December 23, 2024
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Poll

poll: The top of an animal’s head. Helpful content: Understanding animal anatomy, such as the poll, is important for livestock handling and care. Proper handling techniques can reduce stress and injury, leading to healthier animals and better productivity.

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Darnel

darnel: A common weed (Lolium temulentum) which affects cereals and is poisonous to animals. Effective weed management is crucial for farmers to prevent darnel from infesting cereal crops. Regular monitoring, crop rotation, and the use of herbicides can help control darnel and protect crop yields. Understanding the risks and implementing preventive measures will ensure healthier and more productive fields.

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Swayback Disease

swayback disease: an often fatal disease of lambs caused by copper deficiency in the ewe’s diet. Lambs become unsteady and unable to walk. The disease is often a problem when there has been no snow during the winter. Managing swayback disease ensures sheep health and productivity, supporting farm profitability.

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Poach

poach: 1. To catch animals, birds, or fish illegally on someone else’s property. 2. To trample the ground in wet weather. Heavy soils such as clays are particularly susceptible to poaching. Helpful content: Preventing poaching and managing soil compaction are important for sustainable farm management. Implementing proper land use practices can protect wildlife and maintain soil health.

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Lonk

Lonk: Lonk is a breed of moorland sheep, found in the Pennines of Lancashire and Yorkshire. It is one of the Swaledale group, although larger than other varieties, and produces finer wool than most hill sheep. The face and legs are white with dark markings. Raising Lonk sheep can provide farmers with high-quality wool and meat.

Apiculture

The practice of beekeeping for the production of honey, beeswax, and other bee products. Apiculture also includes managing bee health and ensuring successful pollination. For instance, a beekeeper might manage hives to pollinate crops and collect honey.

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Spider

spider: one of a large group of animals, with two parts to their bodies and eight legs. Class: Arachnida. Managing spider populations on farms promotes ecological balance and reduces pest issues, supporting healthy crop growth.

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Rice

rice: A plant that is the most important cereal crop and the staple food of half the population of the world. Latin name: Oryza sativa. Growing rice provides farmers with a staple crop that has high demand and multiple market applications.

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Jacob

Jacob: Jacob – a rare breed of sheep with multi-coloured fleece. It is medium-sized and multi-horned, with a white coat and brown or black patches. Helps farmers diversify sheep breeds for wool and meat production.

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Environment

environment: The surroundings of any organism, including the physical world and other organisms. Built environment, natural environment. Understanding the environment helps farmers adopt practices that protect and sustain the natural world.

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Ploughman

ploughman: A man who ploughs. Helpful content: Skilled ploughmen are essential for successful soil preparation. Their expertise in operating ploughs and managing fields can significantly impact crop establishment and yield.

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Cannibalism

Cannibalism: The practice of an animal feeding on its own species, often seen in poultry due to crowded conditions. Preventing cannibalism involves providing adequate space and proper nutrition to reduce stress and aggressive behaviors in livestock.

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Decomposition

decomposition: The process of breaking down into simple chemical compounds. Decomposition is essential for nutrient cycling and soil health. Farmers should manage decomposition processes through composting and mulching to enhance soil fertility. Understanding the factors that influence decomposition, such as temperature, moisture, and organic matter quality, can help optimize these processes for better crop productivity.

Crop Modeling

The use of mathematical models to simulate crop growth and development under various conditions. Crop modeling helps predict yields and assess the impact of different farming practices. For example, using crop modeling to estimate the effects of drought on corn production.

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Headage

headage: The number of animals of a specified type, such as cattle, used as a basis for calculating subsidy payments. Understanding headage calculations helps farmers manage their livestock numbers effectively and maximize subsidy benefits.

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Alley Cropping

alley cropping: The planting of crops such as maize or sorghum between trees. The trees help to prevent soil erosion, especially on slopes, and may benefit soil fertility if the leaves are used as mulch or if the trees are legumes. Implementing alley cropping practices helps farmers improve soil health and crop yields.

Riparian Buffers

Vegetated areas along water bodies that help protect water quality by filtering runoff, reducing erosion, and providing habitat for wildlife. Riparian buffers are important for environmental conservation and sustainable agriculture. For example, planting trees and grasses along a stream to create a riparian buffer and improve water quality.

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Hgca

HGCA: An organization established to improve the production and marketing of UK cereal crops and oilseeds, and to promote research. Full form Home Grown Cereals Authority. Engaging with HGCA can provide farmers with valuable support and resources for cereal production.

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Tuberculin

tuberculin: A substance which is derived from the culture of the tuberculosis bacillus and is used to test cattle for the presence of tuberculosis. Using tuberculin tests can help detect and manage tuberculosis in livestock, protecting herd health.