Category: S

sporicidal: able to kill spores. Using sporicidal products helps farmers manage pests and diseases, ensuring healthy crop growth and better yields.

sharp eyespot: A soil-borne fungus (Rhizoctonia solani) affecting cereals, which can cause lodging and shrivelled grain. Farmers benefit from managing sharp eyespot to protect cereal crops and ensure high yields.

soya bean: 1. a bean from a soya plant 2. same as soya. COMMENT: Soya beans are very rich in protein and apart from direct human consumption are used for their oil and as livestock feed. After the oil has been extracted, the residue is used as a high-protein feedingstuff. Other by-products are soya bean milk and soy sauce, both widely used in China and Japan. Soya beans are widely grown in China, where they are the most important food legume, in Brazil, and in the USA. Growing soya beans provides farmers with a versatile crop for multiple markets, enhancing farm income and sustainability.

specificity: the characteristic of having a specific range or use. Understanding the specificity of agricultural inputs ensures efficient resource use and optimal outcomes, supporting productive farming.

stillborn: referring to an animal which is born dead. Properly managing stillbirths ensures livestock health and productivity, supporting farm profitability.

sterile: free from microorganisms; infertile or not able to produce offspring. Properly managing sterility ensures biosecurity and prevents disease outbreaks, supporting livestock health and productivity.

SGM: Standard Gross Margin. Farmers benefit from understanding and using SGM for financial planning and management in agriculture.

sire: the male parent of an animal; a male animal selected for breeding. Understanding the role of a sire in breeding programs is crucial for farmers aiming to improve livestock genetics, health, and productivity.

subsistence: the condition of managing to live on the smallest amount of resources including food needed to stay alive. Properly managing subsistence farming ensures food security and basic livelihoods for farmers.

supplement: something added in order to make something more complete; vitamin supplements. Properly managing supplements ensures optimal livestock nutrition and health, supporting productivity and well-being.

Severely Disadvantaged Area: Land which is extremely poor and difficult to farm. Abbr SDA. Farmers benefit from receiving support and resources for farming in SDAs to ensure sustainable agriculture and rural development.

Southdown: the smallest of the Down breeds of sheep. It has a compact body and a dense fleece of high-quality short wool. The Southdown is an early maturing breed and produces meat of high quality. Raising Southdown sheep provides farmers with a high-quality meat and wool breed, supporting farm profitability.

sugar: any chemical of the saccharide group. Understanding sugar content in crops supports nutritional value and marketability, enhancing farm profitability.

sprout: a little shoot growing out from a plant, with a stem and small leaves; (of a plant) to send out new growth. Proper management of sprouts ensures healthy growth and optimal yields of plants and crops.

stake: a thick wooden post, to which a tree or shrub is attached to keep it upright. Proper staking of plants supports healthy growth and stability, leading to better yields.

sepal: A part of the calyx of a flower, usually green and sometimes hairy. Farmers benefit from understanding sepals for better flower and crop management.

short-day plant: A plant that flowers as the days get shorter in the autumn, e.g. a chrysanthemum. Compare long-day plant. Farmers benefit from understanding short-day plants for effective crop planning and management.

sharecropper: A tenant farmer who pays a part of his crop to the landlord as a form of rent. Farmers benefit from engaging in sharecropping for land access and cultivation opportunities.

soil horizon: a layer of soil that is of a different colour or texture from other layers. (NOTE: There are four soil horizons: the A horizon or topsoil containing humus; the B horizon or subsoil containing minerals leached from the topsoil and little organic matter; the C horizon or weathered rock; and the D horizon or bedrock.) Understanding soil horizons helps farmers manage land resources effectively, promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Schwarzkopf: A breed of German sheep found mainly in Hesse and Westphalia. Farmers benefit from raising Schwarzkopf sheep for their hardiness and efficient meat and wool production.

soil classification: in soil surveys, the classification of soils into groups with broadly similar characteristics. COMMENT: Soils are classified according to the areas of the world in which they are found, according to the types of minerals they contain or according to the stage of development they have reached. All forms of soil classification are artificial, however, as soils vary in three dimensions and in time. Therefore, no clear boundaries exist between soil types. Understanding soil classification helps farmers manage land resources effectively, promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

senescence: The process of growing older. Plant senescence. Farmers benefit from understanding senescence for managing crop life cycles and productivity.

SMR: abbreviation Statutory Management Requirement. Understanding Statutory Management Requirements ensures farmers comply with regulations, protecting their eligibility for government payments and subsidies.

sloe: the wild plum Prunus spinosa. Also called blackthorn. Cultivating sloe provides farmers with a resilient crop for hedgerows and wildlife habitats, supporting biodiversity and sustainable farming.

sole crop: a crop grown in a stand with no other crops. Growing sole crops provides farmers with a focused approach to crop management, optimizing yields and quality.

swill: waste food from kitchens, formerly used for pig feeding but banned after the foot-and-mouth outbreak of 2001. Understanding and adhering to regulations on swill use ensures livestock health and biosecurity, supporting farm productivity.

spear: a shoot of a green plant such as asparagus or broccoli. Proper management of spears ensures healthy growth and optimal yields of vegetable crops.

sward: a cover of grasses and clovers which makes a pasture. Properly managing swards ensures healthy pasture growth and livestock productivity, supporting sustainable farming practices.

Solanum: the Latin name for the potato family. Understanding the Solanum family helps farmers manage crop diversity and optimize production, supporting agricultural productivity.

sodium: a chemical element which is a constituent of common salt and essential to animal life. Ensuring adequate sodium levels in livestock diets supports overall health and productivity.

specific weight: the bulk density of a grain sample measured in hectolitres or bushels. Monitoring specific weight helps farmers assess grain quality, supporting market value and consumer trust.

stigma: the part of a flower’s female reproductive organ that receives the pollen grains. (NOTE: It is generally located at the tip of the style.) Understanding the structure and function of stigmas helps farmers manage plant reproduction and optimize yields.

spinney: a small wood with undergrowth. Managing spinneys provides farmers with valuable habitats for wildlife and supports biodiversity on farms.

synthetic pyrethroid: a chemical compound used as an insecticide, similar to a pyrethroid but manufactured artificially. Understanding and using synthetic pyrethroids effectively supports pest control and healthy crop growth, enhancing farm productivity.

saturate: To fill something with the maximum amount of a liquid that can be absorbed. Nitrates leached from forest soils, showing that the soils are saturated with nitrogen. Farmers benefit from understanding saturation to manage irrigation and prevent waterlogging or nutrient leaching.

specific: clearly defined and definite. Understanding specific agricultural practices helps farmers achieve targeted outcomes, supporting productivity and sustainability.

set to: An orphan lamb given to a foster mother. Farmers benefit from fostering orphaned animals to ensure their survival and growth.

sweeper bull: a bull used to serve cows that have not been artificially inseminated. Properly managing sweeper bulls ensures efficient breeding programs and livestock productivity, supporting farm profitability.

studded roller feed drill: a type of external force feed seed drill in which fluted rollers are replaced by rolls with studs or pegs. It is suitable for drilling most types of seed. Using studded roller feed drills ensures accurate seed placement and optimal crop establishment, supporting productive agriculture.

sward height record pad: a notebook in which the height of a sward is recorded. Properly managing sward height records ensures efficient pasture management and livestock productivity.

standing: growing upright. Properly managing standing crops ensures healthy growth and optimal yields.

Schleswig-Holstein system: A system of cereal cultivation practised in North Germany, giving high average yields. The system involves careful management of the crop and includes high seed rates and high amounts of fertiliser. Crops are carefully monitored and visited each day. Disease is controlled by spraying. Farmers benefit from adopting the Schleswig-Holstein system to achieve high yields and efficient crop management.

spurrey: a common weed on arable land. Also called corn spurrey. Managing spurrey populations protects crops from weed competition, ensuring healthy growth and better yields.

straw spreader: a device attached to the back of a combine when the straw is not wanted. The straw is spread over the ground and then ploughed in. Using straw spreaders ensures efficient straw management and soil preparation, supporting productive agriculture.

stable fly: a fly which is like the house fly, but with a distinct proboscis which can pierce the skin. It breeds in stable manure and is a serious pest to animals as the bites cause irritation. Managing stable fly populations protects livestock from irritation and disease, supporting overall health and productivity.

scouring: Diarrhoea in livestock. It may be a symptom of other diseases such as Johne’s disease, dysentery or coccidiosis, or it may simply be due to a chill or to poor diet. Farmers benefit from managing scouring to ensure livestock health and productivity.

Saanen: Saanen, a dairy goat breed known for high milk production. Farmers benefit from raising Saanen goats due to their efficiency in milk yield and adaptability to various climates.

SEERAD: Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department. Farmers benefit from SEERAD’s support and resources for sustainable agriculture and rural development.

shire horse: A tall heavy breed of draught horse. The coat may be of various colours, but there is always a mass of feather at the feet. Farmers benefit from using shire horses for their strength and versatility in farm work.

short rotation coppice: Varieties of willow or poplar which yield a large amount of fuel and are grown as an energy crop. Though there are plenty of bio-feedstocks around, for example short rotation coppice, few can be cost- and carbon-effectively turned into transport fuel. Farmers benefit from growing short rotation coppice for sustainable energy production and soil improvement.