Agricultural Terms and Helpful Expert Insight
Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme: Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme is a former government scheme providing financial support to ensure that farming continued in mountainous or hilly areas. Accessing support schemes can help farmers maintain agricultural activities in less favourable areas.
The cultivation of corn for food, feed, and industrial products. Corn farming involves planting, managing, and harvesting corn crops. For instance, a farmer might grow corn for livestock feed and ethanol production.
The approaches used to identify, assess, and mitigate risks in fish farming, including crop insurance, diversification, and hedging. For example, developing fish farm risk management strategies to protect farm income and reduce vulnerability to adverse events.
earth up: To move soil to make a ridge, in which a crop such as potatoes or celery can grow. Plants are earthed up to protect the tender stems from frost or to make them white. Potatoes are earthed up to prevent the tubers from turning green and tasting bitter. This practice helps farmers protect crops from environmental stressors and improve quality.
The series of steps involved in converting animal carcasses into consumable meat products. Meat processing includes slaughter, cutting, packaging, and preservation. For example, operating a meat processing facility to produce beef steaks and sausages.
osmosis: The movement of molecules of a solvent from a solution of one concentration to a solution of a higher concentration through a semi-permeable membrane until the two solutions balance in concentration. Understanding osmosis is important for efficient irrigation and nutrient uptake in plants. Farmers can benefit from optimizing irrigation practices and managing soil salinity to enhance crop growth and yields.
Controlled Environment: Controlled environment noun an environment in which conditions such as temperature, atmosphere, and relative humidity are regulated and monitored. Utilizing controlled environments ensures optimal growing conditions for crops and livestock.
perennial irrigation: A system that allows the land to be irrigated at any time. This may be by primitive means such as shadufs, or by distributing water from barrages by canal and ditches. Implementing perennial irrigation systems ensures consistent water supply, improving crop yields and reducing water stress.
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.
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