Category: T

tertiary: Coming after two other things, often used in a sequence of importance. Understanding tertiary processes and products in agriculture can help farmers add value and diversify their operations.

tanker: A truck used to carry liquids such as petrol or milk. Efficient use of tankers ensures safe and reliable transport of essential liquids, supporting farm logistics and productivity.

thorny: With thorns. Managing thorny plants effectively can prevent injuries and improve accessibility on the farm.

tilapia: A tropical white fish suitable for growing in fish farms. Raising tilapia can diversify farm income and provide a sustainable source of protein.

tick-borne fever: An infectious disease transmitted by bites from ticks. In cattle, the disease causes loss of milk yield and a lower resistance to other diseases. In sheep, it causes fever, listlessness, and loss of weight. Abortions may occur as a result of tick-borne fever. Effective management and prevention of tick-borne fever are essential for maintaining livestock health and productivity.

trafficability: The ability of soil to take machinery or stock without significant soil damage. It is related to the soil water content. Monitoring and managing trafficability can prevent soil compaction and enhance crop growth.

turn out time: A season, usually in the spring, when animals which have been kept indoors during the winter are let out to grass. Managing turn out time effectively can enhance pasture management and livestock productivity.

truck farming: US term describing intensive vegetable cultivation at a considerable distance from the urban markets where the produce is sold. Engaging in truck farming can provide a reliable income and meet urban demand for fresh produce.

thrift: Good health in an animal. Ensuring thrift in livestock through proper management and nutrition can improve productivity and farm profitability.

thicket: A wood of saplings and bushes growing close together. Managing thickets can provide wildlife habitats and enhance biodiversity on the farm.

trace: A very small amount of something. Monitoring trace elements and substances in soil and products ensures optimal crop growth and safety.

TPO: Abbreviation for tree preservation order. Knowing about TPOs can help farmers manage land use and comply with conservation regulations.

Tamworth: A breed of pig, red-gold in color, which makes the animal almost immune to sunburn. Tamworths are widely exported due to their ability to thrive in hot sunshine and rough conditions, making them a valuable breed for diverse climates.

toxic: Referring to a substance that is poisonous or harmful to humans, animals, or the environment. Proper management of toxic substances is essential for farm safety and environmental protection.

translocate: To move substances through the tissues of a plant. Understanding translocation processes can help farmers manage nutrient distribution and plant health.

table chicken: A chicken raised for eating rather than producing eggs. Specializing in table chickens can allow farmers to meet market demand for meat and optimize their poultry production.

tryptophan: An essential amino acid. Ensuring adequate tryptophan in livestock diets can improve health and productivity.

toxoplasmosis: An infectious disease affecting ewes, which causes pregnant animals to abort. Proper management of toxoplasmosis can prevent reproductive losses and improve flock health.

tuberculin testing: The testing of cattle for the presence of bovine tuberculosis. Implementing tuberculin testing can prevent the spread of tuberculosis and ensure herd health.

tiller: A shoot of a grass or cereal plant, which forms at ground level in the angle between a leaf and the main shoot. True stems are only produced from the tillers at a later stage in the plant’s development. Managing tillers can improve plant density and crop yield.

terminal: Referring to a shoot or bud at the end of a shoot. Proper management of terminal buds can enhance plant growth and productivity, important for crop planning and pruning practices.

Tenant Farmers Association: A group formed to represent the interests of tenant farmers on a national scale. Engaging with such associations can offer support, advocacy, and resources for tenant farmers.

tonne: A unit of measurement of weight, equal to 1000kg. Also called metric ton. Using metric measurements like tonnes can standardize farm operations and improve trade accuracy.

teat: A nipple on an udder. Proper teat care is crucial for maintaining udder health and milk production in dairy animals.

transpiration: The loss of water from a plant through its stomata. The removal of moisture from the soil by plant roots, which pass the moisture up the stem to the leaves. Understanding transpiration processes can help farmers manage irrigation and optimize water use.

turn out: To put animals out to pasture, after they have been kept indoors during the winter. Proper timing of turn out can optimize pasture use and improve livestock health.

tree farming: The growing of trees for commercial purposes. Implementing tree farming can provide sustainable income and support conservation efforts.

throw: To give birth to young. Properly managing breeding and birthing processes can improve livestock health and productivity.

thoroughbred: Referring to a horse that is bred for particular characteristics, especially for racing. Proper management of thoroughbreds can enhance breeding programs and performance in racing or other specialized areas.

turf: A surface earth covered with grass, with its roots matted in the soil. Managing turf effectively can enhance pasture quality and prevent soil erosion.

tillage: The activity of preparing the soil for cultivation. Implementing appropriate tillage methods can improve soil health and optimize crop production.

turnip-rooted cabbage: Same as kohlrabi. Growing turnip-rooted cabbage can provide diverse and nutritious crops for livestock feed and human consumption.

tubercle: A small raised area on part of a plant or an animal. A small tuber. Proper management of tubercles can improve crop and livestock health.

tops: Leaves and stems of plants such as sugar beet which are cut off and used as fodder for cattle and sheep or made into silage. Utilizing tops effectively can provide nutritious feed for livestock and reduce waste.

tropical: Referring to the tropics. The disease is carried by a tropical insect. Understanding tropical conditions and diseases can help farmers manage crops and livestock in these regions.

tassel: A male flower of the maize plant. Properly managing tasseling in maize can enhance pollination and grain yield.

Teeswater: A breed of longwool sheep with a dark muzzle. It is used to provide rams for cross-breeding with Swaledale ewes to produce the hybrid Masham. Using Teeswater sheep in breeding programs can enhance wool quality and meat production.

trail: A path or track. Creating and maintaining trails can improve farm access and support tourism and educational activities.

terrace: A flat strip of land across a sloping hillside, lying level along the contours. Terracing is widely used to prevent soil erosion and create arable land in hilly areas, enhancing agricultural productivity.

tick bean: A small bean (Vicia faba L), usually used for feeding to horses and other animals. Growing tick beans can provide nutritious feed for livestock and improve crop rotation.

tanning: The process of converting animal skins to leather. Exploring tanning as a value-added process can diversify farm income and utilize all parts of livestock.

testicle: One of two male sex glands in the scrotum, producing sperm. Understanding livestock anatomy, including testicles, is important for breeding programs and managing reproductive health.

testa: The tough protective skin around a seed which protects the embryo inside. Also called seed coat. Knowing about seed testa can help farmers select seeds with better protection and viability, improving germination rates.

tow: To pull another wheeled vehicle or implement. Using proper towing techniques can enhance farm operations and equipment management.

three-point linkage: A method of coupling implements to a tractor. Automatic couplers for three-point linkage permit implements to be attached rapidly and safely. Using three-point linkage systems can improve machinery efficiency and ease of use on the farm.

thrush: A disease affecting the frog of a horse’s hoof. Recognizing and treating thrush can prevent lameness and improve horse health.

twin lamb disease: Same as pregnancy toxaemia. Recognizing and managing twin lamb disease can improve lamb survival rates and flock health.

terracing: A soil conservation practice that involves creating stepped levels on sloped land to reduce erosion and runoff. Terracing helps improve water retention and soil fertility.

trefoil: A leguminous plant, the thin wiry form of a small-flowered yellow clover, sometimes grown in pasture mixtures. It is a useful catch crop, and thrives in marshy acid soils. Growing trefoil can enhance pasture quality and provide forage for livestock.

t/pa: Abbreviation for tonnes per annum. Understanding production rates in terms of tonnes per annum helps in planning and optimizing farm outputs.