October 9, 2024
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Compound

Compound: Compound noun a substance made up of two or more components COMMENT: Chemical compounds are stable (i.e. the proportions of the elements in them are always the same) but they can be split into their basic elements by chemical reactions. Understanding chemical compounds aids in formulating fertilizers and agrochemicals.

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Virus

virus: A microorganism consisting of a nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat which can only develop in other cells, often destroying them. Managing virus infections in crops and livestock is crucial for maintaining farm productivity and preventing losses.

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Essential Amino Acid

essential amino acid: An amino acid necessary for growth but which cannot be synthesized by monogastric animals and has to be obtained from the food supply. (NOTE: The essential amino acids are: isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine, arginine, and histidine.) Understanding essential amino acids helps farmers formulate balanced diets for their livestock.

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Disinfecting

disinfecting: The process of removing harmful organisms such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi from a place or an object by cleaning it with a disinfectant. Proper disinfecting practices are essential for maintaining farm hygiene and preventing disease outbreaks. Farmers should use appropriate disinfectants and techniques for effective disinfecting. Understanding the benefits and applications of disinfecting will aid in maintaining a healthy and productive farm environment.

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Species

species: a group of organisms that can interbreed. A species is a division of a genus. Abbr sp. (NOTE: The plural is species.). Understanding species classifications helps farmers manage biodiversity and select appropriate crops and livestock for their specific conditions.

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Contact Insecticide

Contact Insecticide: Contact insecticide noun a substance such as DDT that kills insects which touch it (NOTE: DDT is now banned in many countries because of its toxicity and ability to accumulate in the environment). Using contact insecticides helps control pests and protect crops.

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Systemic Acquired Resistance

systemic acquired resistance: an induced resistance to pathogens that develops in uninfected parts of a plant after the infected parts have been treated with a systemic pesticide. Properly managing systemic acquired resistance ensures effective disease control and healthy crop growth, enhancing farm productivity.

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On-Off Grazing

on-off grazing: A rotational grazing system. Implementing on-off grazing can improve pasture health and livestock nutrition. Farmers can benefit from understanding and applying rotational grazing practices to enhance forage availability, reduce soil erosion, and improve animal performance.

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Lifetime

Lifetime: Lifetime refers to 1. the time during which an organism is alive, and 2. the approximate time it would take for the part of an atmospheric pollutant concentration created by humans to return to its natural level assuming emissions cease. Average lifetimes range from about a week for products such as sulphate aerosols to more than a century for CFCs and carbon dioxide. Also called atmospheric lifetime. Understanding the lifetime of agricultural products and pollutants can help farmers make sustainable decisions.

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Eutherian

eutherian: A mammal whose young develop within the womb attached to maternal tissues by a placenta. Subclass: Eutheria. Also called placental mammal. Understanding eutherian mammals helps farmers manage livestock breeding and health.