Category: S

staple: the length and fineness of fibres such as wool or cotton, used in determining quality. Properly managing staple quality ensures high-value wool and cotton production, supporting farm income and market value.

smudging: the process of burning oil to produce smoke to prevent loss of heat from the ground and so to minimise or prevent frost damage to crops and orchards. Using smudging techniques protects crops from frost damage, ensuring better yields and quality.

snap beans: US beans which are eaten in the pod, e.g., green beans or French beans, or of which the seed is eaten after drying, e.g., haricot beans. As opposed to broad beans or Lima beans, the seeds of which are eaten fresh. Growing snap beans provides farmers with a versatile crop for fresh and processed markets, enhancing farm income.

stem eelworm: a pest affecting cereals, in particular oats. The plant stem swells and is prevented from growing and producing any ears. Managing stem eelworm populations protects crops from damage, ensuring healthy growth and better yields.

straw walker: the part of a combine harvester where straw is carried away from the threshed grain after it has been separated from the stalks. Properly managing straw walkers ensures efficient combine harvester operation and crop quality.

suckler: a calf or other young animal which is suckling. Properly managing sucklers ensures healthy growth and development, supporting livestock productivity and farm profitability.

shifting cultivation: An agricultural practice using the rotation of fields rather than of crops. Short cropping periods are followed by long fallows and fertility is maintained by the regeneration of vegetation. A form of cultivation practised in some tropical countries, where land is cultivated until it is exhausted and then left as the farmers move on to another area. In shifting cultivation, the practice of clearing vegetation by burning is widespread. One of the simplest forms involves burning off thick and dry secondary vegetation. Immediately after burning, a crop like maize is planted and matures before the secondary vegetation has recovered. Where fire clearance methods are used, the ash acts as a fertiliser. Farmers benefit from understanding and managing shifting cultivation for sustainable land use and productivity.

salivary gland: A gland which secretes saliva. Farmers benefit from understanding the function of salivary glands to maintain the digestive health of their livestock.

sweetener: an artificial substance such as saccharin added to food to make it sweet. Properly managing sweeteners ensures product quality and consumer health, supporting market value and farm profitability.

staple crop: A crop that is grown in large quantities and forms the basis of a traditional diet. Understanding staple crops helps farmers meet food security needs.

silty soil: Soil containing a high proportion of silt. Such soils are difficult to work and drainage is a problem. Farmers benefit from managing silty soils to improve drainage and soil structure.

stecklings: young sugar beet plants grown in seedbeds in summer, to be transplanted in the autumn or following spring. Properly managing stecklings ensures healthy growth and optimal yields of sugar beet crops.

saline: Referring to salt. Farmers benefit from managing saline conditions to ensure optimal soil health and crop growth.

sawfly: A family of insects, the larvae or caterpillars of which cause serious damage to fruit and crops. Farmers benefit from controlling sawfly to prevent crop damage and yield loss.

sell-by date: A date on the label of a food product which is the last date on which the product should be sold and can be guaranteed as of good quality. Farmers benefit from understanding sell-by dates for food safety and quality control.

support energy: the total energy expenditure necessary for the production of plant and animal agricultural foodstuffs. Properly managing support energy ensures efficient resource use and sustainability in agricultural production.

soil fertility: the potential capacity of soil to support plant growth based on its content of nitrogen and other nutrients. Managing soil fertility ensures healthy crop growth and optimal yields, supporting productive agriculture.

sideland: A strip of land left at the side of a field during ploughing. It may be ploughed up with the headlands. Farmers benefit from managing sideland for efficient land use and crop rotation.

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.