Agricultural Terms and Helpful Expert Insight
Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food: a scheme administered by Defra which promotes sustainable, ecologically sound farming methods, and provides funding for relevant training and modernisation. Understanding and engaging with sustainability strategies ensures farmers adopt practices that support long-term productivity and environmental health.
sterilise: to make something sterile by killing the microorganisms in it or on it; to make an organism unable to have offspring (NOTE: This may be done by various means including drugs, surgery, or irradiation.). Properly managing sterilisation ensures biosecurity and prevents disease outbreaks, supporting livestock health and productivity.
spruce-larch adelgid: a relative of the aphid, which may cause serious damage on spruce grown for Christmas trees (Adelges viridis). Managing spruce-larch adelgid populations ensures healthy growth and quality of spruce trees, supporting market value and productivity.
sustainable energy: energy produced from renewable resources that does not deplete natural resources. Adopting sustainable energy practices ensures responsible resource use and supports farm sustainability.
stocking rate: a measure of the carrying capacity of an area in terms of the number of livestock in it at a given time, e.g., the number of animals per hectare. Properly managing stocking rates ensures sustainable grazing and livestock productivity, supporting farm profitability.
sex-linked: Referring to a genetically inherited characteristic that appears in only one sex. Farmers benefit from understanding sex-linked traits for managing genetic traits in breeding programs.
seed ripeness: The stage at which the seed can be harvested successfully. Farmers benefit from understanding seed ripeness for timely and successful seed collection.
soil improvement: the practice of making the soil more fertile by methods such as draining and manuring. Implementing soil improvement techniques enhances soil health and fertility, supporting productive agriculture.
stubble burning: formerly, a method of removing dry stubble by burning it before ploughing. Stubble burning was banned under the Crop Residues (Burning) Regulations of 1993. COMMENT: Stubble burning has the advantage of removing weed seeds and creating a certain amount of natural fertiliser which can be ploughed into the soil. The disadvantage is that it pollutes the atmosphere with smoke, reducing visibility on roads and releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide. This, together with the possible danger that the fire may get out of control, killing small animals and burning trees and crops, means that it is not recommended as a means of dealing with the stalks of harvested plants. Properly managing stubble burning ensures compliance with environmental regulations and supports sustainable farming practices.
suckler herd: a herd of beef cattle, where each dam suckles its own calf or calves. Properly managing suckler herds ensures healthy growth and productivity in beef operations, supporting farm profitability.
sulphate of potash: same as potassium sulphate. Understanding and using potassium sulphate effectively supports soil fertility and healthy crop growth, enhancing farm productivity.
seminal roots: The secondary roots of a plant which support the primary root. This root system is then replaced by adventitious roots. Farmers benefit from understanding seminal roots for better crop management and growth.
soil compaction: the process in which soil is pressed down, e.g., by heavy loads, and becomes very firm with little space between its particles. The healthy world market price for soybeans has led to the development of continuous production of this crop and consequently some problems have developed, particularly soil compaction, weed species development, and reduction of soil fertility. [Arable Farming] Preventing soil compaction ensures proper root growth and water infiltration, supporting healthy crop growth and sustainable agriculture.
soil parent material: material from which soil is formed. Understanding soil parent material helps farmers manage land resources effectively, promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
seed weevil: A pest affecting brassica seed crops. Seeds are destroyed in their pods by the larvae. Farmers benefit from managing seed weevil infestations to protect seed crops and ensure high yields.
sheep maggot fly: A type of fly that lays its eggs on the wool of sheep. The eggs hatch into maggots that burrow into the flesh causing a condition known as strike. Farmers benefit from managing sheep maggot fly infestations to protect livestock health and productivity.
speckled yellowing: a disease of sugar beet caused by a deficiency of manganese. Managing speckled yellowing ensures healthy sugar beet crops, preventing yield losses and maintaining quality.
second early potatoes: The crop of potatoes that follows the first early crop. Farmers benefit from growing second early potatoes to extend the harvesting season and improve crop rotation.
self-sterile: Referring to a plant that cannot fertilise itself from its own flowers. Farmers benefit from understanding self-sterility for effective breeding and crop production.
sunflower: an important oilseed crop grown in temperate areas. COMMENT: The oil extracted from the seeds is used for cooking and for margarine production. The residual cake after pressing is a high-protein livestock feed, and the whole plant can be fed to cattle. It is also useful as a green manure plant. Birds can cause serious damage to sunflower crops by feeding on the ripening seeds. The main producing countries are Russia, the Ukraine, Argentina, and Romania. Properly managing sunflower crops ensures healthy growth and high yields, supporting farm productivity and profitability.
Site of Special Scientific Interest: an area of land in England, Wales, and Scotland that is officially protected to maintain its fauna, flora, or geology. Abbr SSSI. Farmers with land designated as an SSSI can receive support for conservation efforts, enhancing biodiversity and ecological health on their farms.
stale seedbed: a method of killing weeds by using a contact herbicide just before drilling. Using stale seedbed techniques helps farmers manage weeds effectively, promoting healthy crop growth and better yields.
Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department: The department of the devolved Scottish Executive government which deals with farming, the environment, animal welfare and rural development in Scotland. Abbr SEERAD. Farmers benefit from SEERADs support and resources for sustainable agriculture and rural development.
soakaway: a channel in the ground filled with gravel, which takes rainwater from a downpipe or liquid sewage from a septic tank and allows it to be absorbed into the surrounding soil. Properly managing soakaways ensures efficient drainage and reduces the risk of waterlogging and soil erosion.
soil salinity: the quantity of mineral salts found in a soil. (NOTE: High soil salinity is detrimental to most agricultural crops, although some plants are adapted to such conditions.) Managing soil salinity ensures healthy crop growth and prevents yield losses, supporting productive agriculture.
Scottish Rural Property and Business Association: A group which represents the interests of Scotlands rural businesses. Abbr SRPBA. Farmers benefit from engaging with SRPBA for support and advocacy in rural business matters.
support price: the price at which the EU will buy farm produce which farmers cannot sell, in order to store it. Also called intervention price. Understanding and managing support prices ensures financial stability and market access for farmers, supporting farm profitability.
systematic relating to a system: understanding and managing systematic agricultural practices ensures efficient farm operations and productivity.
stock farming: the rearing of livestock for sale. Properly managing stock farming operations ensures healthy growth and productivity, supporting farm profitability and sustainability.
skim coulter: the part of a plough which turns a small slice off the corner of the furrow about to be turned and throws it into the bottom of the one before. It is attached to the beam behind the disc coulters. Using skim coulters improves soil aeration and preparation, promoting healthy root growth and better crop yields.
slug pellet: a small hard piece of a mixture containing a substance such as metaldehyde which kills slugs. Slug pellets are usually coloured blue-green. Using slug pellets effectively helps farmers control slug infestations, protecting crops and improving yields.
Systolic blood pressure: is the pressure of the blood in the arteries when the heart beats. Understanding and managing systolic blood pressure in livestock ensures health and productivity, supporting farm profitability and well-being.
Sheep Annual Premium Scheme: Until 2005, a subsidy for breeding ewes. Now superseded by the Single Payment Scheme. Farmers benefit from engaging in subsidy programs for financial support in livestock production.
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