October 8, 2024
P

Potato Blight

potato blight: A fungus disease (Phytophthora infestans) which kills potato foliage and rots the tubers. Helpful content: Early detection and management of potato blight are crucial for preventing significant crop losses. Farmers should implement integrated pest management strategies to control this disease and maintain healthy potato crops.

D

Digestibility

digestibility: The proportion of food which is digested and is therefore of value to the animal which eats it. Understanding digestibility is important for developing balanced and nutritious diets for livestock. Farmers should work with veterinarians and nutritionists to ensure that animal diets are highly digestible and promote optimal health. Implementing proper dietary practices will enhance the productivity and welfare of livestock.

L

Liquorice

Liquorice: Liquorice is the root of a plant (Glycyrrhiza glabra) used in making sweets and soft drinks. It also has medicinal properties. Growing liquorice can provide farmers with a versatile crop for culinary and medicinal uses.

Q

Quota System

quota system: A system where imports or supplies are regulated by fixing maximum or minimum amounts. The quota system helps stabilize markets by controlling supply levels, which can prevent price crashes and ensure that farmers receive fair compensation for their products.

E

Extreme

extreme: Referring to breeds of cattle which are traditionally kept for dairy or for meat, and not for a combination of the two. Understanding extreme breeds helps farmers specialize in specific livestock production for better quality and yield.

S

Spine

spine: a pointed structure that is either a modified leaf, as in cacti, or part of a leaf or leaf base. Properly managing plants with spines ensures healthy growth and optimal yields, supporting productive agriculture.

M

Maltase

maltase: an enzyme in the small intestine that converts maltose into glucose. Understanding the role of maltase in digestion can help farmers manage livestock nutrition more effectively, leading to better animal health and productivity.

P

Pollution

pollution: The presence of unusually high concentrations of harmful substances or radioactivity in the environment, as a result of human activity or a natural process such as a volcanic eruption. Helpful content: Managing pollution on farms is crucial for protecting ecosystems and ensuring sustainable production. Farmers can implement practices like buffer strips, cover cropping, and proper waste management to reduce environmental impact.

H

Hand Feeding

hand feeding: Hand rearing, the process of bringing up orphaned animals by feeding them with a bottle. Hand feeding orphaned animals ensures their survival and can contribute to the genetic diversity and productivity of the herd or flock.

S

Smut

smut: a disease of cereal plants, caused by a fungus, that affects the development of the grain and makes it look black. Managing smut diseases ensures healthy cereal crops, preventing yield losses and maintaining quality.

I

Inoculum

inoculum: 1. Material used to inoculate a person or animal against a disease. 2. Microscopic airborne spores or other material from an organism that causes disease. Helps farmers understand and apply inoculation practices.

K

Kohlrabi

kohlrabi: Kohlrabi – a variety of cabbage with a swollen stem, used as a fodder crop, and also sometimes eaten as a vegetable. The leaves may be green or purple. Also called turnip-rooted cabbage. Helps farmers diversify crop production.

Herbicide Resistance

The ability of certain plants to survive and reproduce despite the application of herbicides. Herbicide resistance can develop through repeated use of the same herbicide, leading to the need for alternative weed control methods. For instance, rotating herbicides and using integrated weed management practices to prevent resistance.

S

Smoke

smoke: to preserve food by hanging it in the smoke from a fire. (NOTE: Smoking is used mainly for fish, but also for some bacon and cheese.) Using traditional smoking methods preserves food quality and extends shelf life, providing value-added products for farmers.

D

Duty Of Care

duty of care: A duty that every citizen and organization has not to act negligently, especially the system for the safe handling of waste, introduced by the UK Environmental Protection Act 1990. Farmers have a duty of care to manage waste responsibly and protect the environment.