Agricultural Terms and Helpful Expert Insight
seedbed: An area of land tilled to produce a fine tilth, firm and level, into which seeds will be sown. Some crops such as potatoes do not need a fine tilth and a rough damp bed is preferable. Farmers benefit from preparing seedbeds to ensure successful seed germination and crop establishment.
The process of increasing the economic value of agricultural products through processing, packaging, marketing, and other enhancements. Value-added agriculture helps farmers capture more of the market value of their products. For example, producing artisanal cheese from farm-produced milk to sell at a premium price.
Centrifugal: Going away from the center. Understanding centrifugal forces aids in managing machinery and processes that rely on these principles, such as cream separators and irrigation systems.
pot-bound plant: A plant which is in a pot that is too small and which its roots fill. Helpful content: Managing pot-bound plants involves timely repotting and ensuring adequate space for root growth. Proper care can promote healthier plants and better growth in controlled environments.
decoupling: The breaking of the link between the amount of money paid to farmers as a subsidy and the amount they produce. Single Payment Scheme. Decoupling policies can impact farm income and production decisions. Farmers should stay informed about subsidy programs and their requirements to maximize financial support. Understanding decoupling can help farmers plan their production more strategically, focusing on sustainability and market demands rather than subsidy-driven production.
industrial crop: A crop grown for purposes other than food, e.g. flax grown for fibre. Helps farmers diversify their production and income sources.
Clay Soils: Soils with more than 35% clay-sized material. Managing clay soils involves using appropriate amendments to improve fertility and support healthy crop growth.
discomfort: A mild form of pain or a feeling of unease. Proper management of discomfort in livestock involves identifying the cause, providing appropriate care, and implementing preventive measures. Farmers should work with veterinarians to ensure the health and welfare of their animals. Understanding the factors contributing to discomfort will aid in developing effective management strategies.
Farmers Lung: A type of asthma caused by an allergy to rotting hay. Awareness and prevention of farmers lung help protect the respiratory health of farm workers.
rural development: A program of activities undertaken to ensure that rural areas remain economically and socially sustainable. Promoting rural development supports agricultural growth and improves rural livelihoods.
pillory pillory pillory: A device used for public punishment. Ensuring farm security includes using structures like pillories to protect resources and prevent theft.
Penicillium: The genus of fungus from which penicillin is derived. Understanding the origins of antibiotics aids in effective disease management in agriculture.
heading date: The average date by which a certain percentage of a crop has formed seed heads. Using heading date information helps farmers plan their planting and harvesting schedules for optimal yields.
Milk Marketing Board: until 1994, the board which organised the collection and buying of milk from farmers and its sale to customers. Understanding the role and history of the Milk Marketing Board can help farmers adapt to changes in the dairy industry and improve marketability.
The guidelines and practices that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, including recruitment, training, and cultural competence. For example, implementing food product diversity and inclusion policies to create a more inclusive and equitable work environment.
post-harvest: The period after crops are harvested, focusing on storage, processing, and marketing. Effective post-harvest management ensures the quality and value of agricultural products.
ad lib feeding: The unrestricted supply of feed, day and night. Implementing ad lib feeding can improve growth rates and productivity in livestock.
three-times-a-day: A milking system in which cows are milked three times a day. Using this system can increase milk yields and improve dairy farm profitability.
Chrysanthemum: A genus of composite plants, some cultivated for their flowers, such as Chrysanthemum roseum, the source of the insecticide pyrethrum. Growing chrysanthemums provides valuable ornamental and pest control crops for farms.
alpha amylase: An enzyme present in wheat seed, which changes some starch to sugar. Excessive amounts can result in loaves of bread with sticky texture. Managing alpha amylase levels helps farmers ensure the quality of wheat and bakery products.
parturition: The act of giving birth to offspring, when the fetus leaves the uterus, called by different names according to the animal. Calving, farrowing, foaling, lambing. Understanding parturition helps in managing livestock breeding and ensuring healthy births.
aviculture: The practice of keeping and breeding birds. Aviculture can diversify farm operations and provide additional income through the sale of birds and bird products.
screwworm: A fly similar to the bluebottle, but dark green in colour, common in Central and South America. It devastated cattle in the USA in the 1950s, but has now been eradicated there. Farmers benefit from preventing screwworm infestations to protect livestock health and prevent economic losses.
Cotton Grass: Cotton grass noun a plant with white fluffy flower heads that grows in boggy ground. Latin name: Eriophorum angustifolium. Managing cotton grass supports wetland conservation and biodiversity.
damp off: To die from a fungus infection that spreads in warm damp conditions and attacks the roots and lower stems of seedlings. Damping off is a common cause of seedling loss in greenhouses and nurseries. Farmers can prevent damping off by using sterilized soil, avoiding overwatering, and ensuring proper ventilation. Fungicide treatments and proper spacing of seedlings can also help reduce the risk of this disease.
Corn Marigold: Corn marigold noun a common weed (Chrysanthemum segetum). Managing corn marigold involves using weed control measures to protect crops.
Cattle Health Certification Standards (CHCS): An organization setting common standards for testing non-notifiable diseases in cattle. Engaging with CHCS helps farmers maintain herd health and comply with industry standards.
round baler: A tractor-drawn machine which straddles the swath with a pickup cylinder. The crop is passed over a system of belts to form a round bale; when the bale is complete, twine is wrapped around it and it is thrown out of the machine. Using round balers supports efficient forage harvesting and storage.
distill: To purify a liquid by heating it so that it becomes a gas and then condensing it to form a pure liquid again. Distillation is an important process for producing high-quality products like essential oils and spirits. Farmers should use appropriate equipment and techniques for effective distillation. Understanding the benefits and applications of distillation will aid in optimizing production and product quality.
The process of selecting and mating cattle to produce offspring with desirable traits. Cattle breeding aims to improve productivity, health, and genetic quality. For example, using artificial insemination to breed cattle with high milk production traits.
The practices and strategies used to recruit, train, and manage farm workers, including labor laws and safety regulations. For example, implementing dairy farm labor management practices to ensure a productive and safe working environment.
decay: A process by which tissues become rotten and decompose, caused by the action of microorganisms and oxygen. Proper management of decaying organic matter is important for farmers to maintain soil health and prevent the spread of diseases. Composting is an effective way to recycle decaying material into valuable nutrients for crops. Farmers should monitor and manage decay processes to enhance soil fertility and reduce waste.
green manuring: Green manuring is the process of growing green crops and ploughing them in to increase the organic content of the soil. Implementing green manuring practices enhances soil health, supports sustainable crop production, and reduces input costs.
A type of fertilizer applied at planting to provide essential nutrients to young plants and promote early growth. Starter fertilizers help improve seedling establishment and vigor. For example, applying starter fertilizer to corn seeds at planting to support healthy root development and early growth.
indigestible: Referring to food which cannot be digested, e.g. roughage. Helps farmers understand animal nutrition and feed composition.
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