January 13, 2025
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Companion Plant

Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.by Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.1

Companion Plant: Companion plant noun a plant which improves the growth of nearby plants or reduces pest infestation. Companion plants are often used by horticulturists and gardeners because they encourage growth or reduce pest infestation in an adjacent plant. COMMENT: Some plants grow better when planted near others. Beans and peas help root plants such as carrots and beetroot. Most herbs (except fennel) are helpful to other plants. Marigolds help reduce aphids if they are planted near plants such as broad beans or roses which are subject to aphid infestation. The strong smell of onions is disliked by the carrot fly, so planting onions near carrots makes sense. On the other hand, most other plants (and especially peas and beans) dislike onions and will not grow well near them. Utilizing companion planting enhances crop health and reduces the need for chemical pest control.

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Nurse Cow

Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.by Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.2

nurse cow: a cow used to suckle the calves of others. Nurse cows play a vital role in raising orphaned or multiple calves, ensuring they receive adequate nutrition and care. Farmers can benefit from using nurse cows to support calf growth and development, reducing the need for artificial feeding. Proper management of nurse cows helps improve calf health, reduce labor costs, and enhance overall farm productivity. Understanding the care and management of nurse cows supports effective livestock rearing practices.

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Tender

Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.by Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.2

tender: Soft or susceptible to damage. Referring to a plant which cannot tolerate frost. Understanding plant tenderness helps farmers in selecting appropriate crops and managing growing conditions.

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Oasthouse

Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.by Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.2

oasthouse: A building containing a kiln for drying hops. Oasthouses are essential in hop production for brewing. Farmers growing hops can benefit from maintaining oasthouses to ensure high-quality drying, which preserves the hops’ flavor and aroma, leading to better-quality beer production.

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ADAS

Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.by Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.2

ADAS: A commercial research-based organization that offers technical advice on agricultural, food, and environmental matters to rural industries. Former name Agricultural Development and Advisory Service. Farmers can benefit from ADAS expertise to improve their farming practices.

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Prostaglandin

Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.by Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.2

prostaglandin: A hormone that is used to make oestrus happen in many animals at the same time and to start the birth process or abortion. Helpful content: Prostaglandins are valuable for synchronizing breeding cycles and managing reproduction in livestock. Proper use can improve herd fertility and streamline breeding programs.

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Infest

Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.by Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.2

infest: (of pests) To be present somewhere in large numbers. Pine forests are infested with these beetles. Plants that have been infested should be dug up and burnt. Helps farmers manage pest infestations.

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Turnip

Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.by Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.2

turnip: A brassica plant that has a swollen root, is an important forage crop, and is also used as a vegetable. Turnips can be harvested by machine and stored outdoors in clamps. In milder areas, they can be left growing in the fields and used when needed. Turnips are often grazed off in the field. Growing turnips can provide nutritious forage and food for livestock, improving farm productivity.

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Mutton

Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.by Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.2

mutton: the meat of an adult sheep, as opposed to a lamb. Understanding the market dynamics and nutritional value of mutton can help farmers optimize their sheep production and marketability, ensuring better profitability.

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Energy Crop

Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.by Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.2

energy crop: A crop which is grown to be used to provide energy, e.g., a fast-growing tree. Biomass itself can come from a variety of sources, including energy crops such as miscanthus and short-rotation willow, forestry trimmings, off-cuts and roots, tree surgeons’ chips, reclaimed timber and municipal solid waste, some industrial waste, sewage sludge, liquid animal waste, and the enormous amount of food waste. Growing energy crops provides farmers with renewable energy sources and additional income.

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Leaf Roll

Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.by Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.0

Leaf Roll: Leaf roll is a viral disease of potatoes, transmitted by aphids. The leaves roll up and become dry, and the crop yield is affected. Managing leaf roll through pest control and disease prevention can protect potato crops and improve yields.

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Threshold Price

Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.by Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.2

threshold price: In the EU, the lowest price at which farm produce imported into the EU can be sold. This is the price in the home market below which the government or its agencies must buy all the produce offered by producers for sale at that price. Knowing about threshold prices can help farmers navigate market regulations and optimize pricing strategies.

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Allotment

Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.by Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.2

allotment: A small area of land, owned by a municipality, which is let to a person called an allotment-holder for the cultivation and production of vegetables and fruit for the consumption of the holder and his or her family. Allotments provide farmers with additional land for cultivation and income.

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Factory Farming

Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.by Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.0

Factory Farming: A highly intensive method of rearing animals characterized by keeping large numbers of animals indoors in confined spaces and feeding them processed foods, with the use of drugs to control diseases. This method allows for high production rates but requires careful management to maintain animal health and comply with welfare standards.

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Pedigree Records

Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.by Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.2

pedigree records: Records of pedigree stock kept by the breeder and by breed societies. Pedigree animals are registered at birth and given official numbers. Maintaining pedigree records ensures traceability and the quality of breeding programs.

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Aflatoxin

Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.by Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.3

aflatoxin: A toxin produced by species of the fungus Aspergillus, especially Aspergillus flavus, which grows on seeds and nuts and affects stored grain. Farmers need to manage aflatoxin contamination to ensure the safety and quality of their produce.

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Sheep Pox

Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.by Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.1

sheep pox: A highly contagious viral disease. Symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, difficulty in breathing and in the final stages scabs and ulcers appear. It is a notifiable disease. Farmers benefit from preventing sheep pox to protect livestock health and prevent economic losses.

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Thrips

Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.by Alan Nafzger, Ph.D.2

thrips: An insect that is a pest of vegetables, operating on the underside of leaves and leaving spots of sap or other liquid which are red or blackish-brown. Typical examples are the onion thrips, grain thrips, and pea thrips. Effective thrips management can protect crops and ensure better yields.