Category: S

Schistosoma: A fluke which enters the patient’s bloodstream and causes schistosomiasis. Farmers benefit from preventing schistosomiasis to protect livestock health and prevent economic losses.

spring-tined harrow: a cultivator which has tines of spring steel which vibrate in the soil. This gives fast seedbed preparation. Using spring-tined harrows improves soil aeration and preparation, promoting healthy root growth and better crop yields.

soil drainage: the flow of water from soil, either naturally or through pipes and drainage channels inserted into the ground. Proper soil drainage ensures healthy root growth and prevents waterlogging, promoting productive agriculture.

sedimentary rocks: Rocks which were formed by deposition of loose material such as sand and gravel, mainly in water. Farmers benefit from understanding sedimentary rocks for soil management and crop growth.

slaked lime: same as hydrated lime. Using slaked lime improves soil pH, enhancing nutrient availability and promoting healthy crop growth.

straw: the dry stems and leaves of crops such as wheat and oilseed rape left after the grains have been removed; grass which is mowed after flowering. Compare hay. COMMENT: Straw can be ploughed back into the soil. It is often mixed with animal dung to make manure. Non-agricultural uses are varied and include thatching, making paper, and making bricks. It can be compressed into bundles to act as fuel and in this way can be used for heating farms and small local industrial buildings. Properly managing straw ensures efficient use and recycling of agricultural by-products, supporting sustainable farming practices.

sticker: a substance added to a fungicide or bactericide preparation to help it to stick to the sprayed surface. Using stickers effectively ensures optimal application of fungicides and bactericides, promoting healthy crop growth and better yields.

stalk: the main stem of a plant which holds the plant upright; a subsidiary stem of a plant, branching out from the main stem or attaching a leaf, flower, or fruit. Proper management of plant stalks ensures healthy growth and optimal yields.

season: 1. One of the four parts into which a year is divided, i.e. spring, summer, autumn and winter 2. The time of year when something happens, e.g. the mating season 3. The oestrus period of a female animal. Farmers benefit from understanding seasonal patterns for effective crop and livestock management.

strobilurin: one of a group of translaminar and protectant fungicides. Strobilurins are used on a wide range of crops. Properly managing strobilurins ensures effective disease control and healthy crop growth, supporting better yields.

strip cropping: a method of farming in which long thin pieces of land across the contours are planted with different crops in order to reduce soil erosion. Using strip cropping techniques ensures sustainable soil management and healthy crop growth.

soyoil: an oil extracted from the soya bean. Producing soyoil provides farmers with a valuable product for cooking and industrial uses, supporting economic stability and market opportunities.

seed: A plant’s unit of reproduction, capable of developing into another plant. High-quality seed selection is crucial for successful crop production.

soil sterilant: something used to remove microorganisms from soil, e.g., a chemical or steam. Using soil sterilants helps farmers manage pests and diseases, ensuring healthy crop growth and better yields.

solar farming: The use of solar energy to power agricultural operations. Solar farming reduces energy costs and supports sustainable farming practices.

springtail: a primitive wingless insect very common in soils, where they may do damage to fine roots. Managing springtail populations protects crops from damage, ensuring healthy growth and better yields.

stubble cleaning: working the stubble after harvest, using ploughs, cultivators, and harrows to free the weeds from the soil. Properly managing stubble cleaning ensures efficient soil preparation and weed control, supporting healthy crop growth and better yields.

superovulation: the process in animal production of injecting hormones to increase the number of eggs released by the ovaries. Properly managing superovulation ensures efficient breeding programs and improves livestock productivity, supporting farm profitability.

syphoning: moving a liquid from one container to another using a pipe which is filled with liquid, with the open ends of the pipe below the level of the liquid in the original container. Properly managing syphoning ensures efficient liquid transfer and farm operations.

savoy: A type of winter cabbage with crinkly leaves. Farmers benefit from growing savoy cabbage as it is hardy and can be harvested in cold weather, providing a valuable winter crop.

shavings: Thin curled pieces of wood removed when planing, used as litter for animals. Farmers benefit from using shavings for livestock bedding and soil improvement.

Scottish Natural Heritage: An official body responsible for the conservation of fauna and flora in Scotland. Farmers benefit from engaging with Scottish Natural Heritage to ensure sustainable farming practices and biodiversity conservation.

seed trials: Tests of new seeds to see if they germinate correctly. Farmers benefit from conducting seed trials to evaluate and select the best-performing seed varieties.

strip grazing: a system of grazing which allows animals access to a small part of the field. The rest of the field is protected by a temporary fence, usually electric. Properly managing strip grazing ensures sustainable pasture management and livestock productivity.

subtropical: referring to the subtropics. The islands enjoy a subtropical climate. Subtropical plants grow on the sheltered parts of the coast. Properly managing subtropical crops ensures optimal growth and yields, supporting farm productivity and sustainability.

suckling pig: an unweaned piglet. Properly managing suckling pigs ensures healthy growth and development, supporting livestock productivity and farm profitability.

surface drainage: the removal of surplus water from an area of land by means of ditches and channels. Properly managing surface drainage ensures healthy soil conditions and prevents waterlogging, supporting productive agriculture.

steerage hoe: a hoe mounted behind a tractor and steered by the driver to avoid crop damage. Using steerage hoes ensures precise weed control and healthy crop growth, supporting better yields.

secondary: 1. Less important than something else 2. Coming after something else. Farmers benefit from understanding secondary growth and development stages for better crop and livestock management.

Suckler Cow Premium Scheme: until 2005, a subsidy on female cattle forming part of a suckler breeding herd used for rearing calves for meat production. Now superseded by the Single Payment Scheme. Understanding and accessing support schemes ensures financial support for farmers, promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

sheet erosion: Erosion that takes place evenly over the whole area of a slope, caused by the runoff from saturated soil after heavy rainfall. Farmers benefit from managing sheet erosion to prevent soil degradation and maintain land productivity.

sustainable food chain: a food chain from producer to consumer which is environmentally responsible and sustainable at all stages. Properly managing sustainable food chains ensures responsible resource use and supports farm sustainability.

salmonellosis: A disease caused by Salmonella bacteria. Farmers benefit from preventing salmonellosis to protect livestock health and prevent economic losses.

scutch: Same as couch grass. Farmers benefit from managing scutch grass to prevent weed infestations and maintain crop health.

saliva: A clear fluid secreted by the salivary glands into the mouth, and containing water, mucus and enzymes to lubricate food and break down starch into sugars. Farmers benefit from understanding saliva’s role in animal digestion for better livestock health management.

stocky: referring to an animal with short strong legs. Properly managing stocky animals ensures healthy growth and productivity, supporting farm profitability.

sawdust: Powder produced when sawing wood. Sawdust is used both as a mulch for plants and as bedding for animals. Farmers benefit from using sawdust for soil improvement and livestock comfort.

spring wheat: wheat which is sown in spring and harvested towards the end of the summer. Growing spring wheat provides farmers with a seasonal crop that supports crop rotation and sustainable agricultural practices.

sphagnum: a type of moss that grows in acid conditions. Cultivating sphagnum provides farmers with a valuable resource for horticulture and soil improvement, supporting sustainable practices.

shoot: 1. A new growth from the stem of a plant 2. Part of a young seed plant, the stem and first leaves which show above the surface of the soil. To kill something with a gun. Farmers benefit from managing shoots for successful plant growth and crop production.

sole furrow: the last slice cut during ploughing. Proper ploughing techniques, such as creating sole furrows, ensure efficient soil preparation and promote healthy crop growth.

spot price: the market price for produce or livestock at a specific time. ‘If most of the feeds needed can be bought forward during dips in the market, the end result is a high quality, highly competitive diet and significant feed cost savings compared to spot prices.’ [Farmers Guardian]. Monitoring spot prices helps farmers make informed decisions about sales and purchases, optimizing profitability.

septic tank: An underground tank for household sewage that is not connected to the main drainage system and in which human waste is decomposed by the action of anaerobic bacteria. Farmers benefit from using septic tanks for waste management and sanitation.

swath turner: a haymaking machine used to move individual swaths sideways and turn them over at the same time, so making the drying process faster. It is also used in wet conditions to scatter a swath to dry it more quickly. Using swath turners ensures efficient haymaking and fodder quality, supporting livestock nutrition and farm productivity.

Slaughter Premium Scheme: until 2005, a subsidy that provided direct support to all producers of domestic cattle. (NOTE: Now superseded by the Single Payment Scheme.) Understanding historical subsidy schemes helps farmers adapt to current financial support structures and manage their operations effectively.

scale: A thin membranous leaf structure. Farmers benefit from understanding scale in plants for better crop management.

streptococcus: a bacterium belonging to a genus that grows in long chains and causes diseases such as strangles and mastitis. (NOTE: The plural is streptococci.) Understanding streptococcus bacteria helps farmers manage livestock health and prevent disease outbreaks, supporting productivity and well-being.

select: To identify plants or animals with desirable characteristics such as high yield or disease resistance as part of the activity of breeding new varieties. Farmers benefit from selecting plants and animals to improve crop and livestock productivity.

shorthorn: A breed of cattle, with short horns. In the 18th century, Charles Colling used many of the breeding principles established by Robert Bakewell to develop the shorthorn breed, which became the most common in Britain and remained so for over a hundred years. It has later developed into three different strains: the Beef Shorthorn, the Dairy Shorthorn and the Lincoln Shorthorn. Farmers benefit from raising shorthorn cattle for their versatility in meat and milk production.

successional cropping: the growing of several crops one after the other during the same growing season; the process of sowing a crop such as lettuce over a long period, so that harvesting takes place over a similarly long period. Properly managing successional cropping ensures efficient land use and continuous crop production, supporting farm productivity.