmers, especially in markets where fresh vegetables are in demand, leading to better income and profitability.

moss killer: a compound that kills mosses, usually based on iron sulfate. Understanding the application and effects of moss killers can help farmers manage moss infestations more effectively, ensuring better crop health and yields.