Category: S

safety cab: A protective cab fitted to a tractor to prevent injury to the driver if the tractor turns over. Farmers benefit from safety cabs as they provide crucial protection, reducing the risk of injuries during tractor operations.

separate concentrate feeding: A winter feeding system for livestock in which the animals are allowed free feeding of roughage and concentrates are fed separately in restricted quantities. Abbr SCF. Farmers benefit from using separate concentrate feeding systems for efficient and consistent livestock nutrition.

smallholder: a person who farms a smallholding. Supporting smallholders promotes local food production, economic stability, and sustainable agricultural practices.

source: to get materials or products from a particular place or supplier. ‘It was time people started buying food more ethically, said Mr Mitchell, to give them a sense of pride in their region. The extra work needed to source from multiple small suppliers was well worth it.’ [Farmers Weekly]. Sourcing materials and products ethically ensures sustainability and supports local economies.

sheepmeat: A term used in the EU for meat from a sheep or lamb. Farmers benefit from producing sheepmeat for its market demand and versatility in culinary uses.

stubble turnips: quick-growing types of turnip sown into cereal stubble and grown as catch crops. Properly managing stubble turnips ensures efficient use of land and resources, supporting farm productivity and sustainability.

self-contained herd: A dairy herd which breeds its own replacements, the calves being kept and reared. Farmers benefit from maintaining self-contained herds for biosecurity and consistent herd quality.

stoma: a pore in a plant, especially in the leaves, through which carbon dioxide is taken in and oxygen is sent out. Each stoma in a leaf is surrounded by a pair of guard cells, which close the stomata if the plant needs to conserve water. (NOTE: The plural is stomata.) Properly managing stomata ensures efficient gas exchange and healthy plant growth, supporting better yields.

seeder: A machine for sowing seeds. Farmers benefit from using seeders for efficient and precise planting.

stripe rust: same as yellow rust. Managing stripe rust ensures healthy wheat crops, preventing yield losses and maintaining quality.

site: a geographically defined area whose extent is clearly marked. Properly managing farm sites ensures efficient use of land resources, promoting sustainable agricultural practices and optimal crop and livestock production.

seedbox: 1. A box in which seeds can be planted for cultivation in a greenhouse 2. The part of the plant head which contains the seeds. Farmers benefit from using seedboxes for controlled seed germination and growth.

spermatozoon: a mature male sex cell that is capable of fertilising an ovum. COMMENT: A spermatozoon is very small and comprises a head, neck and very long tail. It can swim by moving its tail from side to side. Proper management of reproduction in livestock ensures healthy breeding programs and improves productivity.

stress: a condition where an outside influence changes the composition or functioning of something; a state of anxiety or strain that can affect an animal’s health. Properly managing stress in livestock ensures health and productivity, supporting farm profitability.

slender foxtail: same as blackgrass. Managing slender foxtail helps farmers control invasive weeds, ensuring healthy crop growth and better yields.

synthetic zeolite: an artificial zeolite. Understanding and using synthetic zeolites effectively supports efficient farm operations and productivity.

subdominant: (of a species) being not as important as the dominant species. Understanding subdominant species helps farmers manage biodiversity and ecological balance on farms.

shade: A place sheltered from direct sunlight. Farmers benefit from providing shade to protect crops and livestock from excessive heat and sun exposure.

stock breeder: a farmer who specialises in breeding livestock. Properly managing stock breeding programs ensures healthy and productive livestock, supporting farm profitability and genetic improvement.

stone-ground flour: a type of flour made by grinding with millstones. Properly managing stone-ground flour production ensures product quality and market value, supporting farm income and consumer trust.

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.