Agricultural Terms and Helpful Expert Insight
machinery syndicate: a group of farmers who join together to buy very large items of equipment, which they can use in turn. This can benefit farmers by reducing the individual cost burden of expensive machinery, allowing access to high-quality equipment that they might not afford alone, leading to increased efficiency and productivity on their farms.
martingale: a device used to regulate the way a horse carries its head. It consists of a strap or straps, attached to the girth at one end, and at the other to the reins or to the noseband. Using a martingale can help farmers ensure better control and training of their horses.
mixed woodland: a wooded area where neither conifers nor broadleaved trees account for more than 75% of the total. Understanding mixed woodland can help farmers manage forest resources more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.
Milk Marketing Board: until 1994, the board which organised the collection and buying of milk from farmers and its sale to customers. Understanding the role and history of the Milk Marketing Board can help farmers adapt to changes in the dairy industry and improve marketability.
Montgomery: A type of cheddar cheese, one of the best British farmhouse cheeses, matured for 15 months and producing a tangy flavour with a crumbly texture. Understanding the characteristics and marketability of Montgomery cheese can help farmers optimize their dairy production and income.
mechanically recovered meat: the scraps of meat which remain on an animals carcass after the prime cuts have been removed, which are removed using machinery, ground and used as cheap filler for burgers, pies, sausages, etc. Abbr MRM. Understanding the uses and regulations of mechanically recovered meat can help farmers maximize the value of their livestock products.
malt: best-quality barley grains which have been through the malting process and are used in breweries to make beer and in distilleries to make whisky. Understanding the malting process and the quality requirements for malt can help farmers produce high-value barley, leading to better marketability and income.
maize: a tall cereal crop grown in warm climates, that carries its grains on a large solid core (cob) of which there are only one or two per plant. Maize is grown for making silage, or for harvesting as ripened grain; some is grazed or cut as a forage crop, while a small proportion is sold for human consumption as corn on the cob. Maize needs rich deep well-drained soils and ideally a frost-free growing season with a lot of sunshine before harvest. Understanding the cultivation requirements and uses of maize can help farmers maximize their crop yield and profitability.
Multistage: multistage a system in which there are several stages. Understanding multistage systems can help farmers optimize their operations and improve productivity and sustainability.
mariculture: the breeding and keeping of sea fish or shellfish for food in seawater enclosures. Mariculture can provide farmers with a valuable source of income, particularly in coastal regions, contributing to economic diversification and sustainability.
market gardener: a person who runs a market garden. Market gardeners play a crucial role in supplying fresh produce to urban areas, contributing to local food security and sustainable agriculture.
maximum residue level: the maximum amount of a pesticide that can remain in crops or foodstuffs under European Union regulations. Abbr MRL. Understanding and adhering to maximum residue levels can help farmers ensure the safety and marketability of their produce.
marram grass: a type of grass planted on sand dunes to prevent them being spread by the wind. Latin name: Ammophila arenaria. Understanding the role of marram grass in soil stabilization can help farmers manage erosion and protect their land.
mesotrophic: referring to water that contains a moderate amount of nutrients. Compare eutrophic, oligotrophic. Understanding the characteristics of mesotrophic water can help farmers manage water resources more effectively, ensuring better crop and livestock health.
market weight: the target weight at which livestock will be sold at market or slaughtered. Understanding and achieving market weight can help farmers maximize their income from livestock production.
monoculture: The cultivation of a single crop in a given area. While efficient, monoculture can lead to soil degradation and increased pest problems, so it’s important to manage it carefully.
monocropping: the practice of growing one type of crop on the same piece of land at the same time. Compare mixed cropping. Understanding monocropping can help farmers manage crop production more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.
mayweed: one of a group of weeds which affect cereals (Chamomilla spp, Anthemis spp, Matricaria spp). The weeds affect winter crops and vegetables, and are found on headlands. They can cause considerable problems to machinery. Also called dogdaisy, wild chamomile. Managing mayweed infestations can help farmers protect their crops and ensure better yields.
monkey puzzle tree: a large tree of Chile and western Argentina, with branches covered with stiff scale-like leaves. Latin name: Araucaria araucana. Also called Chile pine. Understanding the characteristics and uses of monkey puzzle trees can help farmers diversify their timber production and improve marketability.
maple: a hardwood tree of northern temperate regions, some varieties of which produce sweet sap which is used for making sugar and syrup. Genus: Acer. Growing maple trees can provide farmers with a valuable source of timber and maple syrup, contributing to diversified income streams and long-term economic stability.
multiple resistant: referring to organisms which are resistant to more than one pesticide or antibiotic. Understanding and managing multiple resistance can help farmers protect their crops and livestock, ensuring better health and productivity.
microhabitat: a single small area such as the bark of a tree, where fauna and/or flora live. Also called microenvironment. Understanding microhabitats can help farmers manage soil and crop health more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.
milky stage: same as milk ripe stage. Understanding the milky stage can help farmers manage grain production more effectively, ensuring better yields and quality.
mezzadria: a system used in Southern Italy, where a vineyard is leased and the landlord is paid a half-share of the wine produced. Understanding the mezzadria system can help farmers manage vineyard operations and leases more effectively, ensuring better productivity and profitability.
mercury chloride: same as mercury (I) chloride, a poisonous white compound of mercury and chlorine, used as a moss killer and laxative. Formula: Hg2Cl2. Also called mercurous chloride, calomel. Understanding the uses and effects of mercury chloride can help farmers manage pest control and other applications more effectively.
Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food: the former UK government department with responsibility for agricultural and food matters. Understanding the role and history of the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food can help farmers adapt to policy changes and improve marketability.
malting barley: best-quality barley used for malting. Choosing the right variety of malting barley can impact yield and marketability for farmers, leading to better income and farm profitability.
marshy soil: a very wet soil. Managing marshy soil can help farmers improve drainage and land productivity, leading to better crop yields.
mineral matter content: the amount of minerals found in plants. Understanding mineral matter content can help farmers manage soil and crop health more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.
manure cycle: the process by which waste materials from plants, animals and humans are returned to the soil to restore nutrients. Understanding and managing the manure cycle can help farmers maintain soil health and fertility, leading to better crop yields and farm sustainability.
marsh spot: a disease affecting peas, caused by manganese deficiency. Understanding and managing marsh spot can help farmers protect their pea crops and ensure better yields.
moisture holding capacity: the amount of water that a soil can hold. Abbr MHC. Understanding moisture holding capacity can help farmers manage soil and crop health more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.
by