Category: S

seminal propagation: The process of growing new plants from seed or from tubers such as potatoes. Farmers benefit from using seminal propagation for crop production and genetic diversity.

salivation: The production of saliva. Farmers benefit from monitoring salivation to ensure livestock are healthy and well-nourished.

synthetise: to produce a substance by chemical synthesis. Understanding and using synthesis effectively supports efficient farm operations and productivity.

sex: One of the two groups, male and female, into which animals and plants can be divided. Farmers benefit from understanding sex differentiation for effective breeding and livestock management.

Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society: A consultancy agency which promotes and advises on joint ventures between Scottish farmers. Abbr SAOS. Farmers benefit from engaging with SAOS for cooperative ventures and accessing agricultural advice and support.

swamp: an area of permanently wet land and the plants that grow on it. Properly managing swamps ensures biodiversity and ecological balance, supporting sustainable land use and agricultural productivity.

self-fertile: Referring to a plant that fertilises itself with pollen from its own flowers. Farmers benefit from growing self-fertile plants for reliable and consistent fruit set.

Stoneleigh: the home of the National Agricultural Centre and proposed site for the National Museum of Food and Farming. Engaging with agricultural centers like Stoneleigh provides farmers with resources and support for sustainable agricultural practices.

scrapie: A brain disease of sheep and goats. Affected animals twitch, then suffer intense itching and thirst. They become extremely thin, and death follows. It is a notifiable disease. Farmers benefit from preventing scrapie to protect livestock health and prevent economic losses.

seedless: With no seeds. Farmers benefit from growing seedless varieties for consumer preference and marketability.

seed dormancy: A period when a seed is not active. Farmers benefit from understanding and managing seed dormancy to ensure timely and successful germination.

sage: An aromatic herb (Salvia officinalis), the leaves of which are dried and used for flavouring. Farmers benefit from growing sage by offering a popular herb for culinary and medicinal uses, enhancing farm profitability.

sterilisation: the action of making something free from microorganisms; the action of making an organism unable to produce offspring. Properly managing sterilisation ensures biosecurity and prevents disease outbreaks, supporting livestock health and productivity.

shrub: A perennial plant with several woody stems. Farmers benefit from growing shrubs for their diverse uses, including ornamental and productive applications.

starch: a substance composed of chains of glucose units, found in green plants. COMMENT: Starch is the usual form in which carbohydrate is present in food, especially in bread, rice, and potatoes, and it is broken down by the digestive process into forms of sugar. Carbohydrate is not stored in the bodies of animals in the form of starch, but as glycogen. Understanding starch content in crops supports nutritional value and marketability, enhancing farm profitability.

SNF percentage: abbreviation solid-not-fat percentage. Monitoring the solid-not-fat percentage in milk ensures high-quality dairy production, supporting consumer health and market value.

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.