Category: S

sheep ked: Same as sheep tick. Farmers benefit from managing sheep ked infestations to protect livestock health and productivity.

soil-borne fungus: a fungus whose spores are carried in the soil. Managing soil-borne fungi protects crops from disease, ensuring healthy growth and better yields.

sludge: a thick wet substance, especially wet mud or snow; the solid or semi-solid part of sewage. Proper management of sludge ensures it can be used as a valuable resource for soil fertility and waste management, promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

salivate: To produce saliva. Farmers benefit from observing salivation patterns to detect potential health issues in livestock.

sclerotinia: A soil-borne disease affecting many crops, including potatoes, oilseed rape and peas. Farmers benefit from managing sclerotinia to protect crop health and prevent yield losses.

spray lines: a method of distributing irrigation water using flexible hose, mainly used for horticultural crops. Using spray lines ensures efficient water distribution, promoting healthy crop growth and sustainable water use.

sorghum: a drought-resistant cereal plant grown in semi-arid tropical regions such as Mexico, Nigeria, and Sudan. Latin name: Sorghum vulgare. Growing sorghum provides farmers with a resilient crop suitable for dry conditions, supporting food security and economic stability.

sickle: A curved knife-edged metal tool with a wooden handle, used for harvesting cereals. Farmers benefit from using sickles for manual harvesting and grass cutting.

straw burning: a cheap method of disposal of straw, which helps to control diseases. Properly managing straw burning ensures effective disease control while adhering to environmental regulations, supporting sustainable farming practices.

standard: something which has been agreed on and is used to measure other things by; a plant grown on a single long stem that is kept from forming branches except at the top; a type of fruit tree or rose tree where the stem is about two metres high, on top of which the head is developed; a large tree in a woodland. Using standard practices ensures consistency and quality in agricultural production, supporting market value and consumer trust.

sprayer: a machine which forces a liquid through a nozzle under pressure, used to distribute liquids such as herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and fertilisers. Using sprayers ensures efficient application of agricultural inputs, promoting healthy crop growth and better yields.

scion: A piece of a plant which is grafted onto a rootstock. Farmers benefit from using scions for grafting to propagate desirable plant varieties.

spoilage: the process of food becoming inedible, especially because of poor storage conditions. Proper storage and handling of food products prevent spoilage, ensuring quality and reducing losses.

strip cultivation: a method of communal farming in which each family has a long thin piece or several long thin pieces of land to cultivate. Properly managing strip cultivation ensures efficient land use and sustainable agricultural practices.

sugar beet harvester: a machine for harvesting sugar beet, which may be trailed or self-propelled. The machine cuts off the beet tops, lifts the root, cleans off the soil and conveys the beet to a hopper which is then emptied by a second elevator onto a trailer. Using sugar beet harvesters ensures efficient harvesting and productivity, reducing labor costs and enhancing farm profitability.

SASSAS: Set-aside scheme. Farmers benefit from participating in SASSAS for land management and conservation incentives.

stamen: a male part of a flower consisting of a stalk (filament) bearing a container (anther) in which pollen is produced. Understanding the structure and function of stamens helps farmers manage plant reproduction and optimize yields.

secateurs: A cutting tool, like small shears with sharp curved blades, used for pruning. Farmers benefit from using secateurs for efficient pruning and plant management.

silage liquor: A liquid which forms in silage and drains away from the silo. Farmers benefit from managing silage liquor to prevent environmental contamination and ensure sustainable farming practices.

stile: a set of steps arranged so that people can climb over a wall or fence. Properly managing stiles ensures safe and efficient movement across farm boundaries, supporting farm operations.

slapmark: the herdmark allocated by Defra, put on both shoulders of a pig. Ensuring slapmarks are legible helps farmers comply with regulations and maintain accurate records for traceability and biosecurity.

seed rate: The amount of seed sown per hectare shown as kilos per hectare (kg/ha). Farmers benefit from understanding and managing seed rates for optimal crop density and yield.

self-feed: To take a controlled amount of feed from a large container as required. Farmers benefit from using self-feed systems for efficient and consistent livestock feeding.

synergism: the interaction of two or more organisms or chemicals that produce an effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. Understanding and managing synergism ensures optimal interactions and productivity in agricultural systems.

Swedish Red and White: a dual-purpose breed of cattle found in Central and Southern Sweden. The animals are cherry red in colour with white markings. Properly managing Swedish Red and White cattle ensures healthy growth and productivity, supporting farm profitability and sustainability.

Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy: a strategy produced by Defra to support farming and food industries in working towards practices that will lead to a better environment and healthy and prosperous communities. Engaging with sustainability strategies ensures farmers adopt practices that support long-term productivity and environmental health.

sisal: a tropical plant (Agave rigida) which yields a hard fibre used for making binder twine and mats. Cultivating sisal provides farmers with a valuable crop for the production of durable goods, enhancing economic stability and providing employment opportunities.

support buying: same as intervention buying. Understanding and managing support buying ensures financial stability and market access for farmers, supporting farm profitability.

short duration ley: A ley which is kept only for a short time. Farmers benefit from managing short duration leys for efficient pasture rotation and forage production.

stabiliser: an artificial substance added to processed food such as sauces containing water and fat to stop the mixture from changing. Also called stabilising agent. Using stabilisers in food production ensures product consistency and quality, supporting market value and consumer trust.

substandard: not up to standard quality. Properly managing substandard crops and livestock ensures high-quality production, supporting farm profitability and market value.

saline soil: Soil that contains high levels of soluble salts. Managing saline soil is important for preventing crop damage and maintaining soil health.

swine erysipelas: an infectious disease of pigs caused by bacteria. Symptoms include inflammation and skin pustules. The red marks on the skin are diamond-shaped, from which the disease gets its common name of ‘diamonds’. It occurs especially in hot muggy weather and in its acute form can be fatal. Managing swine erysipelas ensures pig health and productivity, supporting farm profitability.

shelterwood: A large area of trees left standing when others are cut, to act as shelter for seedling trees. Farmers benefit from managing shelterwood systems for sustainable forestry and natural regeneration.

seedbed wheels: A set of wheels bolted onto the front of a tractor which will give even compaction and a uniform sowing depth. Farmers benefit from using seedbed wheels for precise and efficient planting.

self-pollination: The pollination of a plant by pollen from its own flowers. Compare cross-pollination. Farmers benefit from growing self-pollinating plants for reliable and consistent fruit set.

sour soil: soil which is excessively acid and hence needs liming to restore the correct balance between acidity and alkalinity. Managing soil pH ensures healthy crop growth and optimal yields, supporting productive agriculture.

sprig: a small shoot or twig. Proper management of sprigs ensures healthy growth and optimal yields of plants and crops.

slink calf: a calf born early, before the normal period of gestation is complete. Managing slink calves ensures proper care and health, reducing losses and supporting farm productivity.

sea kale: A plant of the cabbage family whose leaves are used as vegetable. Farmers benefit from growing sea kale as a unique crop offering diversification and potential market niche.

standstill: the keeping of animals in the same place for 6 days to prevent the spread of disease. Implementing standstill measures ensures biosecurity and prevents disease outbreaks, supporting livestock health and farm productivity.

seasonal: Referring to or occurring at a season. Seasonal changes in temperature. Plants grow according to a seasonal pattern. Farmers benefit from understanding seasonal patterns for effective crop and livestock management.

streptomycin: an antibiotic used against many types of infection, especially streptococcal ones. Properly managing antibiotic use ensures effective disease control and livestock health, supporting farm productivity.

sterility: the state of being free from microorganisms; the inability to produce offspring. Properly managing sterility ensures biosecurity and prevents disease outbreaks, supporting livestock health and productivity.

softwood: the open-grained wood produced by pine trees and other conifers; a pine tree or other conifer that produces such wood. Compare hardwood. Cultivating softwood trees provides farmers with a renewable source of timber for construction and paper production, supporting sustainable forestry practices.

succulent: a plant that has fleshy leaves or stems in which it stores water, e.g., a cactus. Properly managing succulents ensures healthy growth and optimal yields, supporting productive agriculture.

self-feed silage: A feeding system where stock feed from silage, the amount of silage available being centrally controlled. Farmers benefit from using self-feed silage systems for efficient and consistent livestock feeding.

stook: several (usually twelve) corn sheaves gathered together in a field to form a small pyramid. Also called shock. Properly managing stooks ensures efficient drying and storage of grain, supporting farm productivity.

Scottish Enterprise: The main economic development agency for Scotland, dealing with education, communications and the expansion of businesses. Abbr SE. Farmers benefit from engaging with Scottish Enterprise for support and resources to grow their agricultural businesses.

storage drying: a method of drying bales of hay by blowing air through them. (NOTE: There are several methods of storage drying. In a building with airtight sides, air is forced up through ventilation holes in the floor. In open barns, radial drying or a centre duct system is used.) Properly managing storage drying ensures high-quality fodder for livestock, supporting nutrition and farm productivity.