Clover
Clover: A large genus (Trifolium) of leguminous plants with trefoil leaves and small flowers. Growing clover supports soil health through nitrogen fixation and provides valuable forage for livestock.
Agricultural Terms and Helpful Expert Insight
milling quality: the calculation of how easy it is to separate the white endosperm from the brown seed coat or bran in the milling process. In general, hard wheats are of higher milling quality than soft wheats. Understanding milling quality can help farmers optimize their grain production and marketability, ensuring better profitability.
Cottonseed Cake: Cottonseed cake, cottonseed meal noun a residue of cottonseed after the extraction of oil, used as a feedingstuff. Utilizing cottonseed cake provides a nutritious feed source for livestock.
England Rural Development Programme: A set of schemes run by Defra in the UK to develop sustainable farming methods in rural areas. Abbr ERDP. Participating in the ERDP helps farmers access funding and support for sustainable farming practices.
Milk that has been supplemented with additional nutrients, such as vitamins A and D, to enhance its nutritional value. For instance, producing fortified milk to provide extra health benefits to consumers.
Capital Items: Items such as machinery, buildings, fences, and drains used in farm production. Investing in capital items improves farm infrastructure and operational efficiency, enhancing productivity and profitability.
pepino mosaic virus: A highly contagious virus affecting tomato plants. Managing plant viruses like pepino mosaic virus is crucial for maintaining healthy crops and preventing economic losses.
accredited milk: Milk from a herd accredited as being free from Brucellosis. Accredited milk assures consumers of its safety and quality, benefiting dairy farmers.
enzootic bovine leucosis: A blood cancer disease of cattle. It is a notifiable disease. Managing enzootic bovine leucosis is crucial for farmers to ensure the health and productivity of their herds.
necrosis: the death of tissue or cells in an organism. Preventing necrosis in crops and livestock is vital for maintaining health and productivity. Farmers can benefit from understanding the causes of necrosis, such as disease, injury, or environmental stress, and implementing preventative measures. Early detection and appropriate treatment can mitigate the impact of necrosis on yields and animal health. Maintaining proper care, hygiene, and management practices helps ensure the vitality of crops and livestock, leading to better farm outcomes.
broody hen: A hen that is inclined to sit on eggs to hatch them. Using broody hens supports natural incubation and chick rearing.
Centre for Agricultural Strategy (CAS): An organization that carries out independent research into agricultural development issues, based at the University of Reading. Collaborating with research centers like CAS helps farmers adopt innovative practices and improve agricultural sustainability.
milk yield: the quantity of milk produced each year by a cow. In the UK, the average annual milk yield per dairy type cow increased from 3,989 litres per cow in 1974/5 to 6,530 litres per cow in 2006. Understanding milk yield can help farmers manage dairy production more effectively, ensuring better productivity and profitability.
separated milk: Milk from which the cream has been removed. Also called skimmed milk. Farmers benefit from producing separated milk for its dietary uses and market demand.
veterinary science: The scientific study of diseases of animals and their treatment. Veterinary science is essential for developing effective disease management practices and improving animal health.
Crown Rust: Crown rust noun a fungal disease affecting oats, causing the grain to shrivel. Managing crown rust involves using integrated disease management strategies to protect crops.
sulphur deficiency: a lack of sulphur in the soil, leading to deficiency in plants. Properly managing sulphur deficiency ensures healthy crop growth and prevents yield losses, supporting farm productivity.
prolific: Referring to an animal or plant which produces a large number of offspring or fruit. Helpful content: Prolific breeds or varieties can significantly increase farm output. Farmers can benefit from selecting high-yielding and prolific plants or animals to enhance productivity and profitability.
tetraploid: Forms of grass and clover with larger seeds and a larger plant than ordinary grass and clover. Utilizing tetraploid varieties can improve forage quality and yield, benefiting livestock nutrition and farm productivity.
halo blight: A disease which affects the pods of peas and beans, making them brown and withered. Managing halo blight through proper crop rotation and disease control methods can improve legume yields.
polluter: A person or company that causes pollution. Helpful content: Addressing polluters within the agricultural sector is important for environmental health. Farmers can adopt practices that minimize pollution and work with regulatory bodies to ensure compliance and protect natural resources.
A designated area in a barn or feedlot where feed is distributed to livestock. Feed alleys help organize feeding and improve efficiency. For example, designing a feed alley in a dairy barn to streamline the feeding process and ensure cows receive their rations.
palm: 1. A large tropical plant like a tree with branching divided leaves, that produces fruits which give oil and other foodstuffs 2. The inner surface of the hand or the underside of a mammals forefoot that is often in contact with the ground. Palm oil production can be a valuable income source, while understanding animal anatomy aids in better livestock handling.
rural environment: The countryside. Protecting the rural environment supports sustainable agriculture and enhances biodiversity.
Various infectious and non-infectious health conditions that can affect cattle. Common cattle diseases include BVD, BRD, and mastitis. For example, monitoring and treating cattle diseases to maintain herd health and productivity.
grading up: Grading up is a selective breeding process using males of one breed to mate with females of another for at least four generations. This process improves the herd’s genetic quality, leading to better production traits and farm profitability.
organic material: Carbon-based material derived from organisms, such as decomposed plant material or animal dung. Organic material is crucial for soil health, improving water retention, nutrient availability, and soil structure. Farmers can benefit from incorporating organic matter through composting, cover cropping, and reduced tillage to enhance soil fertility and sustainability.
yellow rust: Yellow rust is a fungal disease affecting cereals. Farmers need to manage yellow rust to protect crop health and ensure optimal yields.
marrowstem kale: a variety of kale with a thick stem and large leaves, grown as feed for livestock in the autumn and winter months, though it is not winter hardy. Growing marrowstem kale can provide farmers with a valuable fodder crop, ensuring a steady supply of feed for livestock during the colder months.
placement drill: A machine which drills seeds and fertiliser at the same time, placing the fertiliser close to the side of and below the rows of seeds. Helpful content: Placement drills ensure efficient seed and fertiliser placement, promoting healthy plant growth and reducing waste. This precision can lead to higher yields and more efficient use of resources.
Large Black: Large Black is a dual-purpose hardy breed of pig that is black with long lop ears. Raising Large Black pigs can diversify farm operations and provide high-quality pork.
Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restrictions of Chemicals: A proposed review of the EUs chemicals policy, in which comprehensive health and safety research will be carried out for all substances. Abbreviation: REACH. REACH regulations ensure safe use of chemicals in agriculture, protecting farmworkers, consumers, and the environment.
stakeholder: a person who has an interest in something such as a new environmental policy and is personally affected by how successful it is and how difficult it is to put in place. Engaging with stakeholders ensures collaborative decision-making and support for sustainable agricultural practices.