Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming 1774693836, 9781774693834

This book offers to explain in detail the various terms that have been used in Agriculture. Agriculture is the practice

252 21 12MB

English Pages 409 [412] Year 2022

Report DMCA / Copyright

DOWNLOAD PDF FILE

Table of contents :
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
References
Index
Back Cover
Recommend Papers

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming
 1774693836, 9781774693834

  • 0 0 0
  • Like this paper and download? You can publish your own PDF file online for free in a few minutes! Sign Up
File loading please wait...
Citation preview

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

KEY CONCEPTS IN AGRICULTURE AND FARMING

Hazem Shawky Fouda

www.delvepublishing.com

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming Hazem Shawky Fouda Delve Publishing 224 Shoreacres Road Burlington, ON L7L 2H2 Canada www.delvepublishing.com Email: [email protected] e-book Edition 2023 ISBN: 978-1-77469-631-6 (e-book)

This book contains information obtained from highly regarded resources. Reprinted material sources are indicated and copyright remains with the original owners. Copyright for images and other graphics remains with the original owners as indicated. A Wide variety of references are listed. Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data. Authors or Editors or Publishers are not responsible for the accuracy of the information in the published chapters or consequences of their use. The publisher assumes no responsibility for any damage or grievance to the persons or property arising out of the use of any materials, instructions, methods or thoughts in the book. The authors or editors and the publisher have attempted to trace the copyright holders of all material reproduced in this publication and apologize to copyright holders if permission has not been obtained. If any copyright holder has not been acknowledged, please write to us so we may rectify.

Notice: Registered trademark of products or corporate names are used only for explanation and identification without intent of infringement. © 2023 Delve Publishing ISBN: 978-1-77469-383-4 (Hardcover)

Delve Publishing publishes wide variety of books and eBooks. For more information about Delve Publishing and its products, visit our website at www.delvepublishing.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Hazem Shawky Fouda has a PhD. In Agriculture Sciences, obtained his PhD. from the Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, 2008, MSc. In Agriculture Sciences from the Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University in 2004, Post-Grade Diploma in Cotton, 2001, BSc. in Agriculture Sciences, from the Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, 1997, worked in Cotton Arbitration & Testing General Organization (CATGO) from 1999 till 2018. Was working in the International Cotton Training Center (ICTC) – Cotton Arbitration & Testing General Organization (CATGO) from 2000 till 2015, as a Lecturer & Classer’s Trainer for Egyptian and foreigner classers, technicians, ginners, spinners & traders in all cotton aspects. Besides that he was an editor and active member in the Research & Translation Committee, participating in issuing weekly, monthly and annually issues about the international & local cotton market including price trends and direction, recent developments & researches concerning cotton production, protection, harvesting, ginning, fiber testing, spinning & weaving since its foundation in 2000 till 2014 and from 2015 till 2018 he worked as an inspector, since 2018 till present works as a consultant.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface..........................................................................................................ix A ............................................................................................................... 1 B.............................................................................................................. 27 C ............................................................................................................. 40 D ............................................................................................................. 58 E .............................................................................................................. 84 F .............................................................................................................. 99 G ........................................................................................................... 115 H ........................................................................................................... 131 I............................................................................................................. 149 J............................................................................................................. 167 K............................................................................................................ 171 L ............................................................................................................ 175 M........................................................................................................... 194 N ........................................................................................................... 213 O ........................................................................................................... 223 P ............................................................................................................ 231 Q ........................................................................................................... 261 R............................................................................................................ 264 S ............................................................................................................ 284 T ............................................................................................................ 316

U ........................................................................................................... 346 V ........................................................................................................... 352 W .......................................................................................................... 362 X............................................................................................................ 381 Y............................................................................................................ 383 Z............................................................................................................ 387 References............................................................................................. 389 Index ..................................................................................................... 395

viii

PREFACE

Agriculture is the art and science of cultivating the soil, growing crops and raising livestock. It includes the preparation of plant and animal products for people to use and their distribution to markets. Agriculture provides most of the world’s food and fabrics. Cotton, wool, and leather are all agricultural products. Agriculture also provides wood for construction and paper products. These products, as well as the agricultural methods used, may vary from one part of the world to another. Over centuries, the growth of agriculture contributed to the rise of civilizations. Before agriculture became widespread, people spent most of their lives searching for food—hunting wild animals and gathering wild plants. About 11,500 years ago, people gradually learned how to grow cereal and root crops, and settled down to a life based on farming. By 2,000 years ago, much of the Earth’s population had become dependent on agriculture. Scholars are not sure why this shift to farming took place, but it may have occurred because of climate change. When people began growing crops, they also began herding and breeding wild animals. Adapting wild plants and animals for people to use is called domestication. The first domesticated plant was probably rice or corn. Chinese farmers were cultivating rice as early as 7500 BCE. The first domesticated animals were dogs, which were used for hunting. Sheep and goats were probably domesticated next. People also domesticated cattle and pigs. Most of these animals had once been hunted for hides and meat. Now many of them are also sources of milk, cheese, and butter. Eventually, people used domesticated animals such as oxen for plowing, pulling, and transportation. Agriculture enabled people to produce surplus food. They could use this extra food when crops failed or trade it for other goods. Food surpluses allowed people to work on other tasks unrelated to farming. For thousands of years, agricultural development was very slow. One of the earliest agricultural tools was fire. Native Americans used fire to control the growth of berryproducing plants, which they knew grew quickly after a wildfire. Farmers cultivated small plots of land by hand, using axes to clear away trees and digging sticks to break up and till the soil. Over time, improved farming tools of bone, stone, bronze, and iron

were developed. New methods of storage evolved. People began stockpiling foods in jars and clay-lined pits for use in times of scarcity. They also began making clay pots and other vessels for carrying and cooking food. This book will introduce the readers to the field of Agriculture and the fundamentals of it. It is precisely designed for readers or students with no prior experience related to agriculture and agricultural sciences, and touches upon a diversity of fundamental topics. By the end of the book, readers will understand the basic knowledge of agriculture and agricultural science and the key concepts involved.

x

A Abattoir A facility where animals are killed and processed for sale as meat to the general public

Abdomen The stomach, intestines, liver, and other critical organs are located below or behind the diaphragm and above or in front of the pelvis in this area.

Aberdeen Angus A fast-maturing beef cattle breed that is naturally hornless and black all over. Aberdeen Angus cattle are known for having a small head and a long, deep body. They are well-known for their high-quality meat.

Abiotic Adjective, abiotic factors are those that have nothing to do with living things.

Abiotic Stress Stress produced by environmental conditions such as drought or excessive heat or cold, rather than biological reasons.

2

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Abiotic Stress In organisms it is the stress caused by non-biological factors like drought.

Abomasal Ulcer An illness that affects both calves and adults. Calves develop slowly and lose their hunger. Cows can bleed to death in rare situations.

Abomasum The ruminant’s fourth stomach. rumen, omasum, reticulum. Abort 1. To put an end to a process or development before it is completed, or to cease developing in hot, dry circumstances, the flowers abort and fall off, leaving no fruit to grow. 2. To put a stop to an animal’s pregnancy and hinder the birth of offspring 3. To deliver a baby before the expected end of a pregnancy (technical)

Abortion A circumstance in which a farm animal’s pregnancy terminates early, usually as a result of sickness or infection (technical)

Abreast Parlor The cows stand next to each other with their heads facing away from the milker in this style of milking parlor. Rotary parlor, herringbone parlor

Abscission The loss of a leaf or fruit as a result of the development of a cell layer between the leaf or fruit and the remainder of the plant (NOTE: It happens naturally in the autumn, as a result of leaf fall, or in response to stress at any time of the year.)

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

3

Figure 1. Eastern White Pine Undergoing Old Needle Abscission In Late Autumn At The Franklin Farm Shopping Center. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Absorb To ingest something Warmer air absorbs moisture faster than cooler air. The moisture in the air is absorbed by salt.

Absorption 1. The process through which water, dissolved minerals, and other nutrients are absorbed across the cell membranes 2. The process of ingesting nutrients such as proteins or fats that have been digested from food and enter the blood via the stomach and intestines 3. The absorption of one material by another, such as a liquid by a solid or a gas by a liquid.

Abstract To remove water from a river for use by industry, farmers, or gardeners.

Abstraction 1. The extraction of water from a river or other body of water for use by industry, farmers, or gardeners.

4

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

2. The extraction of anything from the earth, such as gas, oil, natural resources, or gravel

Acarid A tiny animal that lives on plants or other animals by penetrating the outer skin and draining their fluids. E.g., a mite or tick

Acarida Animals in this order include mites and ticks. Also known as Acarina

Acceptable Daily Intake The amount of a substance, such as a nutrient, vitamin, additive, or contaminant, that a human or animal may safely take on a daily basis for the rest of their lives.

Access 1. A point of entrance or a right of admission into a location 2. The public’s right to visit an undeveloped private property for leisure

Accredited Herd A herd of Brucellosis-free cattle that has been registered under a scheme.

Accumulated Temperature The number of hours when the temperature is above a certain degree, which is used as the minimum temperature required for growing a certain crop. (NOTE: This is commonly understood to be the amount of hours over 6°C in the UK.)

Acetonaemia An illness that affects cows and is caused by the accumulation of ketone bodies. The animal loses its appetite, and the acetone odor affects the animal’s breath, urine, and milk.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

5

Acetone Formula: CH3COCH3. A colorless, flammable liquid with a sweetish odor that is employed as a solvent and in the production of organic compounds.

Achene Achenes are single-seeded, dry fruits that do not break apart (NOTE: Plants like dandelions and sunflowers yield achenes.)

Acid A hydrogen-containing chemical substance that dissolves in water and generates hydrogen ions or interacts with an alkali to form a salt and water and turns litmus paper red 2. Any bitter juice.

Acid Grassland A kind of vegetation that thrives on free-draining, low-mineral-nutrient soils, and may also be found on post-industrial sites. The number of plant species present is somewhat limited. Calcareous grassland

Acidification The process of becoming acidic or increasing the acidity of a material, some live organisms are destroyed as a result of soil acidification.

Acidify To increase the acidity of a material or to increase the acidity of a substance Acid rain causes soil and water to become acidic where it rains. Sulfur emitted as sulfate from wetlands causes lakes to become acidic. (NOTE: Feed additives can also be used to acidify an animal’s urine, making it less vulnerable to urinary tract infections.)

Acidity Acidity is the amount of acid in a substance. The alkaline solution may aid in reducing acidity. COMMENT: The pH scale is used to determine acidity and alkalinity. The pH value of 7 is considered neutral. Alkalinity is represented by numbers over pH 7, whereas acidity is represented by numbers below pH7.

6

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Acidophilus Milk A cultured milk prepared from fresh milk that has been allowed to sour naturally. Yogurt is one of the most popular acidophilus milk products in Europe.

Figure 2. St Helen’s Farm-Natural Goats Milk Yoghurt. Source: Image by Openfoodfacts.org

Acidosis A high amount of acid waste products in the blood, such as urea, which can be caused by metabolic dysfunction (NOTE: As acidity rises, the rumen wall becomes irritated. The animal’s blood becomes more acidic as it dehydrates, and in extreme situations, the animal may die.)

Acid Rain Precipitation with a greater quantity of acid than typical. Also known as acid deposition.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

7

Acid Soil Soil with a pH of 6 or below (NOTE: Farming generally makes the soil more acidic, although most agricultural crops will not thrive in acidic soil). This can be remedied by using one of the standard lime-adding ingredients, such as pulverized chalk or limestone.

Acreage Allotment In the United States, there is a quota system that restricts the amount of land that may be planted with a specific crop.

Acreage Reduction Program A quota system exists in the United States, which limits the quantity of land that may be planted with a given crop.

Actinobacillosis A disease that affects the tongue and throat of cattle. Swellings on the lips, cheeks, and jaws are also seen in sheep.

Actinomycete A rod-shaped or filament-shaped bacteria Actinomycetales is an order of bacteria. (NOTE: Some actinomycetes are pathogens, while others are antibiotic producers.)

Actinomycosis A disease that affects cattle and pigs in which bacteria infect the animal and cause abscesses in the mouth and lungs. Also known as a lumpy jaw.

Activate To initiate a procedure or for something to begin working. The pump is activated by pressing this button.

8

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Activated Sludge To speed up the purification process, solid sewage containing active microorganisms and air is combined with untreated sewage, this solid sewage is called activated sludge.

Activator A material that initiates a process is a compost activator. The primary effective ingredient of anything, such as an ointment or agrochemical, as compared to the base substance.

Actuals Commodities like cotton and rice have many stockpiles that are ready to transport. Compare futures

Acute 1. Acute mastitis is an illness that develops quickly and can be fatal. 2. Refers to a sudden and strong stomach discomfort as opposed to persistent stomach pain

ADAS A commercial research-based organization that provides technical advice to rural businesses on agricultural, food, and environmental issues. Agricultural Development and Advisory Service was its previous name.

Additive 1. A chemical that is added to food to make it look better or keep it fresh. A number of additives are added in the bean tins. There are no additives in these animal feeds. 2. A substance that is introduced to something in order to enhance it. A new plant-based fuel additive might help cut energy expenses. 3. A substance that is given to animal feed to offer antibiotics, mineral supplements, vitamins, or hormones to the animals.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

9

Figure 3. Chemist John Zhang (Left) and Assistant Materials Scientist Lu Zhang (No Relation) Show A Flask Of Argonne’s Redox Shuttle Additive. Source: Image by Flickr

Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment An independent advisory council that provides statutory recommendations to UK government ministers on the dangers of genetically modified organisms’ (GMOs) release and commercialization to human health and the environment. It also provides guidance on the release of non-GM plants and animals that are not native to the United Kingdom.

Aeration Substitution of fresh air for stagnated soil air. ‘Compaction can also affect soil nutrient availability since one of the primary impacts of compaction is soil aeration, which can lead to de-nitrification (nitrogen loss into the atmosphere).’ [Arable Farming]

Agistment Money paid for grazing cattle on someone else’s farm. Feeding and caring for cattle is the responsibility of the landowner.

10

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Agribusiness A large-scale agricultural operation that operates similarly to a traditional business, frequently encompassing the processing, packaging, and selling of farm goods.

Agricultural and Food Research Council Previously, a council was formed to organize and support agricultural and food research. In 1993, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council took its place.

Agricultural Chemicals Approval Scheme A scheme that advised farmers on the usage and efficacy of pesticides and tested compounds before they were used by farmers. It was a voluntary system run by the Agricultural Chemicals Approved Organization, which has since been replaced by the FEPA legislation.

Agricultural Holding A fundamental unit of agricultural output made of all the land and cattle under the control of one person or a group of persons.

Agricultural Holdings Act 1984 An Act of Parliament that protects tenants in matters of rent setting and tenure security. It includes provisions for both long-term and short-term rentals.

Agricultural Labourer A farm worker who does hard labor, traditionally a rural worker without land, and occasionally still a worker with a specialized talent, such as ditching or hedging.

Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service Previously, a service of the United States Department of Agriculture that ran the department’s many programs around the country. In 1993, it was folded into the Farm Service Agency.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

11

Agricultural Wages Board A body that sets minimum salaries and holiday benefits for agricultural employees, as well as other employment terms and circumstances.

Agricultural Waste Stakeholders’ Forum A group made up of officials from the government, agricultural groups, waste companies, and farm suppliers whose goal is to identify and address waste management concerns in agriculture.

Agriculture Cultivation of land including horticulture, fruit growing, crop and seed producing, dairy farming, and livestock husbandry.

Agriculture Industry Advisory Committee The group that advises the Health and Safety Commission on how to safeguard workers and others from health and safety concerns in the agriculture and allied industries.

Agrobiodiversity Aspects of biodiversity that have an impact on agriculture and food production, such as within-species, species, and ecosystem diversity.

Air Layering A technique of propagation in which a stem is sliced in half and then enveloped by moist moss that is tightly attached to the stem. The incision at the spot where it comes into touch with the moss will sprout roots.

Air Pollution Air contamination caused by things such as gas or smoke. Also known as atmospheric pollution. (NOTE: The Environmental Protection Act regulates odor nuisance from livestock units and other farming operations. Agricultural crop leftovers are no longer allowed to be burned.)

12

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Figure 4. Image Showing Air Pollution in the Environment. Source: Image by Earth.org

Aldosterone The adrenal gland secretes a hormone that controls the body’s salt and potassium balance as well as the quantity of fluid in the body.

Alimentary Canal Food passes and is processed through a tube in the body that runs from the mouth to the anus and includes the throat, stomach, and intestines.

Alkali A chemical that forms salt and water when it interacts with an acid. It might be a soluble base or a solution of a base with a pH of more than 7.

Alkalinity The quantity of alkali in a substance like soil, water, or a person’s body Hyperventilation results in a rise in blood alkalinity due to fluctuating carbon dioxide levels in the blood.

Alkaloid One of the numerous toxic compounds found in plants that protect them from herbivores (NOTE: Many alkaloids, such as atropine, morphine, and quinine, have medicinal properties.)

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

13

Allelopathy The emission of a chemical compound by one plant that prevents another plant from germinating or growing

Allergen A substance that causes someone to become hypersensitive. Allergens are generally proteins and can be found in meals, animal hair, pollen from flowers, and dust.

Allergy A hypersensitivity to chemicals that elicit a physical response, such as pollen or dust. For example, she is allergic to dust in the home or he is allergic to penicillin.

Alley Cropping Planting crops between trees, such as maize or sorghum (NOTE: The trees help to minimize soil erosion, notably on slopes, and if the leaves are utilized as mulch or if the trees are legumes, they may increase soil fertility.)

Allotment A small plot of land held by a municipality and leased to an allotment-holder for the growing and production of vegetables and fruit for the holder’s consumption

Almond A small tree (Prunus dulcis) farmed for its edible nuts, or a nut produced by this tree.

Almond Oil Almond seed oil is used for toilet preparations and flavoring.

Alpha-Amylase Wheat seeds contain an enzyme that converts some starch to sugar. Excessive quantities might result in sticky bread loaves.

14

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Alpine Plants Plants that grow on high mountains in groups. Alpine vegetation develops above the tree line.

Alternate Husbandry Arable and grassland cultivation are rotated every few years in this type of husbandry.

Alternative Technology The utilization of traditional techniques, equipment, and materials accessible locally for agriculture, manufacturing, and other industries.

Alveolus A thin-walled air sac found in great numbers in each lung that lets oxygen into the bloodstream and carbon dioxide out.

Ammonium Nitrate Ammonium nitrate is a common top dressing fertilizer. (NOTE: It comes in a special pilled or granular form and may be used as a stand-alone fertilizer or in blends.)

Ammonium Phosphate A fertilizer that may be used alone, but is most commonly used in mixtures. (NOTE: The acidity of the soil may be increased as a result of the application.)

Ammonium Sulfate A crystalline substance that is colorless and dissolves in water and is used as a fertilizer. (NH4)2SO4 is the formula. Sulfate of ammonia is another name for it.

Amoeba A single-celled creature that can be found in water, damp soil, or as a parasite on other living things. (NOTE: Amoebae is the plural.)

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

15

Figure 5. Image Showing Amoeba proteus, 40x Phase Contrast. Source: Image by Flickr

AMS Abbreviation: aggregate measure of support.

Anaemia A condition in which the number of red blood cells is lower than usual or the amount of hemoglobin in the blood is lower than normal, making it harder for the blood to transport oxygen. (NOTE: In the United States, it is spelled anemia.)

Anaerobic Decomposition The decomposition of organic matter by microbes in the absence of oxygen

Anaerobic Digestion The decomposition of organic material in the absence of oxygen, a process that permanently eliminates the odor of many organic wastes, allowing them to be employed on agricultural land.

16

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Anaesthesia The absence of pain sensations 2. A method of preventing a human or animal from feeling pain, generally by the use of drugs (NOTE: In the United States, the word is spelled as anesthesia.)

Analyze 1. To look at something in depth. We analyzed the milk outputs of several cow breeds. 2. To break down a material into its constituent elements. The soil samples are being analyzed in the laboratory. When the water sample was analyzed, signs of bacteria were discovered.

Analysis 1. The process of thoroughly inspecting something. 2. The act of dismantling a material into its constituent pieces in order to investigate them in detail.

Analyst A person who examines samples of substances to determine their composition 2. A person who does a problem analysis, a health and safety analyst.

Angiosperm A plant wherein the reproductive organs are carried in the flowers and the seeds are encased in the fruit. Compare and contrast gymnosperm.

Animal Health Act 2002 An Act of Parliament that established measures to combat disease epidemics such as foot-and-mouth disease and scrapie.

Animal Husbandry The process of raising farm animals and caring for them

Animal Welfare The belief that farm animals should be treated compassionately and should not be subjected to undue suffering or discomfort

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

17

Antenna On the heads of insects, crustaceans, and other arthropods, one of a pair of long, thin sensors.

Anthelmintic A drug, such as thiabendazole that is used to treat parasites in animals, as in worming cattle.

Anthrax A highly contagious, frequently deadly bacterial illness that affects animals, particularly cattle and sheep, and causes skin ulcers (cutaneous anthrax)

Antibiotic A drug, such as penicillin, that was derived from a fungus that prevents bacteria or fungi from spreading. The diseased animal was given antibiotics by the veterinarian.

Antibody A protein generated in the body as a reaction to external entities such as bacteria or viruses

Antimicrobial Adjective, a substance that has the ability to kill or limit the growth of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungus, or viruses.

Antioxidant A chemical that resists oxidation, used to keep rubber from degrading and added to processed foods to keep oil from spoiling. (NOTE: Antioxidant food additives in the EU have the codes E300–321.)

Antiresistance Strategy A technique for preventing pests and weeds from gaining resistance to the chemicals used to control them, or for agricultural plants to lose disease resistance.

18

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Antiseptic Adjective, stopping or slowing the spread of pathogenic microbes. To prevent the danger of infection, spray the vehicle’s wheels with antiseptic spray. A chemical that stops germs from multiplying or spreading.

Antiserum A serum obtained from an animal that has produced antibodies to bacteria and was previously utilized to provide disease immunity (NOTE: The plural is antisera.)

Aphid An insect that feeds on plant sap and reproduces fast, for example, a greenfly. The aphid population increased by 19 percent. (NOTE: Aphids are a pest of some garden plants, such as roses, and can spread viral illnesses to crops like potatoes and sugar beet.)

Appropriate Technology A technology that is tailored to the local setting, frequently incorporating locally accessible skills or resources. Biomethanation is a technique that may be used in rural regions.

Approved Products Plural chemicals used in agriculture and approved for use by the government

APRC Abbreviation: Apple and Pear Research Council.

Apricot A deciduous tree (Prunus armeniaca) with delicate yellow fruit that resembles a small peach but is less juicy.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

19

Figure 6. Image Showing Apricot Fruit. Source: Image by Pixabay

Aqueous Ammonia Ammonia in solution, derived from gas plants and as a by-product; occasionally used as a fertilizer.

Ark 1. A small structure built of wood or corrugated metal that was used to provide shelter to sows raised in open fields. 2. A portable poultry house with wire or slatted floors that was once used to keep hens safe at night and during poor weather.

Arrowroot Maranta arundinacea is a tropical plant whose tubers provide starch. Because this type of starch is readily digested, it is commonly used in the manufacture of invalid meals.

20

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Arsenic A greyish semi-metallic chemical element that generates toxic compounds such as arsenic trioxide, which was once employed in several medications.

Artesian Well A well that has been drilled into a limited aquifer, with sufficient hydrostatic pressure to propel the water to the surface.

Arthropod A chitin exoskeleton, jointed limbs, and a segmented body characterize this animal. Phylum: Arthropoda.

Artificial Insemination A way of making livestock reproduce by injecting sperm from specifically selected males into females. Abbr AI. Compare multiple ovulation and embryo transfer.

Artificial Selection The selection of certain animals or plants by humans for future generations to breed from because the animals or plants have beneficial traits.

Asbestos A fibrous mineral material that, when breathed, causes lung illness. It was once used as a fire retardant and an insulator in a variety of industrial and construction activities.

Ash A hardwood tree. Genus: Fraxinus. 2. A grey or black powder made mostly of minerals that remains after an organic item is burned.

Asparagus The young shoots (called ‘spears’) of a native European plant (Asparagus officinalis) are cut when they are around 25cm long and eaten as a vegetable.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

21

Ass A horse family long-eared animal. It is still used as a draught animal in Mediterranean nations, where it survives better than the horse on sparse vegetation.

Assertive Mating The practice of mating animals that look similar. Mating preferences are also known as mating likes.

Assurance Scheme A set of voluntary guidelines that farmers may sign up for to reassure buyers about the quality of their goods.

Assured Food Standards The ‘Little Red Tractor’ guarantee system is administered by this organization. Abbr: AFS

Asteraceae A large and widespread plant family with flat blooms made up of numerous florets grouped around a central core. Former name: Compositae.

Atavism The return of a genetically regulated trait in an organism after multiple generations of absence, generally due to an unintentional recombination of genes.

Atrophic Rhinitis A bacterial condition that causes inflammation of the nasal passages in young pigs and can result in snout deformity.

Atropine A hazardous plant chemical (alkaloid) discovered in Atropa belladonna that influences heart rate and is used to relax muscles in medicine.

22

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Aubergine A purple eggplant (Solanum melongena) fruit that is eaten as a vegetable. It is a tropical Asian plant that is frequently referred to by its Indian name, ‘brinjal.’

Aubrac A rare cattle breed from southern France. Light yellow or brown in color, the animals are used for draught, milk, and meat.

Auger 1. A boring tool consisting of a long shank with a cutting edge and a screw tip for boring holes. Soil augers are used to collect soil samples for testing. 2. A mechanism on a combine harvester that transports grain up into the grain tank (formed like a huge screw).

Automatic Cluster Removal The automated removal of the milking machine’s cluster from the udder at the conclusion of milking Abbr: ACR

Automatic Pick-Up Hitch A hydraulically powered device on a tractor that allows the driver to hook up to a trailer without leaving the driver’s seat.

Automation The use of equipment to reduce the need for physical labor.

Autotroph A living creature that generates its own organic elements from inorganic sources, for example, a photosynthetic bacterium or green plant. Compare chemotroph, heterotroph

Auxin A plant hormone that either promotes or inhibits tissue development (NOTE: Some herbicides mimic synthetic auxins by disrupting the plant’s growth equilibrium.)

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

23

Available Water Capacity Between the quantities at field capacity and wilting point, the quantity of water stored by a soil. Abbr: AWC

Aviary System A poultry housing system that includes a deep litter house with additional elevated spaces for the birds to eat, sleep, and exercise.

Avocado A pear-shaped green fruit of the Persea americana tree, which is native to South and Central America and is grown in Israel, Spain, the United States, and other places. Because the fruit is heavy in protein and fat, it is a very nutritious and significant food crop.

Away-Going Crop A crop planted by a tenant farmer before his departure from the farm at the conclusion of his tenure. He is allowed to return to harvest and remove the crop.

AWB Abbreviation, Agricultural Wages Board.

Awn The spine-like tip of a leaf; in cereals, awns are linked to the grains, and each grain in barley has a particularly long awn.

Axillary Bud A bud that forms at the intersection of a leaf and the main stem, creating a side shoot, as in tomatoes.

24

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Figure 8. An Example of Axillary Buds Located In the Axil of the Leaf. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Ayrshire A dairy cow breed that originated in South-West Scotland. Its hips are deep and wide, while the shoulders are thin. As a milk producer, it was the Friesian’s major competitor. It has a tough appearance and is white and brown in color.

Azarole Crataegus azarolus is a small tree that bears fruit that is used to make jellies. It comes from the Mediterranean region.

Acidic A pH of less than 7.0 in the soil. The smaller the value, the more acidic the soil. The pH scale goes from 0 to 14, with 7 being the neutral value.

Acre A common unit of measurement for agricultural land in the United States. It’s the same as 43,560 square feet. Aeration is the act of making microscopic holes in the soil to enable air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots of plants.

Alkaline A pH of higher than 7.0 in the soil. The greater the value, the higher the alkaline (base) content of the soil. The pH scale goes from 0 to 14, with 7 being the neutral value.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

25

Alliance An association founded for mutual benefit, such as in the beef, grape/wine, or other industry (horizontal or vertical) to boost profitability by improved production, processing, and/or merchandising cooperation.

Animal Husbandry Breeding, feeding, and caring for farm animals in the proper manner.

Annual A plant that completes its life cycle in one year or growing season by growing from a seed and producing more seeds for future crops.

Aquaculture In a regulated setting, the commercial production of aquatic plants or animals.

Aquaponics An aquaculture system in which waste from farmed fish or other aquatic creatures is used to feed hydroponically grown plants, which in turn cleanses the water.

Artificial Insemination (AI) The mechanical injection of sperm into the female animal’s womb using a syringe-like instrument.

Auction An auctioneer sells cattle and/or produce to the highest bidder in this manner of marketing.

Auction Market/Auction Barn A place where livestock farmers and fruit and vegetable farmers bring their produce to be auctioned off. This is the most popular way to sell cattle. Live cattle auctions are the most common type of auction, however, some auction markets now hold video auctions.

26

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Available Water Holding Capacity (AWHC) The amount of water stored in the soil that can be used by plants. The larger the AWHC of soil, the deeper it is.

B

Backgrounding The feeding and managing of meat animals from weaning as calves till they are on a fishing ration in the feedlot.

Bareroot Plants that are dormant and prepared to be transplanted, shipped, or stored with exposed roots (soil removed).

Best Management Practices (BMP) A technique or set of techniques for managing nutrients to safeguard surface and groundwater as well as topsoil, which have been shown to be successful and realistic in regard to technological, economic, and regulatory concerns.

Biennial A plant, or a section of a plant that has a two-year life cycle. (Blackberry plants, for instance, have biennial canes and perennial root systems.)

28

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Bloat An unusual condition in ruminants defined by rumen distension caused by gas buildup. When animals graze lush, moist legume pastures and are hungry, this can happen.

Body Condition Scoring (BCS) A visual examination of the amount of fat and muscle covering the bones of animals to establish an animal’s relative fatness. Cattle and horses are graded on a 1 to 9 scale, whereas swine, sheep, and dairy animals are scored on a 1 to 5 scale. The lower the number, irrespective of species, the slimmer the animal. The lowest score implies emaciation, whereas the highest value suggests extreme obesity.

Bolting The premature production of a flower or seed instead of a crop by a plant. Severe heat and sun exposure are common causes of this.

Boner A moderately conditioned cull cow with a score of 5 or 6 on the body condition scale. The majority of well-conditioned cows come under this group.

Boot The phase of grass maturity that occurs just before the seed head develops.

Bovine Refers to a family of animals, whose members include beef and dairy cattle.

Breaker A Cull cow in the best condition, containing hefty meat and a high dressing percentage. The part (%) of the live weight that remains in the carcass is referred as the dressing percentage. The average body condition score is 7 or above.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

29

Broadcast A method of sowing, fertilizing, or applying pesticides to the soil surface in which the substance is distributed in a broad manner.

Burndown An herbicide-based method of field preparation for no-till sowing through killing all developing vegetation.

Background A collection of environmental factors that are constantly present but are less noticeable or essential than others.

Bacteria Extremely minuscule organisms that are visible only under a microscope. They belong to a wide group: some aid in the breakdown of organic materials, some live in animals’ intestines and can break down food tissue, and some cause sickness. The singular is bacterium.

Figure 9. 3D Medical Animation Still Showing Staphylococcus Bacteria. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Bacteria Bed A rough stone filter bed that serves as the final step of sewage treatment

30

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Bacterial Canker A plant disease that infects the genus Prunus. The plant’s stems swell and ooze a light brown gum, which might cause the leaves to turn brown (Pseudomonas morsprunorum).

Badger A carnivore with a white face and a grey coat. Badgers are innocuous to crops and beneficial since they eat insects, snails, and rodents, but there have been requests for badger culls because they are suspected of spreading bovine TB.

Bait Plant A plant that is cultivated near or amid a crop to lure pests or illnesses to it instead of allowing them to hurt the crop itself.

Basal Metabolism The amount of energy utilized by a body at rest, — in other words the amount of energy required to keep the body working and the temperature at a suitable level. When an animal is at rest, this may be determined by examining the quantity of heat given off or the amount of oxygen taken in and retained.

Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus An aphid-borne virus that causes poor root formation in barley plants. Leaves become crimson and yellow, and yields are drastically diminished.

Beak Trimming Chopping off a bird’s beak to avoid pecking injuries to other birds, specifically when they are housed in a close range Sometimes beak trimming may be necessary to prevent birds from being harmed by violent pecking, but the animal welfare code has strong standards to make sure that the procedure is performed in a gentle manner.

Bean One of several legume species with edible seeds Bacteria on the roots of bean crops may fix atmospheric nitrogen, and the nitrogen left in the soil

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

31

by the beans will enhance subsequent crops. Beans have one hollow square stem with a huge number of complex bluish-green leaves. In the spring, black and white flowers bloom, eventually maturing into green pods. Field beans (Vicia faba), which are used for stock feeding, and broad beans (immature seeds used mostly for human use), are the two most common forms of beans. Field beans are commonly planted as a break crop. Winter beans are planted in October, whereas spring beans are planted in February/ March. Tick beans (tiny seeds), minor beans (extremely little seeds, used to feed racing pigeons), and horse beans are examples of spring beans.

Beetle Bank An uncultivated ridge placed in the midst of huge fields allowing insects and spiders to survive over the winter and thereafter move swiftly into the crop the following spring to eat pests like aphids.

Beef Assurance Scheme A program that allows farmers to register existing herds of cattle that have never had a case of BSE, allowing older animals from this herd to be killed and sold for food without being subjected to the 30-month limit.

Belted Galloway A black-colored beef cow with a white belt across the body, a rich undercoat, and lengthy hair. It is an intermediate-size polled breed used to create blue-grey suckler cows through cross-breeding with White Shorthorn males.

Biennial A plant that takes two years to complete its life cycle. The first year of a biennial plant’s life is spent generating roots, stems, and leaves. The flowering stalk and seeds emerge the following year, and the plant dies the following year. Sugar beets and swedes are biennials that are cultivated as annuals and harvested after the roots are completely formed at the end of their first year.

32

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Biodegradable Something that can be quickly decomposed by creatures like bacteria or natural processes like the sun’s rays or the sea. Organochlorines are nonbiodegradable and quickly pass through the food chain.

Biodynamic Agriculture A comprehensive and spiritual concept of nature and humans’ role in it, in which a farm is considered as a complete, independent, developing organism that relies on home-produced feeds and manures with little external inputs

Biofuel A fuel made from biological waste in the home or from external sources such as plants. (Coppiced willow is occasionally planted for biofuel.)

Figure 10. Biofuel Trial Plantings at Kula Agriculture Park, Maui, Hawaii. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Biogas A combination of methane and carbon dioxide created by the fermentation of wastes like animal dung. Unless there is a consistent need for heat, farm biogas systems may be unprofitable. Biogas systems are becoming more

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

33

popular in developing nations’ rural areas. In 2000, the government of the United Kingdom introduced the Green Fuels Challenge to encourage the development of low-emission fuels. The most promising alternative fuels, such as LPG, biodiesel, and compressed natural gas, were eligible for duty exemptions. Under a pilot project program, more research on methanol, biogas, and hydrogen would qualify for a tax rebate or exemption.

Biomass 1. The total number of living creatures in a particular area or at a specific trophic level, commonly measured in living or dry mass. 2. Biological materials used to generate energy. (Miscanthus and willow are used to make biomass fuel.) Biomass is used by around 2,500 million people, or half of the world’s population, for almost all of their cooking, heating, and lighting. The majority of these individuals reside in rural areas of developing nations. Using biomass for energy has several environmental advantages. Climate change will be eased, acid rain levels will be reduced, landfill pressure will be reduced, new animal habitats and biodiversity will be boosted, and woodland management will be improved.

Biopesticide A pesticide made from biological elements such as naturally occurring plant toxins. Since biopesticides are quickly inactivated and decomposed by sunlight, they do not damage the environment. This is a drawback for a farmer who employs them, because they may not be as effective at managing pests as manmade chemical pesticides, which are tenacious yet difficult to regulate.

Bioremediation The utilization of bacteria or other organisms to remove contaminants from soil, water, or gases (Bioremediation is a technique for cleaning up hazardous soil and oil spills.)

Biosolids An organic substance rich in nutrients that is generated from sewage as a byproduct of wastewater treatment and utilized as a fertilizer, and is solid or semi-solid before processing.

34

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Biscuit-Making Quality A characteristic found in some types of grain, particularly hard wheat grain that results in weak flour causing the dough to not rise when baked.

Blackleg 1. A bacterial illness that affects the base of the stem of potatoes, causing it to become black and decay. 2. A bacterial infection that affects sheep and cattle. It creates gas-filled swellings on the shoulders, neck, and thigh, and can result in death within 24 hours after the onset of symptoms.

Blanch 1. To cover plants in order to render them white (NOTE: Celery is blanched by wrapping dark tubes around the stems or by bringing the plants into contact with the dirt.) 2. To partially cook vegetables by briefly immersing them in hot water. This is done prior to preservation.

Bloom 1. A blossoming flower 2. A powdery material on a fruit’s surface, such as grapes. Bloom is actually a kind of yeast. 3. A fine hairy coating on some fruits, such as peaches

Blonde A cow breed that originated in Southwest France and is now widely used in the United Kingdom, producing huge calves that mature into good beef animals. The color ranges from light brown to off-white.

Bloodline A phrase that refers to the link between animals and their predecessors, such as the lineage in a flock or herd.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

35

Bonding The period immediately following birth, when a newly-born young animal gets ‘tied’ to its mother. The baby animal begins to mimic and learn from its mother.

Border Disease A virus-borne illness that affects sheep. Ewes may lose their baby, or lambs may be delivered with muscular tremors. When ill sheep are brought in and one infected ewe excretes the virus, infection spreads throughout the herd.

Border Leicester A longwool sheep breed descended from the English Leicester, with a bald head and a prominent ‘Roman’ nose. The breed is used to generate breeding ram lambs.

Botanical Insecticide An insecticide derived from a plant ingredient, such as pyrethrum (produced from chrysanthemums) or nicotine (produced from tobacco plants).

Bovine Tuberculosis A bacterial illness in cattle that has been virtually entirely eradicated in the UK because of the attested herds scheme. It is an illness that must be reported to the appropriate authorities. Till new technologies are introduced to eradicate bovine TB, the government’s strategy will continue to focus on limiting the disease’s transmission from infected to clean regions.

Bovine Viral Diarrhoea A deadly cow illness that induces mucus membrane ulcers, severe diarrhea, and a high risk of abortion

36

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Bowel Oedema A bacterial infection in pigs caused by abrupt dietary and management changes. Pigs may scream, stagger, or become paralyzed. Piglets are discovered dead under extreme circumstances.

Brangus A registered trademark for a cow crossbreed created by combining a Brahman with an Aberdeen Angus. It is a polled black breed found in Central and South America, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Zimbabwe.

Braxy A bacterial illness that affects sheep The afflicted animals display indicators of the disease such as lack of appetite, dullness, and difficulty breathing, however, these symptoms are rarely visible because death happens quickly, usually within five or six hours.

Break Crop A crop that is planted in between seasons of continuous cultivation of a primary crop. Crops such as sugar beet or potatoes may be introduced to a cereal-growing farm to provide a ‘break’ from constant grain production.

Bioaccumulation Bioconcentration is a term used to describe the buildup of contaminants in an organism.

Biocentric Ethic The notion that nature, rather than humanity, is the standard by which all things are measured.

Biocide A substance that destroys a large number of creatures in the environment.

Biodegradable The quality of being able to be decomposed into fundamental components because of bacterial or other microbial activity.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

37

Figure 11. Biodegradable Waste in a Trashcan. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Biodiversity The number of species and the amount of natural genetic variation.

Biogas Methane gas generated by animal and human excrement, agricultural wastes, and other organic materials. It can be utilized as a fuel or fertilizer.

Biogeochemical Cycle The movement of chemicals or nutrients between the biosphere’s abiotic and biotic sectors. Carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus are among the elements engaged in biogeochemical cycles.

Biological Amplification Higher amounts of pollution buildup in creatures higher up the food chain.

Biological Control Managing pests by using natural enemies or illnesses.

38

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Biological Evolution Variations in a species’ gene pool throughout time.

Biomass All living life in a given region, as well as stored energy in organic forms such as wood.

Biomass Energy Plant-based energy.

Biome A major ecosystem with diverse climate, geology, and creatures, such as desert, tundra, grassland, savanna, woodland, coniferous forest, temperate deciduous forest, and tropical rain forest.

Bioregion A region characterized by natural ecological systems, such as a river watershed.

Bioremediation Adding live creatures such as plants or bacteria to a natural place to rebuild it.

Biosphere The earth’s natural system and the atmosphere that sustains human life.

Biota An ecosystem’s plant and animal life; also known as flora and fauna.

Biotechnology Living creatures are manipulated biologically to generate meals, medicines, and other items for human consumption.

Birth Cohort A group of persons who were born within a given period of time.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

39

Birth Rate The number of live births in a particular year divided by the midyear population

Bison A huge pasture animal that formerly ruled the North American grasslands but was exterminated in vast numbers in the 1870s.

Black Death The term for the Middle Ages epidemic that devastated Europe and Asia.

Blocked Development Economic progress in less developed countries that is hampered by developed countries.

Brandt Commission In 1980, the Independent Commission on International Development held a hearing on the relationship between the environment and development. Members established the designations North (developed countries) and South (developing countries) and advocated for the repayment of historical debts for Southern countries.

Breeder Nuclear Fission A nuclear fission process that produces fresh radioactive fuel. Since the chain reaction is difficult to regulate, it is considered hazardous.

Brundtland Commission The World Commission on Environment and Development was headed by Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland. Our Common Future (1987), a report by the Commission, promoted the concept of sustainable development.

Bubble Policy A policy that permits polluters to release more pollutants from a single source provided other sources are reduced in the same way.

C

Calf A bovine animal that is under the age of one year old, either male or female.

Capon A capon is a male chicken that has been castrated before sexual maturity.

Carrying Capacity The maximum number of animals that a pasture can support without deteriorating throughout a grazing cycle.

Checkoff Programs Research and promotion operations that are approved by state and/or federal legislation, and are funded by assessments. Specific industry members, like producers, importers, and handlers, pay for such programs.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

41

Chisel Plow A soil tillage instrument made up of a set of straight steel shanks that, when drawn through the soil, only plow a small furrow. This is a type of minimal tillage that helps to lessen the danger of soil erosion.

Cockerel A rooster that is less than a year old.

Colt A four-year-old or younger male horse or pony that has not been castrated.

Companion Planting The idea that two plants growing close together will benefit one other.

Compost Organic residues, or a combination of organic wastes and soil, that have been stacked, watered and allowed to decompose biologically for use as fertilizer.

Figure 12. Sieving the Compost with a Coarse Sieve. Source: Image by Flickr

42

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Conservation Tillage Designed to reduce soil erosion, any of numerous agricultural practices that enable seed germination, plant development, and weed control with efficient maintenance of ground cover over time and causing minimum soil disturbance. The most limiting type of conservation tillage is no-till. Ridge till, strip-till, and mulch-till are examples of other kinds of low tillage.

Continuous Grazing A grazing method in which animals are allowed to graze in a field for a lengthy period of time.

Conventional Tillage/Seeding A type of field preparation and sowing in which the soil is mouldboard plowed and/or disked before seeding.

Cover Crop In orchards and vineyards, a close-growing crop that is planted to preserve and enhance soil between seasons of regular crops or in between trees and vines.

Cow A mature bovine that has given birth to at least one calf.

Cow Calf Operation A management unit in charge of keeping a breeding herd and raising weaned calves.

Creep Feeding A specific feeding of calves when they are in the weaning phase, which assists young ruminant animals in transitioning to forage-based diets.

Crop Residue Plant debris that has been left in the field after a crop has been harvested.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

43

Crop Rotation The technique of cultivating many crops in a row on the same piece of land.

Crop Year The 12-month period that runs from the end of one harvest to the beginning of the next.

Cross-Pollination Pollen transfer from a flower’s anther to the stigma of another flower. This can occur on either the same species of plant or among different kinds of plant species.

Cull Animals that must be removed from a livestock enterprise owing to production and/or management issues, as well as fruits and vegetables that fail to reach minimum market criteria.

Cultivate Mechanical removal or eradication of weeds conflicting with crops for land, nutrients, water, and sunshine. Also alludes to plants planted purposely, as in the cultivation of a variety of vegetable crops on a farm.

Cultivation The process of growing something/cultivating. The act of looking after and cultivating plants. The methods used by farmers to look after their crops.

Cutting A technique of plant propagation in which a piece of a plant is cut and dipped in a rooting hormone before growing into a new plant.

CWT The unit ‘hundredweight’ in which most prices are mentioned ($/cwt) is abbreviated as “cwt.” C stands for Centum, which means “a hundred,” and Wt. stands for “weight.”

44

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

California Condor A bird that was previously found in the California highlands but is now close to extinction.

Cancer The disruption of the normal cell growth process, in which cancerous cells infiltrate and kill healthy cells and tissues. Environmental variables, such as nutrition, pollutants, and other substances, are considered to be associated with a substantial percentage of cancers.

Figure 13. Growing Cancer Cells (In Purple) Are Surrounded By Healthy Cells (In Pink), Illustrating APrimary Tumor Spreading To Other Parts of the Body through the Circulatory System. Source: Image by Flickr

Capital Goods Items that have accumulated and are now being utilized to create other commodities and services.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

45

Capitalism An economy centered on private entrepreneurship and the allocation of economic resources through markets.

Capitalist Economy An economic system wherein the means of production are privately held.

Car Emissions Chemicals that are harmful and are created by internal combustion engines. Carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides are some examples.

Carbon Cycle One of the numerous biogeochemical cycles. The process of circulation of carbon, the chemical basis of living organisms, across the natural universe.

Carbon Dioxide A gas that plays a crucial role in the carbon cycle. CO2 is absorbed by plants during photosynthesis and produced by plants and animals as a byproduct of respiration. It plays a crucial function in regulating the temperature of the earth’s surface.

Carbon Sink A portion of the biosphere that collects more CO2 than it emits, such as oceans and rainforests.

Carbon Tax A tax levied on fossil fuels based on the amount of carbon they contain.

Carcinogen A cancer-causing substance in the environment, such as a pesticide

Carnivore A predatory animal or plant that eats and digests other animals.

46

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Carrying Capacity The maximum population that a given region can sustain on a subsistence basis.

Cash Crop Agricultural output that is sold for profit instead of being kept for personal use.

Cattle Grid A grill made out of parallel bars that covers a pothole in the road. It stops livestock from leaving their pasture by crossing the grid, while still permitting cars and humans to travel through.

Celery Apium graveolens is a vegetable plant with thick, delicious leaf stalks. Although certain forms of celery are self-blanching, the plant is cultivated in trenches to aid growth and blanch the stems.

Cellulose 1. A carbohydrate that forms up a significant portion of plant tissue, particularly cell walls 2. A chemical substance derived from wood that is used to make paper, film, and synthetic fibers.

Celsius A temperature scale with 0° as the freezing point and 100° as the boiling point of water. Symbol C. Previously known as centigrade. While it is widely used in many nations, it is not broadly in use in the United States, where the Fahrenheit system is extensively used.

Cesspool A sewage tank built in the ground near a residential property that is not linked to the main drainage system, and in which the waste is kept until being pumped out and disposed off somewhere.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

47

Chain 1. A series of metal rings connected to form a line 2. Gunter’s chain is a length measurement of 22 yards that was originally measured with a chain.

Chain Harrow A sort of harrow made to seem like a piece of chainlink fence. The linkages can be plain or spiky, with the spiked kind aerating grassland.

Chain-Link Fencing Fence material consisting of an open web of strong wire links that have been twisted together. It is one of the easiest types of fencing to install as it is supplied on a roll.

Charolais 1. A beef cow breed that originated in central France, is creamy white in color, and prized for its quick development and lean meat. 2. A sheep breed with a distinctive red face that originated in France.

Cheese Food prepared from curds of cow’s milk. It can also be created from goat’s milk or, less commonly, ewe’s milk. The curd is squeezed and let to develop for a while (longer in the case of hard cheese). Hard and soft cheeses come in a variety of shapes and sizes: British Caerphilly, Gloucester, Cheddar, and Cheshire are all hard cheeses, while French Brie and Camembert are soft.

Figure 14. Image Showing Maasdam Cheese. Source: Image by Flickr

48

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Chelates Water-soluble trace element and organic material compounds that can be used as foliar sprays or to the soil.

Chemical A material made up of chemical ingredients or generated by a chemical reaction. Chemicals are often used in agriculture. The machine examines the chemicals contained in the samples obtained. adjective 1. Relating to the subject of chemistry or chemicals 2. A chemical flavor that is generated by humans from a mixture of chemicals or chemical components that is not formed naturally.

Chemotrophic A creature that transforms the energy inherent in organic chemical components into more complicated energy without the use of sunlight.

Chickpea A light-yellow legume crop known for its big spherical seeds It is a significant protein source in India and Pakistan.

Chlorinated Hydrocarbon A chlorine, carbon, and hydrogen-based chemical that persists in the environment after usage and may accumulate in the food chain. For example, an organochlorine pesticide like lindane or DDT, an industrial compound like polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), or a chlorine waste product like dioxin.

Chocolate Spot A fungus that affects winter beans. Botrytis cinerea and the more serious Botrytis fabae are the two types. The disease manifests itself as little brown dots on the leaves and stems. When an outbreak is severe, the symptoms spread to flowers and pods.

Choke 1. Stiff hairs on the interior of an artichoke’s head before the heart can be eaten, the hairs must be removed. 2. A grass disease in which a white fungus emerges from the leaves and surrounds the budding flower stalk. It has a

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

49

negative impact on the seed crop. verb 1. To suffocate an animal or plant by depriving it of oxygen or light Weeds were choking the little plants. 2. To completely fill anything, such as a canal, thereby preventing it from moving. Water weed had choked the drainage channels.

Chorleywood Bread Process The British Baking Industries Research Association devised this technique of manufacturing bread in which the lengthy fermentation period is avoided by kneading the dough rapidly using mechanical methods.

Chromosome A DNA-based thin structure in the nucleus of a cell that contains the genes (NOTE: The number of chromosomes in various organisms differs.)

Circulation Of Carbon The process through which carbon atoms from carbon dioxide get absorbed into organic molecules in plants during photosynthesis. NOTE: During respiration, the carbon atoms are oxidized back into carbon dioxide by plants, herbivores that eat them, and carnivores that consume the herbivores, thereby releasing carbon back into the cycle.

Circulation of the Blood The process of movement of blood throughout the body, from the heart to the capillaries, and then back to the heart via the veins.

Citrus Fruit The edible fruits which are grown on the evergreen citrus trees, growing throughout the tropics and subtropics. The most notable ones are oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and limes. Citrus fruits have a thick peel and a high acidic level.

City Farm A communal initiative that uses wasteland in an inner-city or urban periphery region for farming and gardening while adopting an ecological attitude towards land and resource management.

50

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Clamp A technique for storage of root crops in the open that involves heaping the crop into a pile and covering it with straw and dirt. Verb to use a clamp to store crops or fodder.

Clay Soils Soils containing more than 35% clay size material (NOTE: When wet, clay soils become sticky and may retain more water than other soil types. They are vulnerable to poaching since they are damp in the winter. In the spring, they take a long time to warm up. Clay soils get stiff and huge cracks can emerge after extended periods of dry weather.)

Figure 15. Lamella form in soils as clay is translocated downward through sandy soils. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Clean Pasture Pasture which has not been grazed for four to six weeks following parasitic worm larvae infection and is deemed parasite-free.

Clearcutting Removing all of the trees in a given region at the same time. The most serious hazard to animals is habitat damage caused by clearcutting forests for paper pulp.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

51

Climate Change A shift in worldwide weather conditions that occurs naturally, such as during a glacial or post-glacial period, or as a result of air pollution. Such a shift takes place over a long time and is gradual. (NOTE: Although the terms “climate change” and “global warming” are sometimes used interchangeably, scientists prefer to use the word “climate change” in a wider scope to encompass natural climatic changes.)

Climate Change Levy A tax on energy consumption by industries such as agriculture and industry, with the goal of increasing energy efficiency and lowering greenhouse gas emissions

Climax The ultimate stage in the evolution of plant colonization of a given location, whereby shifts occur within a mature and largely stable population.

Cloaca The final part of the intestine, into which the gastrointestinal, urinary, and vaginal canals open. (NOTE: It can be found in reptiles, amphibians, birds, a variety of fish, and some invertebrates.) Clone 1. A group of cells created by asexual reproduction from a single cell and so identical to the original cell 2. An organism that is created asexually, either organically or by methods such as harvesting plant cuttings. 3. A collection of creatures that have all been developed asexually from a single individual. Verb to asexually reproduce an individual organism Clun Forest A resilient grass hill breed of sheep. It has a beautiful thick fleece, a dark brown face, and a topknot that spreads out over the forehead.

Codominant 1. (Of a species) being nearly equally prevalent in an area and more prevalent than any other species (used for two or more species). In this forest, there are three codominant tree species. 2. refers to alleles of a gene in a heterozygous individual that are not entirely dominant over other alleles.

52

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Cold Storage The act of storing perishable product in a refrigerated area or container prior to transporting it to a market or merchant. Bacterial and fungal activities are suppressed by the low temperature.

Colostrum A yellowish liquid released by an individual after giving birth and before the formation of real milk. The fluid is high in antibodies and minerals.

Combine Drill A drill that simultaneously sows grain and fertilizer (NOTE: Some drills have distinct tubes for seed and fertilizer, while others have a single tube for both. Because the acid effect of the fertilizer might harm the tubes, it is critical to clean combined drills after using it.)

Combine Harvester A big machine that threshes, cuts, and separates a crop’s grain or seed from its straw or chaff. Crops such as cereals, grass, peas, and oilseed rape are harvested using combine harvesters.

Common Agricultural Policy A collection of rules and processes agreed upon by European Union members to regulate the supply, marketing, and price of farm products. A uniform system of agricultural price supports and grants has been established by the European Union. This system aims to promote steady agricultural market conditions, a reasonable return for farmers, and appropriate market pricing for consumers, as well as improved yields and productivity on farms across the Union. The major source of market assistance is intervention buying, which has been developed as a system of standard pricing for the key farm goods. In 1992, the first significant changes in 30 years were implemented, involving arable set-aside, suckler cow quotas, ewe quotas, and price reductions on oilseeds, peas, beans, cereals, and beets. The establishment of the Single Farm Payment Scheme (SFPS) in 2003 was the second major CAP reform, which combined separate subsidy programs into a single payment based on the land area utilized.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

53

Common Prices The prices received by all farmers in the European Union for a variety of items, such as meat, cereals, dairy products, and sugar. Import controls and intervention buying are part of EU legislation. These rates are revised once a year.

Companion Plant A plant that boosts neighboring plant growth or minimizes pest infestation. (NOTE: Horticulturists and gardeners frequently employ companion plants to boost growth or reduce insect infestation in a nearby plant.)

Compound Feed A form of animal feed that contains a variety of substances, notably vitamins and minerals, to provide a balanced diet for animals. Animals are frequently fed compound feed in compacted pellet form.

Conditioning 1. The process of preparing crops for harvest. 2. The process of tenderizing meat by storing it at a low temperature for a period of time. 3. The process of preparing grain for milling by adding more water to it in order to ensure that it has the appropriate moisture content.

Condition Scoring A system for determining the status of an animal’s bodily condition with scores ranging from 0 to 5 for cattle and from 1 to 9 for sows. Low condition ratings imply leanness, whereas high condition scores suggest fatness. A three-point score is thus ideal. Condition scoring is an optimum on-farm technique for measuring cow body reserves because it does not require any special equipment or weighing facilities, and it is very simple once the system becomes familiar.

Connective Tissue The tissue that makes up the majority of bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. The tissue cells are surrounded by a dense network of fibrous material.

54

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Figure 16. Connective Tissue: Tendon. Source: Image by Flickr

Conservation 1. Energy conservation (preserving or not wasting). 2. The application of ecological knowledge and approaches to safeguard the quality of the environment and resources

Conservation Headland The region between the edge of a crop and the first tractor tramline which is handled less rigorously with pesticides to allow for the survival of a variety of broadleaved weeds and beneficial insects. This is done to foster biodiversity.

Conservation Tillage A farming technique that attempts to plow the least amount of land possible in order to reduce erosion, preserve energy, and increase biodiversity.

Consume 1. To deplete or extinguish a source of energy or a fuel. The new pump consumes half the amount of gasoline that the old pump did. 2. To eat food. Every week, the population consumes 10 tons of food.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

55

Consumer An individual or business that purchases and consumes products and services. The spike in gas costs has enraged consumers. The factory is among the highest consumers of water.

Contact A direct link between two or more objects, particularly when one touches the other. Allowing the component to come into contact with water is not recommended.

Contact Animal An animal that may need to be quarantined after coming into contact with a sick animal. Movement limitations on the herd’s contact animals will be maintained, and the animals will be tested for brucellosis over the course of many months.

Contagious Referring to an illness that can be spread by contacting an infected person or items that have been exposed to an infected person.

Contaminate To pollute something by touching it or introducing something to it, typically something undesirable. Uncontrolled discharges from the facility contaminated drinking water supplies. After consuming contaminated food, a large number of visitors became unwell.

Contaminated Land A region that has been contaminated as a result of human activities like industrial operations, thus posing a health risk, and that must be cleaned before it can be utilized for other reasons.

Crop Rotation A farming practice that involves rotating two or more crops from year to year in order to avoid soil nutrient depletion and pesticide use.

56

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Cross To create a new plant or animal from two separate breeds, varieties, or species. They crossed two strains of rice to create a new disease-resistant rice variety. 1. The process of crossing two plants or animals; for example, a cross between two cow strains. 2. A hybrid of two separate breeds, kinds, or species of plant or animal.

Crossbreeding Combining the finest qualities of two distinct breeds through the process of mating or artificial insemination of animals from different breeds

Figure 17. A Shot of Big Bird: A Cross Breed. Source: Image by Flickr

Cross-Compliance The establishment of environmental requirements that must be followed while implementing agricultural assistance policies, particularly in the European Union. Environmental conditionality is another name for this concept. Although there is some indication that farmers in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones are paying more attention to the value of manure, cross-compliance is becoming increasingly evident. As a result, the Single Payment Scheme compels farmers to account for nutrients in any organic materials they use.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

57

Cull 1. Removing extra animals from a herd or flock by killing a specified number of living animals in order to keep the populations in check. The act of killing a particular number of deer or dairy cows is known as a deer cull or a dairy cow cull. 2. A herd or flock animal that has been isolated and murdered, generally because it is elderly or of poor quality. Verb to slaughter wild animals in a regulated manner in order to minimize their numbers. To keep the populations on the hills under control, deer may have to be culled each year.

Curry Report Following a severe epidemic of foot and mouth disease in the UK, a government study was published in 2002. It proposed drastic reforms to the agricultural and food sectors, with the goal of ensuring a viable and secure future for farming in the production of nutritious food for customers who are increasingly concerned about a healthy diet as well as environmental protection.

Cut 1. The act of chopping hay or other vegetation. To acquire enough fodder for the herd to go through the winter, three cuts are required. 2. The act of felling trees, verb to cut down trees with a saw or an axe.

Cyst Nematodes Cysts with a dark brown color and shaped like a lemon that live and reproduce in the roots of cereals, usually oats. Patches of undersized yellowish-green plants will appear in the crops.

Cytoplasm A jelly-like material that is surrounding the nucleus of a cell within the cell membrane.

D

Dag A tuft of soiled wool wrapped around a sheep’s tail, verb to clean a sheep’s hindquarters of dirty wool

Dairy A structure used to refrigerate milk before it is transported to a commercial plant on the farm 2. A business that collects milk from farms, bottles it, and delivers it to consumers 3. A business that makes cream, butter, cheese, and other dairy goods

Dairy Cows Plural. Cows and heifers are retained for milk production in a dairy herd and to raise calves to replace older cows.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

59

Dairy Farm A dairy farm that specializes on milk production COMMENT: The United Kingdom is Europe’s third-largest milk producer, with a quota of 14.2 billion liters per year. Although milk is mainly self-sufficient, cheese, milk powder, cream, and butter are significantly imported and exported between the UK and other EU nations.

Dairy Followers Plural. Young dairy cows that will eventually take the place of elder cows.

Dairying Milk and other dairy products are produced by cows raised on dedicated farms under this agricultural system.

Dalesbred A Swaledale sheep from the area. It has a long coarse fleece and a white patch on either side of its black face, with a grey muzzle.

Dam 1. A structure designed to divert a river in order to redirect water into a hydroelectric power station or control water supply to an irrigation project 2. An animal’s female parent, generally a domestic animal COMMENT: Dams are built to direct water flow into hydroelectric generating plants or to manage the supply of water to irrigation systems. Dams can have disastrous consequences for the environment. The enormous lake behind the dam has the potential to change the climate of a whole region. If the geology under the lake’s surface is unstable, the lake’s vast, heavy amount of water may cause earth tremors. Dams facilitate the spread of germs, insects, and parasites in tropical climates, leading to a rise in illnesses like bilharziasis. Dams can enhance salinity in waterways by retaining sediment that would otherwise be moved downstream and deposited as rich soil on the plain below. They may also deprive towns or nations downstream of water, causing regional conflicts.

60

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Figure 18. Kadra Dam, Kali River. Source: Image by Pixabay

Damp Off Verb. To die as a result of a fungal infection that spreads in warm, moist environments and destroys seedling roots and lower stems. COMMENT: In greenhouses, damping off is a major cause of seedling loss.

Dandelion Taraxacum officinale, a yellow plant that grows in grasslands and is sometimes eaten as a salad.

Dartmoor A large moorland sheep with a long curly fleece and a white face with black markings.

Date The date palm’s fruit COMMENT: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Algeria are the largest producers of dates, however, several Middle Eastern nations produce minute quantities.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

61

Daucus The Latin name for the plant family that contains carrots.

Day-Old Chick A chick shipped from a breeder or hatchery to a buyer when it is less than 24 hours old.

DDT A kind of pesticide that was once used to kill malaria-carrying mosquitos. Because of its toxicity and potential to accumulate in the environment, it is currently prohibited in many nations. Formula: C14H9Cl5. Its full form is dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane.

Dead Heading The act of removing a plant’s dead flower heads in order to prevent the production of seeds.

Dead-In-Shell Adjective. Chicks that die in the egg because they are unable to break free or can only break part of the way out of the shell.

Dead Stock All implements, equipment, appliances, and machineries operated on a farm. Seed, fertilizer, and feedingstuffs might also be included.

Deadweight Average Pig Price The average price paid for pigs, determined each week from slaughterhouse statistics on the price paid for pigs butchered. In 2004, it took the place of the Adjusted Eurospec Average Price Report. Abbreviation: DAPP.

Decay The activity of microbes and oxygen causing tissues to rot and decompose. Verb. Rot or decay (of organic stuff). On the compost heap, the soft leaves will decay over time.

62

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Deciduous Adjective. Beech, oak, and other deciduous trees are examples of trees that lose all of their leaves in one season. Deciduous woodlands.

Decompose Verb. The action of sunlight, water, bacteria, and fungus on organic material causing it to decompose into simple chemical components.

Decomposer An organism that feeds on decaying organic materials and breaks them down into basic molecules. Eg: Fungus or Bacteria.

Decomposition The process of reducing complex chemical compounds to their most basic constituents.

Decoupling The discrepancy between the amounts of money granted to farmers as a subsidy and the amount of food they produce. Single Payment Scheme

Decumbent Adjective. Refers to plant stems that lie on the soil’s surface for portion of their length before turning upwards.

Deep-Freezing Long-term storage at below-freezing temperatures. (NOTE: Peas and beans, for example, are cultivated specially for commercial deep-freezing.)

Deep Plowing Plowing deeply into the soil, utilized for recovering previously uncultivated areas for agricultural purposes.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

63

Figure 19. Deep Plowed Field. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Deer A ruminant animal, with prominent antlers on the males (NOTE: Deer meat is called venison.) COMMENT: The fallow deer (Dama dama), the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), and the red deer (Cervus elaphus), which is also raised commercially, are the three wild deer species in the UK. Deer are tough creatures that have adapted to harsh winters. They can contract TB, and the British government has implemented a mandatory killing plan for infected animals. According to the 2000 agricultural survey, there are 300 farmed deer properties in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, with 36,000 deer being farmed. They account for less than 0.6 percent of all farmed animals in the United Kingdom (excluding poultry).

Deficiency Payment Payment given to the producer when the market price for a product does not exceed a certain guaranteed price.

64

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Deficient Adjective. When something vital is absent. Important nutrients are deficient in the soil. Scrub plants thrive in this moisture-deficient habitat. Her diet is deficient in calcium.

Deflector Plate A slurry spreader attachment that distributes the slurry across a large area.

Deflocculation Clay particles resist each other rather than staying together in this state. When clays are handled in damp conditions or if the soil becomes salty, deflocculation can happen.

Defoliant A herbicide that causes plants’ leaves to fall off.

Defoliate Verb. To cause the leaves of a plant to fall off, as a consequence of a herbicide or disease or other stress.

Defoliation To cause the leaves of a plant to fall off, as a consequence of a herbicide or disease or other stress.

Deforest Verb. To clear forest trees from a plot of land for economic interests or to convert it to arable land. Timber businesses have contributed to the deforestation of tropical areas. Every year, over 40000 square kilometers of land are deforested.

Deforestation The felling of forest trees for economic reasons or to produce arable or grazing land.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

65

Degradable Adjective. A material that can be broken down into its constituent parts. Biodegradable.

Degradation The breakdown of a chemical substance into its constituent parts.

Degrade Verb. 1. To diminish something’s quality. Overgrazing has caused the ground to degrade. By degrading the water-resistant layer on pine needles, ozone may aggravate nutrient leaching. 2. To break down a chemical substance into its constituent parts

Degressivity A projected cut in the amount of subsidies given under the CAP. As a technique of keeping the CAP budget under control, this suggestion was A 71 Derbyshire Gritstone rejected.

Dehisce Verb. (Of a mature seed pod, fruit, or capsule) To open and disperse seeds or spores.

Dehiscence When a seed pod, fruit, or capsule is mature, it bursts suddenly, releasing the seeds or spores to disseminate.

Dehiscent Adjective. Referring to seed pods, fruit, or capsules that burst open to disperse seeds or spores. Compare and contrast indehiscent.

Dehorn Verb. To remove an animal’s horns when it is still young (by disbudding).

66

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Dehydrate Verb. To remove water from something so that it can be preserved. COMMENT: Food can be dehydrated in a variety of ways, including sun drying (as in dried fruit) or industrial procedures like freeze-drying. Dehydrated milk.

Deintensified Farming Farming that was formerly intense, relying on chemical fertilizers to boost output, but has since expanded. Extensification demonstration farm.

Denature Verb 1. To make alcohol unfit for human consumption by adding a harmful ingredient 2. To alter a protein’s or nucleic acid’s normal structure by using high temperatures, chemicals, or pH extremes. 3. To modify the essence of something 4. To make an amino acid from a protein.

Denatured Wheat Wheat that has been dyed in order to make it unfit for human consumption.

Denaturing The process of dyeing wheat grain in order to render it unfit for human consumption Animal feed can be made from denatured grain.

Dendrochronology The study of tree rings: denitrification is a scientific approach to determining the age of wood.

Denitrification The action of bacteria in the soil to release nitrogen from nitrates in the soil.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

67

Figure 20. The Nitrogen Cycle. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Dental Adjective. With relation to teeth.

Dentition The placement of an animal’s teeth in its mouth (NOTE: Examining an animal’s teeth might help determine its age.)

Denudation Chopping down trees or allowing erosion to strip land or rock of its vegetation.

Denude Verb. Making land or rocks bare by the process of erosion or by deforestation. The mountains have been denuded by the wood corporations.

68

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs In England and Wales, the UK government department responsible for farming, the environment, animal welfare, and rural development. Abbr: Defra. ‘Defra was established to concentrate and lead the government’s overall approach to sustainable development, with a particular focus on the environment, the food sector, and rural economies and communities.’ (Delivering the evidence. Defra’s Science and Innovation Strategy, 2003– 06)

Department Of Agriculture and Rural Development Northern Ireland’s regional government department for agriculture, the environment, animal welfare, and rural development. Abbr DARDNI

Depress Verb. To bring down a price. Overproduction of several products in the EU may lead to a drop in open market prices.

Derbyshire Gritstone A robust black faced, hornless sheep breed that produces a soft, high-quality fleece (NOTE: the name derives from a sort of rock called millstone). A derelict 72 grit found in Derbyshire’s Peak District)

Derelict Adjective. 1. A strategy to rehabilitate derelict inner-city areas that have been harmed and rendered unpleasant by mining or other industrial activities, or that have been neglected and are not used for anything. 2. A derelict barn is a structure that has been neglected and is in ruins.

Derris Fleas, lice, and aphids are all controlled using this powdered insecticide made from the root of a tropical plant. Rotenone

Desalinate Verb. The process of removing salt from a material, such as seawater or soil.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

69

Desalination The process of removing salt from a material like seawater or soil.

Descending Aorta The aorta’s second portion as it bends downward.

Desert An area of land with little or no vegetation, dry soil, and little or no rainfall: Whether the terrain is hot or cold, a desert will arise if rainfall is less than 25 cm per year. Approximately 30% of the Earth’s land surface is desert or in the course of becoming one. Human forces, as well as environmental circumstances, have a role in the expansion of desert conditions in arid and semi-arid regions. As a result, pasture overgrazing and forest cutting for fuel and agriculture both result in the loss of organic material, a decrease in rainfall due to evaporation, and soil erosion.

Desertification The process through which an area of land becomes a desert as a result of a change in climate or human action, such as intensive cultivation. Desertification may be aided by changes in the quantity of sunlight reflected by certain flora. Increased soil tilling, along with lengthy periods of drought, has resulted in desertification in the area. ‘Desertification, generally defined, is one of the most significant challenges to long-term food security and livelihoods in today’s globe.’ [Environmental Conservation]

Desertify Verb. To turn a piece of land into a desert. Half of the nation is expected to be desertified by the end of the century.

Desiccant 1. A material that causes things to dry 2. An herbicide that causes leaves to wither and die

Desiccation The act of removing water 2. The process of evaporating moisture from the earth. The greenhouse effect may cause climatic changes such as large-scale desiccation.

70

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Dessert Fruit Which are sweet and may be eaten raw as opposed to cooked.

Determination The procedure for determining the maximum safe dosage by computation or experimentation.

Detritivore An organism that consumes decaying organic stuff and decomposes it into basic compounds, e.g. a fungus or bacterium. Also known as a detrivore or a scavenger.

Devon A fine boned dual-purpose cattle breed. North and South Devons are dark red cattle that have been raised in England for generations. They feed on grass that would be insufficient for larger breeds, and they provide meat as well as milk. (NOTE: They’re also called Red Rubies.)

Devon and Cornwall Longwool A sheep breed with long curly, high-quality fleece, and lambs with fine soft white wool.

Devon Close wool A medium-sized sheep breed bred by crossing the Devon Longwool with the Exmoor Horn.

Dewatering The process of extracting water from a crop by pressing, hence lowering the expense of artificial drying.

Dew Pond A small pond formed by rainfall on higher land in chalky soil COMMENT: Dew ponds can be found on chalky or limestone terrain. A hole is carved out and coated with clay to create a dew pond. Rainwater keeps the pond filled.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

71

Dexter A unique breed of cow native to Ireland’s west coast. The animals are small and black or red in color.

Dextrose A simple sugar that can be extracted from maize starch and is present in fruits.

Diamonds Disease A condition in which an animal passes liquid feces regularly. Also known as scouring.

Dichotomous Branching A plant growth pattern, formed when a developing point splits into two points that eventually divide into two.

Dicotyledon A plant whose seeds contain a cotyledon that is divided into two pieces. Plants classified as dicotyledons are the most common.

Figure 21. Diagram of a Leaf Showing Typical Features of a Dicot. Source: Image by Flickr

72

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Dieback 1. A fungal disease that kills the shoots or branches of various plants 2. The progressive death of trees, beginning at the tips of their branches. Half of the forest trees are showing indications of dieback. COMMENT: There are several hypotheses as to why dieback occurs in the environment. Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and ozone, as well as soil acidification and acid rain on leaves, have all been mentioned as possible reasons.

Die Down Verb. (of plants) to cease growth before winter and store only the underground portions till spring herbaceous plants die down in the fall.

Diet The amount and type of food consumed (NOTE: Animal welfare laws establish guidelines for the sort of diet that should be offered to animals and birds in order to ensure their health and wellbeing.

Dietary Fiber Equivalent to roughage. COMMENT: Dietary fiber may be found in cereals, nuts, fruit, and some green vegetables. It is said to be required to aid digestion and prevent constipation, obesity, and appendicitis.

Dietary Reference Values Plural The necessary nutrients for health, as stated in a list by the UK government dietetic service. Adjective referring to diet.

Diet Formulation the process of mixing various feedstuffs or minerals to provide a healthy and balanced diet for an animal ‘Diet formulation was probably the most probable area for reform, and with feed accounting for 70% of production costs, it was critical to look at management approaches such phase feeding to better adjust feed inputs to requirements.’ [Agriculture News]

Diffuse Water Pollution Water contamination, created by a variety of minor sources, such as farm runoff.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

73

Digest Verb. 1. To break down food and turn it into components that the body can absorb. 2. To utilize bacteria to break down waste, particularly organic waste like manure, to make biogas In the United Kingdom, 55 percent of sewage sludge is digested. Food processing plant waste can be anaerobically digested.

Digestibility The fraction of food that is digested and hence valuable to the animal that consumes it.

Digestibility Coefficient The percentage of food that is digested but not expelled, expressed as a percentage of total food consumed.

Digestibility Trial A test that records the weight of food consumed and then ejected to determine the digestibility of a known food.

Digestibility Value The proportion of digestible organic materials in plant dry mass. Abbr: D value.

Digestible Adjective. Capable of being digested. Glucose is a sugar that is easily digestible.

Digestible Organic Matter An organic material that can be converted into biogas. Abbr: DOM.

Digestion 1. The act of breaking down and converting food into components that the body can absorb 2. The transformation of organic materials into simpler chemical molecules, such as biogas generation from manure.

74

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Digestive Juices Digestive secretions that transform food into a form that can be absorbed by an animal’s body.

Digger A plow body with a steeply curved mouldboard and a short length. Deep plowing is done with diggers, notably in preparation for root crops or land reclamation.

Digging Stick One of the first agricultural devices still in use in locations where shifting agriculture is practiced The sharpened end of the stick, often with a metal tip, is used to dig holes for planting crops.

Dip A chemical that dissolves in water and is used to eradicate lice and ticks from animals, mostly sheep. Verb. To immerse an animal in a dip for around thirty seconds.

Diploid Refers to a cell nucleus that has two matched sets of chromosomes, one from each parent (NOTE: Each species has a distinct number of diploid chromosomes.)

Dipping The act of immersing an animal in a chemical solution to eliminate ticks and other parasites COMMENT: Sheep are dipped to avoid sheep scab and to kill parasites such as lice and ticks. According to custom, breed, and climate, dipping differs from location to region. To manage disease outbreaks, Defra may mandate dipping, which must be seen by a local authority inspector in some situations.

Direct Drilling A type of minimum cultivation in which the seed is put onto the land without being cultivated first. There are several types of drills utilized, including hefty discs for cutting narrow drills and powerful cultivator tines.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

75

Direct Proportional Application A method of ensuring that a sprayer’s output is proportionate to the pace at which it goes ahead. Abbr: DPA.

Disadvantaged Area A term for land in steep and hilly places that may be improved and used for sheep and cattle breeding and raising. Disadvantaged and Severely Disadvantaged Areas are the two types of areas. The EU recognizes certain areas and provides financial assistance to farmers who live in them.

Disc Plow A plow that replaces the mouldboard with huge revolving discs. Disc plows are used for deep cultivation, however, they are not widely utilized in the United Kingdom.

Disease Control A farm’s or a government’s procedures for preventing infections from spreading within the region under its control’ DEFRA had studied the impact on the poultry sector, according to Dr. Reynolds, and thought that careful surveillance, biosecurity, mobility restrictions, and rapid culling of diseased flocks were the best methods of disease prevention.

Diseased Afflicted with a disease and so not functioning normally or completely a diseased kidney. Diseased branches should be trimmed down to healthy wood to treat dieback.

Disinfection The process of removing germs or other microbes from something or a location COMMENT: After an infection has been present, disinfection is a required process that affects facilities such as stables and utensils. It may entail cleaning floors and partitions, as well as eliminating litter and feces. It is also necessary to treat implements and tools. Disinfection methods include the use of authorized chemical solutions, steam washing, and antiseptic fumigation.

76

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Figure 22. Workers Disinfect Tehran Subway Wagons against Coronavirus. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Dispersal Seed dispersal by wind is the movement of individual plants or animals into or out of a region. Aphids reproduce in vast numbers and disperse by wind currents.

Disperse 1. To separate and travel away across a large region (of organisms) 2. To disseminate something over a large region Birds help disperse some seeds. To disperse pollution emissions, power plants utilize towering chimneys.

Dispersing Agent A chemical that is added to a fungicide/bactericide mixture to ensure that active agent particles are spread evenly.

Dispersion The distribution of animals or plants throughout a large region

Distillation Heating a liquid and condensing the vapor, as in the manufacturing of alcohol or essential oils, to produce a pure liquid.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

77

Distort To distort the form of anything so that it does not appear natural, like when club root disease distorts brassica roots.

Distribution Channel 1. The path taken by a product once it leaves the maker or supplier to reach a client 2. A location where cattle are given regulated quantities of grain.

Diversification The expansion of a farm or other company into other regions, such as permitting property to be utilized for reformation purposes or introducing new crops or livestock.

Diversify 1. To create something in a variety of ways Farmers are urged to diversify their land use by planting woods or constructing recreational facilities, for example. 2. To begin performing a variety of activities Farmers are being urged to expand their businesses into other sectors, such as rural tourism.

Docking Disorder A sugar beet condition, induced by eelworms and found on sandy soils in East Anglia, resulting in abnormally stunted plants with split root development.

Domestic Animal 1. A pet animal, such as a dog or cat that lives with humans. 2. A domesticated animal, such as a pig or a goat, raised by humans for food or other purposes.

Domesticate 1. To domesticate wild animals so that they can meet human needs 2. To selectively raise wild plants, selecting the finest types for use as food or decoration.

Domesticated 1. Referring to a wild animal that has been taught to live near a house and is not afraid of people 2. Refers to a previously wild animal that has been intentionally bred to meet human demands.

78

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Dominance 1. A state in which one species in a society outnumbers others 2. In a group, one animal has a higher priority for food and reproductive mates than another. 3. A feature of a gene form (allele) that causes the trait it regulates to manifest in any individual who carries it.

Dominance Hierarchy Prioritization scheme for certain persons in terms of food and reproductive partners. A male is at the top of the dominance hierarchy in many species.

Dominant 1. Significant or strong 2. (Of an allele) possessing the property that causes the trait it regulates to manifest in any individual who carries it. Compare recessive 3. (Of a species) being more numerous in a community than others. Codominant, subdominant. . A plant or species that has the greatest impact on the diversity and spread of other species.

Dorset Down A medium-sized down sheep with a brown face and wool sprouting over the brow. It produces a silky, stringy fleece of high quality.

Dorset Horn A sheep breed native to the south-west of England, with long curly horns on both rams and ewes. It produces excellent, transparent white wool and is one of the few British breeds that can lamb at any time of year. Dorset Wedge Silage A technique of keeping silage in wedge-shaped layers that is often covered with polythene sheeting. To make a wedge, the first weights are tipped against the end wall, and more loads are piled up with a buckrake.

Double Digging A method of agriculture in which a pit is dug out, the earth is deposited on one side, and then a second pit is excavated. This loosens the soil to a greater depth than traditional digging.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

79

Down Breeds Short-wooled sheep that produce creamy-colored wool; the sheep have black cheeks and legs and are hornless. The Southdown, Hampshire Down, Dorset Down, and Suffolk Down are all found in mountainous locations.

Drain 1. A pipeline that collects wastewater from houses or agriculture and transports it underground. 2. A wastewater drainage canal that is open to the public 3. A mechanism that allows liquid to escape from its container Verb. 1. To remove a liquid from somewhere 2. To flow into something (of a liquid) The River drains into the stream. 3. to drain cropland of water (NOTE: Artificial drainage is required in most types of farming, with the exception of free-draining soils, to transport away excess water and keep the water table at an acceptable level.)

Draught Control System A technique for preventing harm to a harrow as it is being dragged through the dirt. The tool is automatically lifted out of the soil when the draught exceeds a preset threshold.

Figure 23. Regional Partnership with CIMMYT Facilitates Drought Tolerant Maize Development in Thailand. Source: Image by Flickr

80

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Drawbar A metal bar attached to the rear of a tractor that pulls trailing implements A drawbar on some tractors can be connected to the hydraulic linkage.

Drawbar Power The horsepower available to pull an implement, as opposed to a tractor’s braking horsepower. Under field circumstances, not all of the brake horsepower will be available to draw implements because part of it is required to propel the tractor forward and overcome bearing and soil resistance.

Dredge Corn A blend of grains that are cultivated together and fed to cattle. A blend of barley and oats is the most prevalent, but cereals and pulses are also used sometimes.

Drench A way of administering liquid medicine by putting it through a tube into the stomach. Verb. To soak in a liquid, as when using a coarse nozzle to spray.

Drill 1. A tool for planting seeds. A drill comprises of a hopper on wheels that feeds seed into seed tubes through a feed mechanism. 2. A little furrow for seed planting. Verb. Sowing seed in drills.

Drought Order Legislation that allows water providers to impose water-use limits for a set amount of time during a drought.

Drover A person in charge of a flock or herd being transported from one location to another.

Dry Farming A technique of large agriculture that produces crops in low-rainfall locations without the use of irrigation.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

81

Dry Feeding The practice of giving animals food without adding water. Pigs and poultry may have complications as a result of this.

Drying A way of preserving food by eliminating moisture from it, either by letting it out in the sun, as with dried fruit, or by using an industrial process.

Dry Matter The substance that remains after the water has been removed from a biological sample or animal feed. Abbr: DM.

Dry Matter Intake The quantity of feed that an animal consumes or requires, after taking into account the water content of the feed. Abbr: DMI.

Dump A location where garbage, particularly solid waste, is disposed of. Surrounding the mine are dumps of excavated garbage. Verb. 1. To discard rubbish, especially without regard for environmental regulations. 2. To sell big amounts of surplus farm products in a foreign market at a low price.

Dumping 1. Trash disposal (illegal dumping) 2. The sale of agricultural products at a lower price than their real cost in order to quickly dispose of excess output, generally in a foreign market.

Dunes A wind-blown sand landscape with little hills and ridges that may have plants growing on it. The community was being encroached upon by sand dunes. Marram grass had colonized the sand dunes.

82

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Figure 24. Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes, Death Valley National Park. Source: Image by Flickr

Dutch Barn A type of farm structure that is used to store loose or baled hay, corn crops, and agricultural instruments. (NOTE: Older Dutch barns were made of iron and had no enclosing side walls.) Precast concrete, asbestos cement sheeting, and curved roofs are all used in modern designs. The sides might be covered in part or fully.)

Dutch Harrow A tool having a metal or wooden frame and hefty tine bars approximately perpendicular to the travel direction. The hefty bars level the surface while the tines loosen the dirt. Also known as float.

Dutch Hoe A tool having a long handle and a D-shaped blade that is more or less straight and is used in a push-pull manner.

Dwarf Bean A word for French or kidney beans that grow in a bushy plant rather than runner beans that climb.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

83

Dwarfing Rootstock A low-growing plant that causes the plant grafted on to it to grow less than it would otherwise.

Dyke 1. A long earthen wall constructed to keep water out 2. A drainage ditch. Verb. To construct earthen dams to keep water from flooding land.

Dysentery A colon infection and inflammation that causes bleeding and diarrhea.

Dystrophic A pond or lake that has highly acidic brown water, lacking oxygen, and is unable to sustain much plant or animal life due to high humus levels. Oligotrophic, eutrophic, and mesotrophic.

E Ear The blossom top of an oat plant like wheat or maize where the grains are formed.

Ear Emergence The fundamental stage utilized in deciding the heading date of a harvest. On account of a lawn, this is the date at which half of the inflorescences have showed up.

Early Bite Munching in the spring, given by new developments of grass which sprout when the weather conditions gets hotter.

Earth Up To move soil to make an edge, in which a harvest, for example, potatoes or celery can develop.

Easement The right of somebody who doesn’t claim a land parcel to utilize it, particularly for admittance to somewhere else.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

85

East Friesland A type of sheep brought into the UK from Holland. It is a huge, long, thinbodied breed and is greatly esteemed for its high milk yield.

Easy Feed A method for taking care of domesticated animals which permits simple admittance to take care of through containers or taking care of sections.

Ecoagriculture The act of useful horticulture utilizing strategies intended to keep up with natural resources, biodiversity and the scene.

Ecological Corridor A piece of vegetation permitting the development of natural life or different creatures between two regions.

Ecological Diversity An assortment of organic networks that communicate with each other and with their physical and compound conditions.

Figure 25. Ecological Diversity, Howcleuch Forest A Few Birch Trees Have Been Planted To Break the Monotony of the Spruces. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

86

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Ecological Efficiency An estimation of how much energy is utilized at various stages in the established food chain or at various trophic levels.

Ecological Engineering A plan cycle that intends to coordinate human exercises with the regular habitat to assist both, considering environmental effect in the development of streets or harbors, the presentation of new plants or creatures, or different activities.

Ecologically Sustainable Development Improvement which restricts the size of the human populace and the utilization of resources, to safeguard the current natural resources for people in the future.

Ecology The investigation of the connections among organic entities as well as the connections among them and their actual climate.

Ecosphere The piece of the Earth and its air where residing life forms exist, including portions of the lithosphere, the hydrosphere and the climate. Additionally, called biosphere.

Ecotax A duty that is utilized to urge individuals to transform from an action that harms the climate or to boost activities with useful natural impacts. Likewise called ecological expense.

Ecotone A region between two distinct sorts of vegetation which might share the attributes of both, for example, the boundary between timberland and moorland.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

87

Ecotoxicity How much a substance delivered into a climate by human exercises influences the life forms that live or develop there.

Ectoparasite A parasite which lives on the skin or external surface of its host yet takes care of by penetrating the skin.

Ectoparasite Disease An infection brought about by lice and different bugs, typically characterized by extraordinary disturbance.

Edge Effect An expansion in development and yield found in crop plants developing at the edge of a plot or field.

Effective Field Capacity The real normal pace of work accomplished by a machine, is typically communicated in sections of land or hectares each hour.

Effluent Fluid, semisolid or gas squander from modern cycles or material like slurry or silage profluent from a farm.

Electric Dog An electric wire along the edge of the fence at the entry to a farm, which urges the cows to go into the farm.

Electric Fence Sender wires upheld by posts, the wires having the option to convey an electric flow. This kind of fence is handily moved around the farm, and makes strip touching on restricted regions conceivable.

88

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Elevator Digger A machine for gathering yields, for example, potatoes, which can be adjusted to collect carrots, onions or blossom bulbs.

Embryo An organic entity that creates from a treated egg or seed, for example a creature in the main long stretches of incubation or a seedling plant with cotyledons and a root.

Figure 26. An Intact Human Embryo At 6-Week Embryonic Age (Or 8-Week Gestational Age), Found In A Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy Case. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Embryo Transfer The relocating of an incipient organism from one creature into the belly of another, utilized as a technique for working on reproducing quality.

Emmer A type of wheat (Triticum dicoccoides) which is a characteristic half breed of wild wheat and a goat grass. A further going among Emmer and a goat grass created wheat (Triticum aestivum).

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

89

Emulsifier A substance added to combinations of food, for example, water and oil to keep them intact.

Endangered Species An animal group that is confronting elimination in the wild, normally taken to be when less than 250 mature individuals exist.

Endocrine Gland An organ, for example, the pituitary organ which produces chemicals brought directly into the circulation system.

Endosperm A storage tissue in plant seeds that gives sustenance to the creating incipient organism.

Energy Balance A progression of estimations showing the development of energy among living organisms and their current circumstance.

Energy Crop A yield which is become used to give energy, for example, a fast-growing tree.

Energy Crops Scheme A system set up by Defra under which ranchers can apply for awards to lay out energy crops on their property.

Energy Value The heat value of a substance estimated in joules. Likewise called calorific worth.

Enriched Cage A sort of enclosure wherein battery hens are kept, where the bird’s day-today environments have been improved by an expansion in the size of the

90

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

enclosure and the incorporation of roosts, homes and litter so the bird can peck and scratch.

Enrichment The expansion in nitrogen, phosphorous and carbon compounds or different supplements in water, particularly because of a sewage stream or farming run-off, which empowers the development of green growth and other water plants. ecological enhancement.

Ensilage The most common way of making silage for dairy cattle by cutting grass and other green plants and putting away it in storehouses.

Entry Level Stewardship One of the classes under the Environmental Stewardship plot, where ranchers with any size holding can apply for financing as a trade-off for carrying out specific natural administration plans on their territory.

Environmental Directive An EU strategy explanation on the fitting approaches to managing a particular ecological issue natural enhance.

Environmental Impact The impact upon the climate of activities or occasions, for example, huge development programs or the depleting of swamps.

Envirowise An administration program giving counsel to organizations in industry and business on further developing productivity in the utilization of resources and diminishing waste.

Enzootic Abortion An infection contamination of sheep causing early termination around fourteen days prior to lambing.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

91

Environmental Quality Standard A breaking point for the concentration of a pollutant or toxin which is acknowledged in a particular climate, for example, the grouping of minor elements in drinking water or of added substances in food.

Environmental Set-Aside A plan of suspending development of food crops for a period with plainly characterized ecological points and planned properly for nearby circumstances.

Environmental Stewardship A system under which ranchers and land directors get subsidizing for carrying out plans to safeguard the climate, for example, forestalling soil disintegration or safeguarding natural life.

Envirowise An administration program giving counsel to organizations in industry and trade on further developing proficiency in the utilization of resources and diminishing waste.

Enzyme A protein substance delivered by living cells which advances a biochemical response in living life forms.

Figure 27. Steps in an Enzymatic Reaction. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

92

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Epizootic Disease An infection which spreads to enormous numbers of creatures over a huge region. Analyze enzootic illness.

Eradication Area A region from which a specific animal sickness is annihilated, normally including the culling of infected creatures.

Erect Habit The propensity for a plant which develops upstanding, and doesn’t lie on the ground.

Ergot A growth that develops on oats, particularly rye, creating a mycotoxin which causes fantasies and now and again passing whenever eaten.

Erosion The eroding of soil or rock by downpour, wind, ocean or streams or by the activity of poisonous substances.

Erucic Acid An unsaturated fat found in rapeseed oil, which is connected to coronary illness. Assortments of oilseed rapeseed with low erucic acid substance are viewed as awesome.

Erysipelas An irresistible sickness predominantly in pigs and turkeys. In pigs, the side effects are ruddy irritations on the skin and a high fever. It might cause barrenness or early termination and shows itself in three structures: intense, subacute and constant. Additionally, called Diamonds infection.

Escherichia coli A Gram-negative bacterium normally found in dung and connected with intense gastroenteritis assuming that it enters the stomach related systems of individuals or creatures.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

93

Espalier A strategy for preparing a natural product tree, in which its branches are made to develop level against a divider or other help.

Esparto Types of grass that yields filaments utilized primarily in making paper. It initially came from North Africa and Southern Spain.

Essence A concentrated oil separated from a plant, utilized in food, beauty care products, analgesics and cleaning agents.

Essential Amino Acid An amino acid fundamental for development yet which can’t be made by monogastric creatures and must be acquired from the food supply.

Essential Fatty Acid An unsaturated fat fundamental for development however which can’t be made by the body and must be acquired from the food supply.

Figure 28. The Fatty Acid Transport System in Human Placenta. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

94

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Establishment Grant A measure of cash given to ranchers under the Energy Crops Scheme which takes care of a portion of the expenses of establishing energy crops.

Estate A rustic property comprising an enormous area of land and a major house.

Estimated Breeding Value The value of a creature is determined utilizing the number of progeny it will have and what it will be worth.

Estimated Transmitting Ability The worth of a creature is determined by utilizing a gauge of the progeny it will have and how much hereditary material it will move to everyone. It is equivalent to a large portion of the organism’s assessed rearing worth.

Ethylene A hydrocarbon happening inflammable gas and aging organic products. It is utilized in the formation of polythene and as a sedative. Additionally, called ethene.

Eucalyptus An Australian hardwood tree (Eucalyptus spp.) with solid smelling pitch. The trees are quick to develop and frequently utilized for afforestation, yet are powerless to fire.

Eutherian A warm-blooded animal whose young form inside the belly is appended to maternal tissues by a placenta. Subclass: Eutheria. Additionally, called placental warm-blooded animal.

Evaporated Milk Milk has been made thick and rich by dissipating a portion of its water content.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

95

Evapotranspiration The development of water from the soil through a plant until it is delivered into the air from leaf surfaces.

Evening Primrose A biennial plant with bristly leaves and seeds that produce an oil that is utilized by the drug business.

Excavator An enormous machine for digging openings, concerning laying seepage pipes.

Excreta The waste material discharged from the body of an animal, for example, excrement, urine, droppings or sweat.

Excretion The removal of the side-effects of digestion, for example, excrement, urine, sweat or carbon dioxide out of the body.

Ex-farm Alluding to a cost for an item that does exclude transport from the ranch to the purchaser’s stockroom.

Exmoor Horn A stock fat sheep, with an expansive head, twisted horns and thick downy. Chiefly found on Exmoor, the variety has been crossed with the Devon Longwool to make the Devon Closewool.

Experimental Farm A farm is utilized to explore different avenues regarding new cultivating procedures, instead of being run as a business endeavor

96

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Extensive Agriculture An approach to cultivating is described by a low degree of information sources per unit of land. Analyze escalated agribusiness.

Extensive System A cultivating system that utilizes a lot of land for every unit of stock or result.

Extensification Payments Scheme Until 2005, an arrangement of installments was made to ranchers who got installments under the Beef Special Premium Scheme or Suckler Cow Premium Scheme and met explicit stocking densities.

Extensification Schemes Pilot plans for hamburgers cows and sheep were started in 1990 to offer remuneration to ranchers who decreased their meat yield or the quantity of sheep by somewhere around 20% and kept up with this decrease north of a long-term period. The plans were focused on a less escalated utilization of land and a decrease being the use of pesticides and manures.

Essex Saddleback A type of pig that has been reproduced with the Wessex Saddleback to frame the British Saddleback.

Environmentally Sensitive Area In the UK, a provincial region assigned by Defra as requiring exceptional insurance from present-day cultivating rehearses.

Environmentally Friendly Expected to limit mischief to the climate, for example by utilizing biodegradable fixings. Additionally, called climate cordial

Environmental Impact Assessment An assessment of the impact upon the climate of an activity, for example, an enormous development program.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

97

Environmental Ethics The assessment and conversation of individuals’ commitments toward the climate.

Environmental Enrichment The act of working on the everyday environments and government assistance of creatures, for example, by expanding how much space they need to live in.

Enterovirus An infection that likes to live in the digestive tract.

English Nature The UK government organization is liable for nature preservation in England.

English Leicester A variety of sheep got from Robert Bakewell’s group, utilized for reproducing numerous other longwool breeds. It creates a weighty downy and is currently an interesting variety.

English Beef and Lamb Executive An affiliation giving business sector data to meat and sheep makers and providers.

Endotoxin A toxic substance from microbes that passes into the body when defiled food is eaten.

Emission Standard How much an emanating or contamination can lawfully be delivered into the environment.

Elevator A machine for conveying grain or silage to the highest point of a capacity unit. An extremely enormous capacity unit for grain, in the US and Canadian grasslands.

98

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Ecologist A researcher who concentrates on nature. an individual who is agreeable to keeping harmony between living things and the climate in which they live to work on the existence, all things considered,

Ecological Restoration The method involved reestablishing and keeping up with the well-being of a biological system.

Ecotourism A type of travel industry that expands’ how individuals might interpret normal regions, without antagonistically influencing the climate, and gives neighborhood. Individuals’ monetary advantages from preserving natural resources.

Figure 29. Tourists Waiting To Take Photographs of Orangutans during Feeding Time at Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, Sabah, Malaysia. Source: Image by Flickr

F Factory Farming An exceptionally concentrated strategy for raising animals is portrayed by keeping huge quantities of animals inside in restricted spaces and taking care of them handled food varieties, with the utilization of medications to control sicknesses.

Feces The strong waste matter passed from the guts of humans or other animals after food has been eaten and processed.

Falling Time The time taken for wheat grain to tumble to the lower part of a holder of water, estimated by the Hagberg test.

Fallow A period when land isn’t being utilized for developing yields for a period so supplements can develop again in the dirt or control weeds.

Fallow Crop A yield filled in generally dispersed lines, with the goal that it is feasible to dig and develop between the columns.

100

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Fallow Cultivation A sort of development where the period under crops is expanded and the length of the neglected is decreased.

Fallowing The most common way of permitting an area to lie neglected for a period.

Fallow Length The timeframe between development periods. As populace thickness increments and the land turns out to be scant, food supply can be expanded by making the period under crops longer and the length of neglect more limited.

False Seedbed A seedbed is arranged to permit weed seeds to grow. These are then killed by development prior to planting root crops.

False Staggers A sickness of sheep brought about by parasites that cause irritation of nostrils and head, causing the sheep to seem bewildered.

Farm An area of land utilized for developing harvests and keeping creatures to furnish food and the structures related to it.

Farm Assurance A plan by which specific rules are applied to ensure quality control for ranch produce.

Farm Business Survey A review is done by Defra on the monetary execution of various sorts of ranches.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

101

Farm Consolidation The method involved joining little plots of land together to shape bigger ranches or uniting dispersed units to form enormous fields.

Farmed Deer Deer which are raised on deer ranches ashore encased by deer-confirmation obstructions, for meat or skins or other results, or as reproducing stock.

Farm Environment Plan A review was done of a farm’s ecological highlights as a whole, like its natural resources, scene, inhabitant natural life and places of access.

Farm Environment Record A fundamental arrangement of a farm portraying its territory scape and principle highlights. It is more straightforward than a Farm Environment Plan.

Farmer-Controlled Business A farm is possessed and constrained by the rancher who additionally deals with the land.

Farmer’s Lung A kind of asthma brought about by sensitivity to decaying feed.

Farm Fragmentation A circumstance where the fields of a farm are dissipated over a region, so the holding isn’t comprised of a solitary unit of land. It very well may be the aftereffect of legacy concerns where the place that is known for an individual who has died is parted between every one of the kids, of land recovery plans where the land is recovered piece by piece, or on the grounds that old openfield systems have been kept.

Farm Gate Prices Costs which a rancher gets for their produce

102

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Farm Health Planning An authority set of rules from Defra for forestalling, overseeing and treating illnesses in livestock.

Farming Running a farm, including exercises like saving creatures available to be purchased or for their items and developing yields.

Figure 30. Riding Through the Lush Green Valleys of Madhya Pradesh, India. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Farming Community A gathering of families living close to one another and having to cultivate as their fundamental kind of revenue.

Farming Systems Various kinds of cultivation and techniques for development, for example, moving development system.

Farmland Land on a farm which is utilized for developing harvests or raising creatures for food.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

103

Farmland Bird A bird that homes in a horticultural climate. Many are declining in numbers in view of changes in farming practices.

Farm Rent Lease paid by a sharecropper to a landowner consistently for the utilization of the ranch holding.

Farm-Saved Seed Seeds kept from the earlier years collect and replanted on a similar ranch. Likewise called home saved seed.

Farm-Scale Connecting with preliminaries or assessments completed on ranches utilizing normal cultivating rehearses as opposed to on little trial plots.

Farmscape A scene overwhelmed by horticulture. Farmland is the fundamental component in farmscape, however, non-rural purposes might be incorporated.

Farm Support Scheme Article 39 of the Treaty of Rome gives the structure of the Common Agricultural Policy. Every part state adds to the European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund. Installments are made for primary changes under the direction asset and a lot of bigger installments under the assurance area.

Farm to Fork The supply chain for food, starting with the farm where it is produced and ending with the consumer.

Farm Watch Scheme The implementation of a system that allows farmers to communicate with one another and with the local police in order to report suspicious activity.

104

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Farmyard Manure Manure made from cow excrement mixed with straw and used as a fertilizer is referred to as manure.

Farmyard Manure Spreader It is an example of a manure-spreading machine, which is essentially an enclosed trailer with a moving floor conveyor and a combined shredding and spreading mechanism that distributes the material: Both the rear ejector and the side delivery spreader are available in different configurations.

Farrand Test The presence of alpha-amylase in milling wheat can be determined using this method. When it comes to baking bread, the amount of alpha-amylase enzyme present in the wheat is critical. A high level of alpha-amylase in the flour results in poorer-quality loaves.

Farrowing Crate A steel frame that supports the sow during farrowing and helps to prevent the piglets from being overtaken by the sow.

Fat Hen Spring cereals, peas, and row crops are all affected by a weed known as Chenopodium album. The fat hen can be found in abundance in rich soils and muck heaps. Known by the names dung weed and muck weed.

Feed Additive A growth-promoting supplement that is added to the feed of farm livestock, particularly pigs and poultry, to encourage growth, such as an antibiotic or growth hormone

Feed Block A block of food that is left out in the pasture, especially on hill farms, and is used by sheep to keep their condition from deteriorating.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

105

Feed Compounds An assortment of ingredients, including major minerals, trace elements, and vitamins, that are mixed and blended to provide properly balanced diets for livestock

Feed Preparation Grinding and crushing of grain; mixing of ingredients; and cutting or pelletizing of finished products

Feed Refusal The portion of a farm animal’s allotted feed that the animal does not consume. This should be closely monitored because it can serve as an early warning sign that the animal is ill.

Feeke’s Large Scale An approach to determining the growth stage of a crop that relies on comparing the size and arrangement of the plant’s leaves when the plant is young it is a method that is not very reliable, and it has been replaced by the Zadoks scale.

Felling License Trees can only be felled with the permission of the Forestry Commission. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule, such as trees in gardens and fruit trees in orchards, which do not require a permit to be felled.

Fence Barriers around fields are used to either mark the boundary or prevent animals from entering or leaving the field.

106

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Figure 31. Wood Fence. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Fenland Rotation A crop rotation system developed on the Fens of East Anglia that involves rotating potatoes, sugar beet, and wheat crops in the same field

Fermentation The process by which carbohydrates are broken down by yeast enzymes, resulting in the production of heat and alcohol. Essentially, fermentation is the breakdown of carbohydrates and proteins by aerobic and then anaerobic bacteria, which is used in the production of haylage.

Fertile Referring to soil that has a high concentration of nutrients and is therefore capable of producing good crops.

Fertilizer Soil amendment consisting of a chemical or natural substance applied to and mixed with soil to stimulate plant growth.

Fertilizer Distributor A machine that is used to apply fertilizer

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

107

Fescue An umbrella term for approximately 100 species of grasses, many of which are valuable pasture and fodder species.

Fiber Plant cell that is long and narrow, with thickened walls, and that is found in the plant’s supporting tissue, particularly in the outer region of the stem.

Fibrous Rooted Plants Plants with roots that are a mass of tiny threads and do not have any major roots, such as tap roots.

Field A piece of land that is usually enclosed by a fence or hedge and is used for farming or for pasture. A subject of particular interest or activity.

Field Beans This crop is used for stock feeding or for the production of broad beans, which are the immature seeds that are consumed by humans. Field beans are typically grown as a transitional crop between other crops. Broad bean also spelled broad bean

Field Bindweed A deep-rooted perennial weed (Convolvulus arvensis) that causes significant problems due to the large number of clinging growths on its surface.

Field Book Farming records are kept on an annual basis to keep track of field utilization and other operations.

Field Capacity The maximum amount of water that can be retained in the soil after all of the excess water has been drained away.

108

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Field Drainage Constructing drains in or under fields to drain excess water.

Field-Grown The term refers to a crop that is cultivated outside, as opposed to one that is grown in a greenhouse.

Field Observation An examination carried out in the open air, in which organisms are observed in their natural environment as opposed to an examination carried out in a laboratory.

Field Pansy A common flower (Viola arvensis) that is becoming increasingly common in winter crops, particularly grains Corn pansy, love-in-idleness, and cats’ faces are all names for this plant.

Field Trial A study in which a crop variety’s capacity to function under typical farming settings is evaluated

Fig A type of tree (Ficus spp.) that produces soft, delicious fruit with many little seeds that is primarily planted in Mediterranean nations.

Figure 32. Crow Fig. Source: Image by Flickr

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

109

Fine Grains Cereal grains of superior quality, such as wheat and rice

Fingers Binder, mower, and harvester cutter bars have protruding metal elements that are attached to the cutting bar. Grass or cereal crop is cut as the blades run through the fingers of the hand.

Finn cattle Dairy cattle that are descended from three different Finnish breeds. The animals are brown in color and of medium size.

Finnish Ayrshire A breed of cows found in northern Finland that is closely related to the Ayrshire and is mostly used for milk production.

Fir Cone Fir tree seeds are contained within an oval or round hard structure on the trunk of the tree.

Firebreak A zone that has been cleared of vegetation in order to prevent a fire from spreading to other parts of the forest or heath.

Fish Farm A facility where edible fish are raised or reared in dedicated pools for the purpose of being sold as food.

Fishmeal A powdered form of dried fish that is used as a feed for animals or as a fertilizer.

Fish Farming Fish farming is a business operation that involves maintaining fish in ponds or enclosed portions of the sea with the purpose of selling them as food.

110

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Aquaculture (also known as aquafarming or aquiculture) is the farming of aquatic organisms.

Flail A wooden hand tool for hammering grain in order to separate the seeds from the waste material a type of hedgecutter that has cutting arms that turn quickly

Flail Forage Harvester A type of forage harvester that makes use of a high-speed flail rotor to collect forage the cut crop passes through a vertical chute and is discharged into a trailer

Flail Mower High-speed rotating blades equipped with swinging flails that slash the grass and leave it damaged in a fluffy swath is used to mow the lawn.

Flat Rate Feeding A method of feeding concentrates to dairy cows that requires only minor adjustments to the amount of concentrate fed it lasts from the time of calving till turnout.

Flea Beetle An inconspicuous dark beetle that causes damage to Brassica seedlings, particularly during hot, dry conditions between April and mid-May.

Flint A hard stone composed almost entirely of silica that is found in lumps in chalk soils.

Flock Book A record of the pedigree of a particular breed of sheep or goat, preserved by the breed society.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

111

Flood A big volume of water covering terrain that is normally dry, induced by events such as melting snow, strong rain, high tides, or storms.

Flood Irrigation A form of irrigation that makes use of water that has been brought down by a river in flood. The floodwaters are channeled into basins that have been specifically prepared.

Flood Plain The bottom of a valley that is flat and wide, and which is frequently submerged by floodwaters when the river overflows.

Floodwater The unregulated spreading of water across terrain that is typically barren.

Flour A fine powder formed from pulverized cereal grains that is used in the production of bread.

Flour Corn A type of maize that has large, soft grains and a friable endosperm, making it easier to mill into flour.

Floury Potatoes Kinds of potato that, when cooked, easily turn into flour.

Fluorosis A condition induced by an abnormally high level of fluoride in drinking water or diet. It discolors the teeth and reduces the milk production of cattle.

Flushing Ewes Ewes that have been improved in condition prior to breeding, typically by increasing their food.

112

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Fodder Crop Plant material or a crop planted with the purpose of providing food for animals, such as grass or clover.

Fodder Beet A root crop derived from sugar beet and mangolds that is typically planted in succession with cereals and used to feed livestock.

Fodder Radish A variety of brassica produced largely as a source of green feed

Fodder Storage The process of storing feed for winter consumption. Buildings used to store fodder can be as simple as a Dutch barn and can be constructed inexpensively utilizing poles and a galvanized iron roof.

Figure 33. Image Showing Fodder Storage. Source: Image by Geograph.org

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

113

Foliar Spray A technique for delivering insecticides or liquid nutrients to plant leaves via droplets.

Folic Acid A vitamin found in milk, liver, yeast, and green plants such as spinach that is part of the vitamin B complex.

Following Crop A crop seeded by a tenant farmer prior to his tenure expiring. The tenant farmer may return to harvest and remove the crop.

Food Grain A cereal crop used for human consumption, such as wheat, barley, or rye.

Forage Forage is a crop which is planted for animals to eat in the field.

Forage Box A huge transportable container that is mostly used to move fodder from a silo to a trough.

Forage Harvester A machine that cuts, chops, and loads green crops such as lucerne into trailers for silage production.

Forest A plot of land larger than 0.5 hectares in size, at least 10% of which is covered with trees.

Fork A typical hand tool used for turning over dirt and weeding.

114

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Forward Creep Grazing A type of grazing in which grassland allotted to ewes and lambs during the fattening stage is divided into paddocks separated by temporary fencing. As each section is completed, the fencing is relocated to allow the animals to move on.

Founder Crop A crop that was among the first to be used and created by humans, such as wheat, barley, lentils, and chickpeas.

Friable Refers to something light and easily crumbles into fragments, such as soil.

Friesian A black and white dairy cattle breed renowned for its extremely high milk production.

Frits The trace elements which are melted with silica in order to form glass. This is broken into little pieces and spread on the soil.

Frond A huge compound leaf with several segments, as found on ferns and palm trees.

Frost Pocket A low-lying location with a high concentration of chilly air. Crops that are frost-sensitive should not be grown in these areas.

G

Gadfly A fly that bites cattle, belonging to the genera Tabanus, the horsefly, or Oestrus, the bot fly, which is most prevalent in late May and causes significant distress to cattle.

Gall A plant’s hard growth caused by a parasitic insect

Galloway A hardy breed of completely hornless black cattle raised primarily for beef. The coat is unique, consisting of long wavy hairs that cover a soft undercoat.

Galway A sheep breed indigenous to the Irish Republic. The only indigenous Irish breed is the white faced Galway, which is used to produce store lambs.

116

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Game Birds Game birds are wild birds that can be shot only during certain seasons. In the United Kingdom, the most common are pheasant, partridge, and grouse.

Figure 34. Image Showing a Pheasant Game Bird. Source: Image by Flickr

Game Conservancy Trust A non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of game species that provides guidance on shoots and woodland management.

Gamekeeper A person employed on a private estate who is responsible for the management of wild birds and animals for shooting and hunting.

Gangrene A condition in which tissues degrade and die as a result of bacterial action, as a result of the animal’s injury to the affected area of the body.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

117

Gantry A type of farm machine comprised of a long steel beam carrying implements. At one end of the beam, the engine and cab are located, while the drive wheel is located at the other.

Gapes A disease that impairs poultry’s ability to breathe, caused by small worms in the windpipe.

Garden A plot of land that is cultivated for pleasure or as a hobby rather than as a source of revenue market garden.

Garden Implements Garden implements such as forks and spades.

Garlic A plant (Allium sativum) with a pungent-smelling root that is used in cooking as a seasoning. The bulb is made up of wedge-shaped cloves that are encased in a white fibrous skin.

Gastric Juices A mixture of hydrochloric acid, pepsin, intrinsic factor, and mucus secreted by the cells lining the stomach’s lining membrane to aid in food digestion.

Gastroenteritis A viral infection that causes inflammation of the membrane lining the intestines and stomach, resulting in diarrhea and vomiting.

Geest A barren sandy lowland region in northern and eastern Germany that is covered in heath.

Gelatin A water-soluble protein derived from collagen.

118

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Genetically Modified Refers to an organism that has received genetic material from another organism during a laboratory procedure, resulting in a permanent alteration of one or more of its characteristics.

Genetic Code The information contained in an organism’s DNA that controls how proteins are synthesized by cells and is passed on when the cell divides. Additionally referred to as genetic information.

Genetic Improvement The process of breeding an animal or plant to improve it.

Genetic Modification The laboratory modification and recombination of genetic material, resulting in transgenic organisms.

Genetic Resources Human-valued genes found in plants and animals.

Germination The beginning of a seed’s growth, caused by moisture and a sufficiently high temperature.

Figure 35. Epigeal Germination of Cowpea. Source: Image by Flickr

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

119

Germination Percentage The number of seeds that germinate, as determined from a random sample of 100 seeds.

Gherkin A pickling cucumber of a small size.

Gibberellin A hormone produced by plants that promotes growth and seed germination.

Gid A brain disease that affects young sheep and cattle. Caused by dogs and foxes ingesting tapeworm eggs. Blindness is a warning sign.

Gizzard A thick-walled muscular section of the gut of many birds that is used to crush food mechanically. Additionally known as proventriculus.

Glasshouse A large glass structure used to grow plants, typically commercially or for scientific purposes.

Gley A rich, thick soil found in flooded areas.

Gleying A set of soil characteristics that indicate poor drainage and oxygen deficiency.

Global Distillation Evaporation and condensation transport persistent organic pollutants from warm tropical and subtropical regions to cooler higher latitudes.

Globe A globe artichoke or a mangel wurzel is a ball-shaped vegetable.

120

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Gloucester A mahogany-colored cattle with a white stripe running down the back, over the tail, down the hindquarters, and down the belly. Double Gloucester cheese was made with its milk in the beginning.

Glucosinolate After the oil has been extracted, a compound is left in rape meal. Also known as glucosamine.

Glufosinate Ammonium A systemic herbicide that kills a wide variety of plants. It has been genetically modified into some crops.

Glume A grass spikelet is enclosed by a small leaf or scale. The glumes of most grasses are two in number.

Glyphosate A systemic herbicide that kills a wide variety of plants. It has been genetically modified into some crops.

Good Agricultural Practice A set of codes that give farmers practical advice on how to keep soil, water, and air in good condition.

Goose A large, heavy bird that is roughly the size of a duck or a swan. It’s possible that this was one of the first domesticated wild birds. At Christmas, geese are raised specifically as table birds.

Gourd A trailing or climbing plant’s fruit. Many varieties are grown as ornamental plants or for the production of dried bottle-like containers that can be used as utensils like water carriers.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

121

Gout Fly A small fly whose larvae feed on cereal shoots and ears, particularly barley.

Grade A category of something that is divided into subcategories based on its quality or size.

Graded Seed A sugar beet seed, for example, is made up of a cluster of seeds that can be separated by rubbing. Rubbed seed is another name for rubbed seed.

Grader A machine that sorts fruit and vegetables into different sizes.

Grading Up A four-generation selective breeding process in which males of one breed mate with females of another breed. As a result, the female breed will become extinct, and the male breed will take its place.

Graft A piece of plant or animal tissue that has been transplanted and is growing on another plant or animal.

Grain The seed of a cereal crop, such as wheat or maize, which is technically a fruit. a cereal crop, such as wheat, the seeds of which are dried and eaten.

Grain Aphid An insect that feeds on the sap of crops such as barley and can destroy them.

Grain Crop A cereal crop, such as wheat, the seeds of which are dried and eaten.

122

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Grain Drier A machine that dries wet grain before storing it. The grain is dried by blasting it with hot or warm air.

Grain Drill A machine used for row-sowing cereals.

Grain Lifters Attachments to a combine harvester’s cutter bar that lift the stems of cereal crops that have been beaten down by bad weather, allowing the crop to be cut and gathered.

Grain Pan The section of a combine where the threshed grain collects and is shaken through to the machine’s bottom.

Grain Reserves The amount of cereal grain held in a country’s store that is estimated to be more than the country’s requirements for one year.

Grain Rolled Cereal that has been rolled or crushed between two rotating cylinders for use in animal feed.

Grain Spear A device for measuring the temperature and moisture content of stored grain. It is made up of a thermometer and a hygrometer attached to the end of a long rod that is pushed into the grain.

Grain Storage The practice of storing grain until it is sold or used.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

123

Figure 36. Silo Wheat Storage. Source: Image by Pixabay

Grain Tank A storage area at the top of a combine for threshed grain. The grain is transferred to a trailer once the tank is full.

Grain Weevil A reddish-brown weevil that lays eggs in grain that has been stored. The larvae feed inside the grain and pupate there as well.

Granadilla The passion fruit is a climbing plant that produces purple, juicy fruit. It is indigenous to Brazil.

Granule A small particle that has been artificially created. Granule fertilizers are produced because they are easier to handle and distribute than powder fertilizers.

Grapefruit A citrus fruit produced by a tree (Citrus paradisi) that is related to the orange. When ripe, the fruit is lemon-yellow or pink, about the size of an orange, and extremely juicy.

124

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Grass There are numerous genera of flowering monocotyledons, including wheat, barley, rice, and oats. Grasses are an important source of food for both herbivores and humans.

Grass Sickness A sudden and often fatal illness that affects sheep and cattle. Depression, inflamed membranes, and nasal discharge are all symptoms. There is no effective treatment.

Gravity Feed Pellets, seeds, or granules fall from a hopper into a distribution channel in this system.

Grazing Animals feeding on growing grass, legumes, or other plants.

Grazing Cycle The time elapsed between the start of one grazing period and the start of the next.

Grazing Food Chain A cycle in which vegetation is eaten by animals, digested, and then passed into the soil as dung, where it is taken up by plants that are then eaten by animals.

Grazing Management Examining how land is grazed and determining how it can be done most efficiently.

Grazing Pressure The number of animals in a given class per unit weight of herbage at a given time.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

125

Grazing Season This is the time of year when animals can feed on grass outside.

Greaseband A strip of paper coated with a sticky substance that is wrapped around the trunk of a tree to keep pests from climbing it.

Greasy Pig Disease A bacterial disease that causes skin abrasions and can quickly spread throughout a litter.

Green Area Index The total area of a plant’s leaves, green fruits, and green stems per unit of ground area covered.

Green Belt A ring of agricultural land, woodland, or parkland that surrounds a city.

Green Chemistry Network An initiative of the Royal Society of Chemistry to promote the development of environmentally friendly chemical products that prevent pollution and reduce environmental and human health risks.

Green Claim Any text, symbols, or graphics on food packaging that inform the consumer about the packaging’s environmental impact, such as whether it is recyclable or biodegradable.

Green Currencies Fixed exchange rates in the EU for currencies used for agricultural payments.

Greenfield Site A previously undeveloped plot of land in the countryside chosen as the location for a new housing development or factory.

126

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Greenfly A type of aphid, a small insect that feeds on plant sap and reproduces quickly.

Figure 37. Image Showing Greenfly. Source: Image by Pixabay

Greengage A type of cooking plum that is hard and green.

Greenhouse A glass structure within which plants are grown.

Greenhouse Effect The result of the accumulation of carbon dioxide crystals and water vapor in the upper atmosphere, which insulates the Earth and raises atmospheric temperature by preventing heat loss.

Greenhouse Gas A gas that naturally occurs in the atmosphere or is produced by the combustion of fossil fuels and rises into the atmosphere, forming a barrier that prevents heat loss.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

127

Greenhouse Mealy Bug A horticultural pest that is related to the aphid. Some glasshouse crops, particularly orchids, may suffer as a result.

Greening The process of planting trees and other vegetation in a specific location.

Green Manure Green vegetation that grows quickly and is plowed into the soil to rot and act as manure, such as mustard or rape.

Green Manuring Growing green crops and plowing them into the soil to increase the organic content of the soil.

Green Pound The fixed sterling exchange rate used for agricultural payments in sterling between the United Kingdom and other EU members.

Green Revolution In the 1960s, new forms of widely grown cereal plants such as wheat and rice were developed, yielding high yields and increasing food production, particularly in tropical countries.

Greyface A sheep crossbred from a Border Leicester ram and a Blackface ewe. To produce high-quality lambs, the ewes are mated with Suffolk rams.

Grit Poultry is fed small particles of various substances.

Groningen Whiteheaded A dual-purpose cattle breed developed in the Netherlands. The body is dark, but the head is light.

128

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Ground Cover Plants that grow densely close to the ground, either naturally or intentionally, to prevent soil erosion or weed spread.

Groundnut The peanut is a grain legume and one of the most important oilseeds.

Figure 38. Image Showing Groundnuts. Source: Image by Maxpixel

Groundnut Cake The residue left over after groundnut oil extraction, which is a valuable protein concentrate for livestock.

Ground Water Water that collects pollution in the top layers of soil or porous rocks. Contrast surface water.

Growing Point A point on a plant’s stem where growth occurs, usually at the tip of the stem or branch.

Growth Hormone A natural or synthetic chemical that causes an animal to grow faster.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

129

Growth Regulator A chemical used to control plant growth, primarily for weed control in cereals and grassland.

Growth Stages The various stages of a crop’s development, as measured by an increase in weight or area. Also known as growth stages.

Guano A clump of accumulated bird droppings found on small islands and used as organic fertilizer.

Guaranteed Prices A feature of national agricultural policy in which commodity producers are guaranteed a minimum price for their output.

Guard Cell Either of a pair of cells that surround a leaf pore and regulate its size.

Guernsey A dairy cattle breed with a fawn coat and distinct white patches.

Guinea Fowl A table bird found in Africa’s savanna regions. They are now bred for their meat, which has a delicate flavor similar to game birds.

Gully A deep channel created by soil erosion that cannot be filled in by cultivation.

Gunter’s Chain A chain that was originally used to measure land by surveyors.

Gymnosperm A seed-bearing plant whose seeds are carried naked on the scales of a cone rather than inside a fruit.

130

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Gypsum A soft white or colorless mineral composed of hydrated calcium sulfate that is used in cement, plaster, and fertilizers.

H

Habit Effort undertaken to restore a formerly more hospitable environment for wildlife.

Habitat Restoration Effort undertaken to restore a formerly more hospitable environment for wildlife.

HACCP A procedure for recognizing and managing dangers within a process, such as in the food industry. Full form: Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points.

Hagberg A test used to measure the milling quality of wheat.

Hagberg Falling Number The Hagberg test’s falling time in seconds.

132

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Hair Balls Hair balls that accumulate in the stomachs of animals, making digestion difficult. They can induce fits and seizures in very young calves, and their vision may be slightly damaged.

Hairworm An extremely thin worm of the genus Capellaria that infests poultry.

Hake Bar A tractor attachment that connects a trailing plow to the tractor.

Half-Hardy Referring to a plant that can withstand temperatures as low as 5°C.

Half-Standard A fruit tree with a trunk shorter than a complete standard, measuring around 1.2m from the earth to the first branches.

Halo Blight A disease that causes the pods of peas and beans to become brown and wither.

Halomorphic Soil Soil containing a high concentration of salt.

Halophyte A plant that can thrive in saline soil, such as in estuaries.

Halothane Gene A recessive gene identified in some pig breeds that influences the animal’s vulnerability to stress and can result in porcine stress syndrome.

Halter A rope with a noose used to restrain and lead horses or livestock.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

133

Hampshire A black-haired pig with white markings from the United States. It resembles the British Saddleback with black skin and a white saddle in appearance.

Hampshire Down A small, stocky early-maturing sheep descended from Berkshire ewe flocks and Southdown rams.

Hand Collection Harvesting fruit by hand, such as bananas or peaches.

Hand Hoe A garden tool with a little sharp blade that is used to break up the surface of the soil or to trim weeds.

Handle A word used to describe the feel or texture of wool.

Hand Pulling The process of manually picking weeds or plants from the earth.

Hank Wool that has been spun into a thread and wrapped into a loop for convenience. A hank has a length of 560 yards.

Harden Off To gradually acclimate plants cultivated in a greenhouse to the ambient temperature outside.

Hardpan A thick cement-like coating in the soil or subsoil that can be highly detrimental because it limits efficient drainage and root growth.

Hard Wheat Wheat with a gluten-rich hard grain.

134

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Hardwood A broadleaf tree with slow growth, such as oak, teak, or mahogany.

Figure 39. Northern Hardwood Forest Near Mink Lake, Ottawa National Forest. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Hardy Referring to a plant that can withstand cold temperatures, particularly those below 5 degrees Celsius.

Hare A long-eared fuzzy mammal with hind legs longer than forelegs, similar to but larger than a rabbit.

Haricot Bean The French bean’s dry ripe seed.

Harrow A piece of machinery having teeth or discs that is used to break up soil or level the surface of plowed land.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

135

Harvest The period when a crop is harvested. A crop that has been harvested.

Harvester A crop harvesting machine.

Hatchery A facility where eggs are artificially kept heated until the animal within matures enough to hatch.

Hatchery Waste Chicks or embryos left behind from a hatchery.

Haulm Peas, beans, and potatoes’ stalks and stems.

Haulm Roller A roller used on potato harvesters and grading equipment.

Haulm Silage Silage produced from pea and bean stems and leaves left over after harvest.

Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna is a small tree with spiky branches that is used for hedges around grazing pastures.

Hay Grass that has been mowed and dried before flowering and is used to feed animals.

Hay Bale Hay that has been compacted into a square, rectangular, or circular bale to make it easier to handle and store.

136

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Hay Baler A machine that collects chopped hay and turns it into bales.

Haylage Hay for silage, chopped and compacted in plastic bags to keep it green and prevent fungus from spreading.

Hay loader A device used to carry hay from the field into a trailer.

Haymaking The process of mowing grass in fields in order to create hay.

Hay Net A coarse-mesh net bag filled with hay and hung for horses to eat from.

Hay Quality The nutritious value of hay, which might vary depending on weather conditions and drying time.

Hay Rack A wooden frame with hay that is put at a location where livestock can graze from it.

Haystack A hay mound erected in the open air and sheltered by thatching; no longer often used.

Headage The quantity of animals of a certain species, such as cattle, used to calculate subsidy payments.

Head Corn The biggest grains in a cereal sample.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

137

Header A machine that pulls seed heads from plants.

Heading Date The average date by which a specific percentage of a crop’s seed heads have developed. Farmers use this to decide which kind of a crop is most suited to the environment in which they want to cultivate it.

Headland An uncultivated piece of land at the border of a field where a tractor turns when plowing.

Health and Welfare Plan A written report prepared by a farmer in conjunction with a veterinarian outlining how livestock will be provided for.

Heart Rot A sugar beet and mangold illness induced by boron deficiency. A dry rot extends downward from the crown and damages the roots. The developing point dies and is replaced by a swarm of little, malformed leaves.

Figure 40. Oak Heart Rot. Source: Image by Flickr

138

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Heartwood The firm dead wood in the center of a tree trunk that contributes to providing the tree with support. Compare sapwood. Also known as duramen.

Heath A region of acid soil where low plants such as heather and gorse thrive and which is treeless due to livestock grazing.

Heather A plant (Calluna vulgaris) that grows on acidic soils and is prevalent in highland locations. It provides cover and food for game birds such as grouse.

Heat Treatment The use of high temperatures, often 45°C, to decontaminate storage facilities or containers.

Heaves A horse ailment in which moldy hay spores clog the animals’ lungs, making breathing difficult.

Heavy Cropper A tree or plant that bears a large crop of fruits.

Heavy Grains Cereal crops including maize, rye, and wheat.

Heavy Soils Soils having a high clay concentration that need the use of additional tractor power while plowing and cultivating.

Hebridean Sheep A rare, small black sheep breed of Scandinavian heritage. The fleece is jet black, and the animals have one set of horns curled downwards and another almost erect.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

139

Hectare A plot of land of 100 by 100 meters, or 10000 square meters (2.47 acres).

Hedge A line of shrubs placed to form a fence around a field or garden

Hedgebank An elevated strip of land planted with a hedge.

Hedgecutter A tool linked to a tractor that is used to cut hedges. There are smaller handheld devices available.

Hedgelaying A traditional method of growing hedges in which tall saplings are chopped through halfway and then bent over to form a thick barrier.

Heel In To lay plants in a trench and cover with dirt until permanent planting is required.

Heft A herd of mountain sheep that graze in the same region where they were born, despite the absence of fences.

Hemlock Poisoning Poisoning of young cattle by eating fresh hemlock shoots. Sheep and goats are thought to be immune to the toxin.

Hemp Nettle A common weed (Galeopsis tetrahit) that harms spring cereals and vegetables. Also known as glidewort and holyrope.

140

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Herb A plant used to enhance the flavor of food. A plant with medicinal value. A blooming plant that is not woody and has no permanent stem above ground in the winter.

Herbaceous Referring to plants having soft, non-woody tissue that die above ground in order to survive the winter.

Herbage Green vegetation that is grazing animals’ consumption, particularly grass.

Herbage Allowance Herbage weight per unit of living weight at a certain period in time.

Herbage Consumed The amount of herbage left after grazing animals have devoured it.

Herbage Mass The amount of herbage generated in a given region.

Herbarium A collection of preserved plant or fungi specimens, particularly one used for scientific research and categorization.

Herbicide A plant-killing pesticide, particularly one used to manage weeds

Herd A group of animals kept together on a farm or cared for by a farmer, such as cattle.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

141

Figure 41. Sheep Herd. Source: Image by Pixabay

Herd Book The record of animals held by breeding groups, in which only registered animals’ progeny can be documented.

Herd Health The overall health of a herd of cattle, particularly in terms of infectious disease dissemination.

Herdmark Defra assigns a unique marker to each herd of pigs, which is used to identify the animals when they are relocated from the farm, it is known as a herdmark.

Herd Register A formal record of a herd’s travels, medical history, and birth and death statistics.

142

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Herdsperson An agricultural worker in charge of a herd of cattle.

Herd Tester A person who checks the butterfat level of a dairy herd.

Herdwick A mountainous breed of sheep endemic to the Lake District that can tolerate harsh winter conditions Horns are present on the rams.

Hereditary Referring to a genetically determined trait handed down from parent to offspring.

Heredity The transmission of genetically regulated traits from parents to offspring.

Hereford A large, tough cow breed with a rich red coat and a white head and breast. Herefords are a fast-maturing breed that are significant in beef production.

Herringbone Parlour A milking parlour with no cubicles and the operator working from a central pit. On either side of the center pit, the animals stand at an angle.

Heterosis An increase in size or rate of growth, fertility, or disease resistance seen in the offspring of two organisms with different genotypes Also known as hybrid vigor.

Heterotroph An organism that requires organic carbon but is unable to produce it.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

143

Heterozygous Pertaining to a cell or organism that possesses two or more variant forms (alleles) of at least one gene.

HGCA An organization formed to increase the production and sale of cereal grains and oilseeds in the United Kingdom, as well as to support research. Full form: Home Grown Cereals Authority.

Hide-Bound A condition in which dehydration makes moving the animal’s skin over the underlying tissues difficult.

Higher Level Stewardship One of the categories of the Environmental Stewardship system, in which farmers can apply for funding in exchange for adopting complex environmental management plans on their property.

High Fructose Corn Syrup A sweetener derived from maize that is utilized in the soft drink industry.

High-Input Farming Intensive agriculture that employs fertilizers, herbicides, and advanced technology to yield a substantial crop output.

Highland A tough breed of beef cow with long shaggy hair that conceals a strong undercoat. The breed is small, has extremely long horns, grows slowly, and is indigenous to Scotland’s Highlands and Western Isles.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise A Scottish Highlands-based business and community development organization.

144

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

High Temperature Short Time Method The standard process of pasteurizing milk, in which the milk is heated to 72°C for 15 seconds before being swiftly chilled.

Hill A piece of land that is higher than the surrounding terrain but not as high as a mountain.

Hill Drainage A series of tiny open channels, ten to sixty meters apart created to drain mountainous pasture regions.

Hill Farm A farm in steep terrain where 95 percent or more of the area is used for hard grazing, mostly for raising ewe flocks.

Figure 42. Image Showing Hill Farm. Source: Image by Maxpixel

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

145

Hill Farm Allowance A support payment given to hill farm owners to aid with operating costs.

Hill Grazing Grassland in hilly and mountainous regions which is suitable for sheep and cattle grazing.

Hilum The point at which a seed is joined to a pod. A black scar may be observed on the seed after it has matured and has been detached from the pod.

Hinge Soil that is not cut by a plow, when the plow has not completed cutting a full furrow

Hirsel A large flock of sheep A plot of land and a flock overseen by a single shepherd

Hitch The system that links implements to tractors Also known as a drawbar.

Hoe A tractor-pulled device which is designed to move the soil between crop rows in order to reduce weeds.

Holdover A scenario involving a tenant farmer continues to use farm premises and crops despite having left the farm at the conclusion of a tenancy.

Holly A hard white timber-producing evergreen tree (Ilex aquifolium).

146

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Holstein A Friesian cattle breed that was brought into Canada from Holland towards the end of the nineteenth century. It is currently a black and white dairy cow breed. Also known as Canadian Holstein and Holstein Friesian.

Home Farm A farm on a huge estate that is often managed by the owner itself.

Homestead A farmhouse with its outbuildings, as well as the area surrounding it.

Homogenized Milk Milk which has been made easier to digest by breaking up the fat molecules into tiny particles that are uniformly distributed throughout the liquid

Honey A tasty golden liquid that is gathered by bees from blossom nectar and preserved in a beehive

Honey Fungus A kind of fungus that mostly damages trees and plants. Rhizomorphs cause root infection. The foliage dries up and develops a yellow color in the spring.

Hop Bine A young shoot of a hop plant that must be trained to coil around climbing threads

Hopper a vessel having a hole at the bottom which is used to hold seed or fertilizer granules The seed slips from the hole and falls onto the ground or into channels that transport it to drills.

Horizon A layer of soil that differs in color or texture from the remaining soil

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

147

Hornbeam A tree that yields an extremely durable wood that was once used to make farm cart wheels

Horticulture The science of nurturing of flowers, fruits, and vegetables in gardens, nurseries, or glasshouses, which could be done as a science, vocation, or recreational activity

Figure 43. Image Showing High Efficiency Horticulture. Source: Image by Flickr

Humus The black, fibrous organic stuff in soil that is derived from decayed plants and animal remnants and holds the soil together.

Hungry Soil Soil deficient in nutrients, necessitating the use of a high quantity of fertilizer in order to grow healthy crops.

Husbandry The task of caring for agricultural animals and crops

148

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Husbandry System A documented plan about caring for a group of farm animals, taking into account factors such as environment, nutrition, medical treatment, production rates, and overall wellbeing.

I

Illuviation The transport of particles and substances from the topsoil into the subsoil.

Immune A human, other animal, or plant which is not damaged by a certain microbe.

Immunoassay A method used to determine the level of antigens and antibodies in tissue.

Impermeable Referring to a material that does not permit the passage of a liquid or gas.

Implement The process of putting a plan into action.

150

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Import To purchase crops or commodities in a foreign nation and carry them over into one’s own country.

Import Levy A tax levied in the European Union on agricultural products brought in from other regions.

Improved Varieties New plant species that are stronger or more fertile as compared to old species.

Inbreeding Mating or crossover between genetically related individuals, which results in a fall in variation.

Inbreeding Depression A loss in variety and vitality due to the frequent inbreeding in a population.

Incisor A front tooth with a broad pointed edge for cutting and shredding food.

Incompatible Incapable of cross-fertilizing and bearing children.

Incorporate To disperse pesticides like slug pellets in rows at the same time as the seed is planted, in contrast to distributing, to incorporate straw or green manure in the soil.

Incorporation The practice of integrating chopped straw, green manure, and other organic matter into the soil while it is being plowed.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

151

Incubation The practice of keeping eggs warm till the baby birds hatch. This is done either by having an adult bird sit on the eggs or by using artificial methods.

Figure 44. Image Showing Incubation. Source: Image by Pixnio

Incubator A specialized equipment that generates artificial heat for the purpose of hatching eggs. Incubators come in the form of little trays or vast rooms for big-scale businesses.

Definite Inflorescence An inflorescence wherein the flower-bearing stalks continue to develop.

Indehiscent Referring to seed pods, fruit, or capsules that do not split to produce seeds when they are ripe.

Indigo A tropical plant belonging to the pea family that produces a blue dye.

152

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Induced Twinning The process of producing twin children following embryo transfer using twin embryos.

Industrial Crop A crop produced for reasons other than food, such as flax which is cultivated for fiber.

Infected Area A site where animals must be housed in confinement due to an Animals Inspector’s notice if an animal is believed or confirmed to have a notifiable disease.

Infective Referring to a microorganism-caused disease that can be transmitted from another individual but is not necessarily directly passed.

Infertile Referring to a creature incapable of reproducing or bearing children Referring to trees and plants that do not possess the ability to bear fruit or generate seeds Refers to soil that is incapable of growing quality crops

In-Field Formerly, the field nearest the farmstead, regularly manured and cultivated. In-fields are still preserved on some hill farms.

Infiltration The movement of water through the ground or into a drainage system. An irrigation system wherein water is channeled through a network of tiny channels to enter the crop field.

Inflorescence A single flower or a bunch of flowers on a stalk.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

153

In-Going Payment An amount of money charged to a new tenant for the cost of enhancements undertaken by a holding’s previous tenant.

In-Ground Valuation The cost of tilling or crop production, encompassing direct seed, fertilizer, and spray charges.

Inject To administer a liquid into the body of an animal under pressure through a hollow needle introduced into the tissues.

Injurious Weed A weed that harms crops or cattle, such as ragwort or creeping thistle.

Inoculate To administer a vaccine into a body so that the formation of antibodies against a certain pathogen can be induced, resulting in disease immunity.

Inorganic Referring to a chemical derived from neither an animal nor a plant.

Inorganic Fertilizer Fertilizer that has been manufactured artificially.

Inorganic Fungicide A fungicide derived from inorganic materials like sulfur.

Inorganic Herbicide An herbicide derived from inorganic elements such as sulfur.

Inorganic Pesticide An insecticide derived from inorganic elements such as sulfur.

154

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Inputs Materials introduced into the soil, for example, fertilizers administered by a farmer.

Ins A term for denoting the places at which the plow penetrates the earth as it crosses the headland.

Insect Bite A sting inflicted by an insect that dents the skin and thereby injects irritants.

Insect-Borne Referring to a sickness borne and spread by insects.

Insectivorous Referring to an animal or plant that primarily eats insects.

Inspection A thorough examination to determine whether or not anything is in good working order.

Inspector An official whose duty is to inspect animals, soil, buildings, and so on and ensure that they comply with government requirements.

Integrated Crop Management A strategy towards crop production that integrates conventional good farm husbandry and a decrease in the usage of agrochemicals and considers the environmental effect of farming methods.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

155

Figure 45. Integrated Ecosystem Management To Combat Natural Resources Degradation in Watersheds - Burkina Faso Village Well. Source: Image by Flickr

Integrated Farm Management A farming strategy that blends the finest of old practices with contemporary technology in order to attain high output while having a minimal environmental impact.

Integrated Pest Management A suitable mix of pest management approaches, including proper farming practices, the use of chemical pesticides, resilient crop types, and biological control.

Integrated Pollution Control A method that assesses all sources and products from a potentially polluting activity and controls various elements in addition to emissions.

156

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Intensification The application of intensive agricultural practices.

Intensity The extent to which land is utilized.

Intensive Maximizing output from land or animals

Intensive Agriculture A farming strategy in which crops are grown close together, numerous crops are grown in a year, or high amounts of fertilizer are used to make the most use of the land. Contrary to extensive agriculture. Another name for it is productive agriculture.

Intensive Animal Breeding A kind of animal husbandry in which cattle are housed inside and given concentrated diets, alongside regular medicine administration to treat illnesses that are likely to emerge under such situations.

Intensive Beef Production The rearing of a young lean beef cow in less than a year

Intensive Livestock Production A unique livestock farming method in which the cattle are kept inside. This mechanism can be activated at any point during the year. The animal’s nutrition and continuous habitation throughout its life are risk areas that are prone to disease.

Interbreed To reproduce and bear children, to crossbreed animals or plants of different species with varied attributes in order to generate offspring with distinguishing characteristics.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

157

Intercrop A crop cultivated in between rows of other crops, such as barley and mustard, pigeon pea and black gram.

Interculture The technique of growing two or more different crops on the same plot of land, can also be referred to as mixed cropping.

Intercropping The simultaneous cultivation of crops with diverse qualities and needs on the same plot of land.

Internal Laying A disorder in chickens caused by an oviduct defect that prevents yolks from being transferred up the oviduct for coverage with membranes and the shell.

Interrelay Cropping A cropping technique wherein the crops are produced one after the other, such that the subsequent crop is planted in the existing crop before it has been harvested.

Intersow To put seed between existing plant rows

Interveinal Yellowing A plant illness induced by magnesium insufficiency in which the surface of the leaves becomes yellow but the veins remain green.

Intervention Buying A provision of the Common Agricultural Policy in which governments or their intermediaries agree to purchase surplus agricultural output at a fixed price. It must satisfy a minimal quality requirement. Support buying is another term for it.

158

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Intestinal Diseases Diseases and disorders that damage animal intestines, such as anthrax.

Figure 46. Depiction of a Person Suffering From Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Intrinsic Factor A protein generated in the stomach glands which, when combined with vitamin B12, regulates the absorption of the extrinsic factor and, when deficient, induces pernicious anemia.

Invasion The introduction of a huge number of undesirable organisms in a region.

Invertebrate Pests Pests found in tropical or mild temperate locations that inflict significant harm to crops. Examples include grain mites and storage insects such as saw-toothed beetles and the grain weevil.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

159

In wintering The act of keeping cattle and sheep indoors during the winter season rather than outside.

Iodine A chemical compound. It is found in seaweed and is crucial to the body, particularly for the thyroid gland’s efficiency.

Irish Moiled A rare medium-sized dual-purpose cow breed. These animals are characterized by a white stripe across their backs.

Iron A metallic element required for biological existence. It is a necessary component of the human diet and is present in liver, eggs, and other foods.

Irradiation The transmission of things from a central location The elimination of bacteria from food through rays

Irrigate To provide water to soil in order for plants to thrive, through channels, pipelines, sprays, and other such ways.

Isotherm A map line connecting sites with the same temperature.

Irrigation The mechanical supply and use of water to crop-growing land.

160

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Figure 47. Irrigated Crops at Farm in the Nilgiris Mountains, Tamil Nadu, India. Source: Image by Flickr

Isinglass A pure soluble gelatin that is used to clarify alcoholic beverages. It was previously used to preserve eggs.

Isobar A map line connecting places with identical barometric pressure at a specific moment.

Isolate To keep items or organisms away from one another

Isolation Keeping sick animals away from other susceptible animals

Isoproturon A herbicide for cereals discovered in surface water as a pollutant.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

161

Isotherm A line on a guide connecting points of equivalent temperature.

Italian Ryegrass aA short-lived ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) which is planted in spring and rushes to lay out. It delivers great development in its cultivating year and early spring the next year, and is generally utilized for brief length leys.

Itch Mite An 8-legged creature (Sarcoptes scabiei) which tunnels into the creature’s skin, causing tingling.

IUCN The World Conservation Union IUCN an association of 140 nations that creates logical information, counsel and norms on ecological subjects and screens the situation with species, distributing discoveries in its Red Lists.

Ivy A climbing evergreen plant (Hedera helix)

Ivy-Leaved Speedwell An annual invasive weed (Veronica hederifolia) which influences most fall sown crops. Likewise called 10,000 foot, eye-splendid.

Ile De France A huge French variety of sheep, the rams of which are kept to give crossbred sheep for meat creation.

Imbalance A circumstance where the harmony between a bunch of things is inconsistent, a circumstance where one animal type is predominant.

Immature Alluding to a creature or part that is as yet developing.

162

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Immunization The formation of resistance to a particular illness, either by infusing an antiserum or by giving an individual the illness in such a little portion that the body doesn’t foster the sickness, yet delivers antibodies to balance it.

Immunize To make an individual or other creature insusceptible to a particular microorganism by immunizing them.

Immunity The normal or obtained capacity of an individual or other creature to oppose a microorganism and the illness it causes, the capacity of a plant to oppose infection through a defensive covering on leaves, through the arrangement of protoplasts or through the improvement of dormant types of infections.

Immunoglobulin A protein created by unambiguous white platelets that goes about as a counteracting agent in insusceptible reactions.

Implementation The process of carrying out a plan. Import Quotas

Limits set to the amount of a type of produce which can be imported. Impoverish To reduce the quality of something.

Impregnate To fertilize a female, by introducing male spermatozoa into the female’s body so that they fuse with the female’s ova.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

163

Indefinite Inflorescence A type of inflorescence in which the stems bearing the flowers continue to grow.

Figure 48. Image Showing a Plant Coix puellarum. Source: Image by Flickr

Indian Game A breed of table poultry, often black with yellow legs.

Indigestible Referring to food which cannot be digested, e.g. roughage

Infection The process of a microorganism entering a host organism and causing disease. A disease caused by a microorganism.

164

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis A viral disease of cattle which affects the reproductive, nervous, respiratory or digestive systems. Milk yield is depressed as adults run a high fever.

Infertility The inability to reproduce or have offspring

Inherit To receive a genetically controlled characteristic from a parent.

Inoculation The act of inoculating. An injection against a particular disease.

Inorganic Acid An acid that comes from a mineral.

Insecticide A substance that is utilized to kill bugs

Integrated Administration and Control System Measures expected to battle extortion in help applications and guarantee fair rivalry in Europe, a part of the CAP changes of 1992.

Intercropping The developing of yields with various attributes and necessities on a similar area of land simultaneously.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

165

Figure 49. Intercropping In Bangladesh. Source: Image by Flickr

International Cocoa Agreement An agreement between countries to stabilize the price of cocoa.

International Cocoa Organization A worldwide association set up to balance out the global market in cocoa by holding support stocks to balance occasional contrasts underway amounts.

International Coffee Agreement An agreement between countries to stabilize the price of coffee.

International Coffee Organization A global association set up to balance out the worldwide market in espresso by holding support stocks to balance occasional contrasts underway amounts.

166

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Iodophor A disinfectant used to disinfect teats of cows to prevent mastitis.

Ion An atom or a group of atoms that has obtained an electric charge by gaining or losing one or more electrons.

J Jack Bean A tropical vegetable (Canavalia ensiformis) developed as a grub crop.

Jacob An uncommon type of sheep with multi-hued wool. It is medium-sized and multi-horned, with a white coat and brown or dark patches.

Jersey A significant type of dairy cows, initially from the island of Jersey. Jersey cows are more modest than most different varieties and produce significant returns of high butterfat content milk. The dairy cattle are differently hued from light grovel to red and practically dark.

Jetting A technique for applying insect spray under tension, utilized on sheep . a technique for clearing out hindered field channels utilizing high strain water jets

168

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Jetting Gun A gun used to apply insecticide

Johne’s Disease A serious infectious inflammation of the intestines, particularly in cattle. Affected animals rapidly become extremely thin.

Joint-Ill A disease of young livestock, especially newborn calves, kids, and lambs. It causes abscesses at the navel and swellings in some joints. Also known as navel-ill

Joint Regulatory Authority The body which processes applications to grow and sell genetically modified crops.

Jojoba A perennial plant, grown in the USA, whose seeds yield an oil which is liquid wax.

Figure 50. Jojoba Plant. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

169

June Agricultural Census An annual survey of agricultural activity in Great Britain carried out by Defra.

June Drop A natural fall of small fruit in early summer, which allows the remaining fruit to grow larger.

Juniper A small coniferous tree or shrub of the northern hemisphere, with cones that resemble berries.

Jute A coarse fibre from a plant (Corchorus sp), used to make sacks, coarse cloth and cheap twine.

Juvenile Referring to an animal, plant, organ or type of behavior that is not yet adult

K Kainite Potash manure, made of a combination of potassium and sodium salts, with now and again magnesium salts added, utilized primarily on sugar beet and comparable harvests.

Kale A kind of brassica, now and again utilized as a green vegetable for human utilization, yet principally developed as creature scrounge. Likewise called bore cole.

Karst Ground typical of limestone country, with an uneven surface and holes and cracks due to weathering

Ked The sheep tick; a bloodsucking fly (Melophagus ovinus) which is a parasite of sheep and causes extreme irritation

Keep Grass or fodder crops for the grazing of livestock

Keeper A person who looks after deer, pheasants or other animals and birds which are reared to be hunted.

172

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Keiserite Magnesium sulfate powder, used as a fertilizer where magnesium deficiency is evident, especially in light sandy soil.

Kemp A very coarse fiber in fleece, covered with a thick sheath and shed each year.

Kenaf A fiber-producing plant similar to jute

Kentish cob A commercially grown variety of hazelnut

Kerry An uncommon variety of dairy cows that is local to Ireland. The creatures are little and dark, here and there with white patches on the udder, and have improved horns.

Kerry Hill A type of little slope sheep starting in the Kerry slopes of Powys in Wales. It has delicate white wool and spotted face and legs. The ewes are crossed with Down rams for sheep production.

Ketosis A wasting illness in domesticated animals brought about by low degrees of glucose in the blood. The side effects are an ongoing absence of energy, exhaustion of fat stores and an abrupt drop in milk formation.

Kibbled Coarsely ground, as in kibbled maize

Kibbutz A form of settlement in Israel, based on the collective farming principles

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

173

Kidney Bean A climbing French bean, with red seeds, used as a vegetable

Figure 51. Red Kidney Beans. Source: Image by Pixabay

Kid-Snatching The act of removing a new-conceived kid from its mom to keep her from licking it thus passing on caprine joint inflammation encephalitis.

Killing Age The age of an animal or bird when it is slaughtered

Killing Out Percentage The deadweight of an animal expressed as a percentage of its live weight

Kitchen Garden A garden with herbs and small vegetables, ready for use in the kitchen

174

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Knacker A person who slaughters casualty animals, particularly horses

Knee Cap A felt defender for the knees of ponies, utilized particularly while shipping them as an assurance against harm caused while slipping. Likewise utilized on young ponies while hopping.

Knife An attachment on the cutter bar of a mower or combine harvester

Knotgrass A typical weed (Polygonum aviculare), which influences spring grains, sugar beet and vegetable yields. Its spreading propensity forestalls other more slow-developing plants from developing. Likewise called ironweed, irongrass, pigweed, wireweed.

Knotter The mechanism on a baler which ties the bales. It has three basic parts: billhook, retainer disc and the knife.

Kohlrabi Kohlrabi, also called German turnip, is a biennial vegetable, a low, stout cultivar of wild cabbage. It is another cultivar of the same species as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, Savoy cabbage, and gai lan. It can be eaten raw or cooked.

Kyloes A breed of small long-horned shaggy Highland cattle.

L

Label A piece of paper attached to produce, showing the price and other details.

Laborer A person who does heavy work

Lacaune A breed of sheep found mainly in Aveyron, France and used mainly for milk production.

Lactate To produce milk as food for young

Lactic Acid A sugar which forms in cells and tissue, and is also present in sour milk, cheese and yogurt.

176

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Ladder Farm A farm with a series of small long narrow fields

Ladybird A beetle of the Coccinellidae family, which is useful to the farmer because it feeds on aphids that would damage plants if they were not destroyed.

Figure 52. Transverse Ladybird (Coccinella transversalis), Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Lagoon A pool of water or other liquid

Laid Crop A crop which has been flattened by rain and wind

Laid Hedge A hedge that has been made by bending over each stem and weaving it between stakes driven into the ground

Laid Wool Wool discolored by the use of salves containing tar

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

177

Lairage A shed or outside nook for the impermanent lodging of creatures, as while heading to market, or when they are being moved for trade.

Lake An enormous amount of fluid produce put away in light of overproduction

Lamb Dysentery A bacterial infection that enters the sheep from the field. The microorganisms contaminate the land for quite a while. The illness can be avoided by immunizing the sheep straightaway after birth or by inoculating the ewes prior to lambing.

Lambing Season The time of the year when a group of ewes produces sheep, normally between December and January. The item is to create sheep at the market when the cost is most elevated, typically between February and May.

Lambing Sickness A bacterial disease of sheep picked up from the soil, which can cause rapid death.

Laminitis The inflammation of the lamina in a hoof, causing swelling, and often leading to deformed hooves. It is possibly caused by too much grain feed.

Land Agent A person employed to run a farm or an estate on behalf of the owner

Land Capability An estimate of the potential of land for agriculture, made on purely physical environmental factors such as climate and soil.

Land Classification The classification of land into categories, according to its value for a broad land use type.

178

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Land Clearance The removal of trees or undergrowth in preparation for plowing or building

Land Consolidation Joining small plots of land together to form larger farms or large fields

Land Drainage The process of removing surplus water from land

Land Erosion Control A method of preventing the soil from being worn away by irrigation, planting or mulching

Landfill The disposal of waste by putting it into holes in the ground and covering it with earth.

Landfill Tax A tax on every metric ton of waste put in a landfill site instead of being recycled that is paid by companies and local councils.

Landfill Site An area of land where waste is put into holes in the ground and covered with earth.

Land Improvement The process of making the soil more fertile

Landlord The owner of land or building who lets it to a tenant for an agreed rent

Land Management The use and maintenance of land according to a set of principles for a particular purpose such as the cultivation of crops or recreational activities.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

179

Land Manager Someone who is responsible for the condition of land, e.g. a farmer or landowner.

Landowner A person who owns land freehold, and may let it to a tenant, or may farm it himself

Landrace A local variety of plant or animal developed over many thousands of years by farmers selecting for favorable characteristics within a species.

Land Reform An administration strategy of separating horticultural land and sharing it between those individuals who own no land.

Landscape The scenery, general shape, structure and features of the surface of an area of land.

Landscape Manager Somebody such as a farmer or landowner who is responsible for the way land is used and looked after.

Landside The part of the plow which takes the sideways thrust as the furrow is turned.

Land Tenure The manner by which land is claimed and moved by. This might be by an individual possessing the freehold, by an occupancy arrangement among freeholder and inhabitant, or by a type of local area proprietorship.

Land Use The way in which land is used for different purposes such as farming or recreation.

180

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Land Use Classification The classification of land according to the way it is used

Lanolin A fat extracted from sheep’s wool used in making soaps, skin creams and shampoos.

Lantra An association that works with businesses in the agribusiness and land ventures to guarantee that specialists in those enterprises have the vital abilities and preparation.

Larch A deciduous European softwood tree that has cones. It is fast-growing and used as a timber crop.

Figure 53. Western Larch (Larix occidentalis). Source: Image by Flickr

Large White An important commercial breed of pig that is white with pricked up ears.

Larva The form of an insect or other animal in the stage of development after the egg has hatched but before the animal becomes adult.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

181

Lasso A rope with a noose at the end, used to catch cattle

Lateral A shoot which branches off from the leader or main branch of a tree or shrub

Latex A white liquid from a plant like poppy, dandelion or rubber tree. A thick white liquid from a rubber tree, which is dealt with and handled to make rubber.

Lavender A shrub (Lavandula officinalis) with small lilac-colored flowers and narrow leaves, cultivated for perfume.

Laxton’s Superb A variety of dessert apple formerly grown commercially in the UK.

Layer A flat area of a substance under or over another area

Layering A method of propagation where the stem of a plant is bent until it touches the soil, and is fixed down on the soil surface until roots form.

Layers’ Ailments Disorders of fowls in lay, especially birds that are in heavy production. These disorders include egg binding, internal laying and layer’s cramp.

Layer’s Cramp A condition found in pullets after the first few weeks of their laying life. The bird appears weak, but the trouble usually disappears after a few days.

Laying Cage A uniquely assembled confine for laying hens. The enclosures are organized in levels and each enclosure ought to permit the birds to stand easily, permit

182

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

the eggs to develop ahead and grant admittance to food and water, simple cleaning and simple treatment of the birds.

Lazy-Bed A little arable plot utilized for developing potatoes, cereals and different harvests, found in the West Highlands of Scotland. Assuming that the soil is thin, seed potatoes are put on the outer layer of the dirt and covered with grass.

Lea Open ground left fallow or under grass

Leach To be washed out of the soil by water

Leachate A substance that is washed out of the soil. A liquid that forms at the bottom of a landfill site.

Leaching The process by which a substance is washed out of the soil by water passing through it.

Leader An animal which goes first, which leads the flock or herd.

Leader-follower system A procedure for brushing where need is given to a gathering of creatures (the pioneers) and the harvest is subsequently touched by a second gathering of creatures (the adherents). So first-year calves may be trailed by second-year yearlings.

Leaf A structure growing from a plant stem, with a stalk and a flat blade. It is usually green and carries out photosynthesis.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

183

LEAF An autonomous association that advances better comprehension of cultivating by people in general and assists ranchers with working on the climate by consolidating the best conventional cultivating techniques with current innovation. Full form: Linking Environment and Farming.

Leaf Area Index The area of green leaf per unit area of ground.

Leaf Blotch A disease of cereals (Rhynchosporium secalis) where dark grey lesions with dark brown margins occur on the leaves.

Leaf Cutting A piece of a leaf, root or stem cut from a living plant and put in soil where it will sprout.

Leaf Joint A point on the stem of a plant where a new shoot may grow

Figure 54. Image Showing Leaves of the Plant Kaka-toddali. Source: Image by Flickr

184

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Leaf Roll A viral disease of potatoes, transmitted by aphids. The leaves roll up and become dry, and the crop yield is affected.

Leaf Scorch Damage done to leaves by severe weather conditions or herbicides. Also called leaf burn.

Leaf Spot A fungal disease of brassicas, where the leaves develop brown and black patches

Leatherjacket The hatchling of the cranefly (Tipuda paludosa) that hatches from eggs laid on the ground and feeds on the youthful harvest in spring. Whenever grass is furrowed for grain crops, the hatchlings feed on the seedling wheat, harming the plants at or just subterranean level.

Leek A hardy winter vegetable (Allium ameloprasum) with a mild onion taste.

Leghorn An excellent laying breed of hen. It is a hardy bird, colored black, brown and white. Leghorns produce good-sized white eggs.

Legume A member of the plant family that produces seeds in pods, e.g. peas and beans.

Leguminosae A family of plants including peas and beans that produce seeds in pods.

Lehmann System A system of pig breeding developed in Germany, where bulk food such as potatoes and fodder beet are fed after a basic ration of meal.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

185

Leicester Longwool A breed of large hornless white-faced sheep, used a lot by Robert Bakewell, but now rare.

Lemma The outer bract which encloses the flowers of grass

Lemon A yellow edible fruit of an evergreen citrus tree (Citrus limon). Lemons have a very tart flavor and are used in flavoring and in making drinks.

Leptospirosis A disease of cattle caused by bacteria, which causes abortions and low milk yields. It can be carried by sheep or in running water.

Lesion An open wound on the surface of a plant or on the skin of an animal, caused by disease or physical damage.

Less Favoured Area A previous name for land in rugged and bumpy regions, which is fit for development and use as reproducing and raising area for sheep and steers. It is presently called Disadvantaged or Severely Disadvantaged Areas. The EU currently perceives such regions and gives monetary assistance to ranchers in them.

Lettuce A serving of mixed greens vegetable (Lactuca sativa) which arrives in an assortment of structures and leaf surfaces. The commonest are cos lettuce, cabbage lettuce, crisphead and free leaved lettuces. Cabbage lettuces have roundish heads, while cos lettuces have longer leaves and are more upstanding.

Ley A field in which crops are grown in rotation with periods when the field is sown with grass for pasture.

186

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Ley Farming Farming system in which fields are left to pasture in rotation

Lifestyle Farmland Buyer Somebody who purchases farmland for leisure or investment purposes rather than as a working farmer.

Lift To reap root harvests like potatoes by getting them out from underneath the ground. Potatoes can be lifted from the dirt and, utilizing a spinner or a lift digger, left in lines for hand-picking.

Lifting Unit A pair of wheels or a triangular-shaped share, used on a harvester to lift the roots and pass them to the main elevator. Also called lifter.

Light Leaf Spot A disease caused by Pyrenopeziza brassicae which affects oilseed rape, causing light green or pale areas to appear on the leaves.

Figure 55. Spinach - Cercospora Leaf Spots. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

187

Light Soil Soil consisting mainly of large particles which are loosely held together because of the relatively large pore space. Light soil is usually easier to cultivate than heavy soil, but may dry out too quickly.

Light Sussex A dual-purpose breed of poultry, one of the several varieties of the Sussex breed. The birds are white, with black stripes on the feathers of the neck and black feathers on the wings and tail.

Lignin The material in plant cell walls that makes plants woody and gives them rigidity and strength.

Lime Calcium oxide made from burnt limestone, used to spread on soil to reduce acidity and add calcium.

Limestone A typical sedimentary stone, made of calcium minerals and frequently containing fossilized shells of ocean creatures. It is permeable in its normal state and may shape enormous caverns by being acted on by water. It is utilized in horticulture and building.

Limousin A moderately solid French type of meat cows, created on the uplands around Limoges in focal France. The steers are red, with huge bodies. Limousin bulls are utilized on dairy cows creating a decent crossbred calf.

Linch Pin A pin used to lock an implement onto the three-point linkage at the rear of a tractor.

Lincoln Longwool A rare breed of sheep now found mainly in Lincolnshire, with white faces and long shiny wool. The animals are very large and slow to mature.

188

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Lincoln Red A variety of cows reared from the shorthorn. The creatures are dark red in shading. The variety was initially double reason, however, presently is fundamentally utilized for crossing with dairy cows to create hamburger calves.

Lindane An organochlorine pesticide. It is a persistent organic pollutant and has been banned for all agricultural uses in the European Union.

Linseed A variety of flax (Linum usitatissimum) with a short straw. It produces a good yield of seed used for producing oil.

Linuron A residual herbicide that acts in the soil

Liquid Fertilizer A basic arrangement, not held under tension, of the typical natural substances of strong manures, rather than compressed arrangements like liquid alkalis.

Liquorice The root of a plant (Glycyrrhiza glabra) used in making sweets and soft drinks. It also has medicinal properties.

Listeria A bacterium found in human and animal feces, one species of which can cause meningitis if ingested in contaminated food.

Little Red Tractor The symbol used on food packaging in the UK to show that it comes from a British Farm Standard-approved supplier.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

189

Livestock Cattle and other farm animals which are reared to produce meat, milk or other products

Livestock Records Straightforward records of all domesticated animals, which each farm needs to make and which are then accessible for the Defra returns which are assembled every year.

Loader A machine used to load crops, manure, etc., into trailers or spreaders. The front-end tractor-mounted loader is the most common.

Loam Dark soil, with medium-sized grains of sand, which crumbles easily and is very fertile. A mixture of clay, sand and humus, used as a potting compost.

Figure 56. Example of Loam Soil in Belgium. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

190

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Loamy Referring to soil that is dark, crumbly and fertile

Local Air Quality Management The process of taking steps to improve the air quality in an area where it does not meet accepted standards.

Locks Small tufts of wool separated from the fleece during shearing

Locust A flying insect in subtropical areas, flies in large groups and eats large amounts of vegetation.

Locust Bean The broken-down pods of the carob tree, used as animal feed

Lodgepole Pine A slow-growing tree (Pinus contorta) that thrives on poor soil and is used as a pioneer crop.

Lodging The tendency of cereal crops to bend over, so that they lie more or less flat on the ground.

Loess A fine fertile soil formed of tiny clay and silt particles deposited by the wind.

Loganberry A soft fruit, a cross between a raspberry and a blackberry.

Lomé Convention An understanding came in 1975 between the European Community and 66 non-industrial countries (the ACP states). It gives passage into the EU for specific horticultural produce without obligation, with areas on ensured costs.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

191

Long-Day Plant A plant that flowers as the days get longer in the spring.

Long-Grain Rice Varieties of rice with long grains, grown in tropical climates such as India.

Longhorn A dual purpose hardy breed of cattle, with long down-curving horns. The animals are usually red or brown in color, with white markings. The breed is now rare.

Loose-Leaved Referring to a plant such as a lettuce with a loose collection of leaves and no heart.

Loose Silky Bent A plant with thin green or purple stems which affects winter cereals.

Loose Smut A parasite (Ustilago nuda) influencing wheat and grain. Masses of dark spores gather on the ailing heads; the spores are scattered in the breeze, and just an uncovered tail is left.

Low-Input Farming A system of farming based on restricted use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides.

Low-Intensity Land Land on which crops are not intensively cultivated

Lowlands An area of low land where conditions are usually good for farming, as opposed to hills and mountains, or highlands.

192

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Low Loader A farm trailer with its flat floor near the ground to make loading easier

Lucerne A parasite (Ustilago nuda) influencing wheat and grain. Masses of dark spores gather on the unhealthy heads; the spores are scattered in the breeze, and just an exposed tail is left.

Lugs Projections from the tires of tractor wheels. They increase traction by digging into the soil and by keeping the tire in contact with solid surfaces in muddy conditions.

Lupin A leguminous plant (Lupinus polyphyllus) grown as a crop for protein and seed oil.

Figure 57. Thermopsis lupinoides. Source: Image by Pixabay

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

193

Lynchet A strip of land formed as the result of a movement of soil down a slope as a result of cultivation. Negative lynchets form at the top of the slope and positive lynchets at the bottom.

Lysimeter A device used for measuring the rate of drainage of water through soil and the soluble particles removed in the process.

M

Machinery Syndicate A group of farmers who join together to buy very large items of equipment, which they can use in turn.

Macroclimate The climate over a large area such as a region or country

Macronutrient A nutrient that an organism uses in very large quantities, e.g. oxygen, carbon

Maggot A soft-bodied, legless larva of a fly such as a bluebottle, warble fly or fruit fly. Maggots may attack crops and livestock.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

195

Magnesium A light, silvery-white metallic element that burns with a brilliant white flame.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging A parasite (Ustilago nuda) influencing wheat and grain. Masses of dark spores gather on the ailing heads; the spores are scattered in the breeze, and just an uncovered tail is left.

Mahogany A tropical hardwood tree producing dark timber, now becoming rare.

Maiden Tree A tree in its first year after grafting or budding, when it is formed of a single stem

Maincrop Potatoes Varieties of potato grown as the main crop.

Maine-Anjou A type of double reason dairy cattle created in Brittany, presently brought into the UK from France, and traded to numerous different nations. The creatures are roan or red and white in shading.

Maintenance Ration The quantity of food needed to keep a farm animal healthy but not productive

Maize A tall cereal crop grown in warm climates, that carries its grains on a large solid core (cob) of which there are only one or two per plant.

196

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Figure 58. Maize Plant (Corn). Source: Image by Pixabay

Maize Gluten A type of animal feeding - stuff obtained after maize has been milled. It is high in protein.

Malathion An organophosphorus insecticide used to kill aphids, mainly on flowers grown in glasshouses.

Male Referring to a flower that produces pollen, or a plant that produces such flowers , a male animal or plant.

Malt Best-quality grain grains which have had to deal with the malting system and are utilized in bottling units to make lager and in refineries to make whisky.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

197

Malt Culms Roots and shoots of somewhat sprouted malting grain. A result of the malting system, the culms are utilized as a feedingstuff for animals.

Malted Meal A brown wheat flour mixed with flour made from barley

Managed Woodland A woodland which is controlled by felling, coppicing, planting, etc.

Management Practice Practical ways of using management decisions to organize the use of resources or materials.

Mangel A plant like sugar beet, yet with bigger roots. Mangel is chiefly filled in southern England as a grain crop. Likewise called mangold.

Mangel Fly A fly whose yellow-white legless hatchlings cause rankling of the leaves of mangels and sugar beet. This keeps down plant development and in extreme cases can kill the plant. Additionally called mangold fly.

Mangetout A variety of pea, which is picked before the seeds are developed, and of which the whole pod is cooked and eaten.

Mango A tropical tree (Mangifera indica) and the fruit it produces

Mangosteen A tree (Garcinia mangostana) which is local of Malaysia, it is currently developed in the West Indies. The natural product has dim gleaming skin and a delicate sweet white tissue.

198

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Manure Animal dung used as fertilizer

Manure Cycle The interaction by which waste materials from plants, creatures and people are gotten back to the dirt to reestablish supplements.

Manure Spreader The cycle by which waste materials from plants, creatures and people are gotten back to the dirt to reestablish supplements.

Maple A trailer with a moving floor transport and a joined destroying and spreading system, used to disseminate compost over the dirt. Likewise called garbage spreader.

Maran A weighty mainland variety of fowl, which has a grayish-brown banished plumage and produces dull earthy colored eggs.

Marchigiana A variety of white meat cows from Italy, presently brought into the UK and utilized for crossbreeding to further develop hamburger calf quality in dairy cows.

Marek’s Disease A virus disease of poultry, causing lameness and paralysis

Marginal Referring to areas of land such as field edges or banks beside roads that are at the edge of cultivated land

Margin Over Purchased Feed How much cash got for produce, for example, per liter of milk, displayed as a rate over the sum spent in buying feed for the creatures.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

199

Mariculture The breeding and keeping of sea fish or shellfish for food in seawater enclosures.

Figure 59. Culture of Triacna derasa at the Micronesian Mariculture Demonstration Center. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Marjoram A Mediterranean aromatic herb (Origanum), the dried leaves of which are used as flavoring

Market Garden A spot for the business development of plants, generally vegetables, delicate organic products, salad harvests and blossoms, found close to an enormous metropolitan community that gives a consistent outlet to the offer of its produce.

Market Gardening The business of growing vegetables, salad crops and fruit for sale.

200

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Market Town A town with an extremely durable or ordinary market, which fills in as an exchanging place for the encompassing region. A few business sectors represent considerable authority in specific sorts of domesticated animals or produce.

Market Weight The target weight at which livestock will be sold at market or slaughtered

Marl A fine soil formed of a mixture of clay and lime, used for making bricks

Marram Grass A type of grass planted on sand dunes to prevent them being spread by the wind.

Marrow A large vegetable (Cucurbita pepo) of the pumpkin family, which may be grown as bush or trailing varieties.

Marrowstem Kale An assortment of kale with a thick stem and enormous leaves, developed as feed for domesticated animals in the harvest time and cold weather months, however, it isn’t winter hardy.

Marsh An area of permanently wetland and the plants that grow on it

Martingale A gadget used to manage how a pony’s conveys its head. It comprises of a tie or ties, connected to the size toward one side, and at the other to the reins or to the noseband.

Mash A mixture of feeding meals combined to provide all the necessary elements for a balanced diet

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

201

Masham A crossbred kind of sheep which results from a Wensleydale or Teeswater slam mated with a slope ewe of the Swaledale type and has dark markings on the face and legs. The variety is an efficient ewe with a decent lambing normal and helpful wool.

Mashlum A combination of oats and grain (and now and again wheat), planted to give grain to taking care of domesticated animals. Likewise called maslin, meslen, meslin.

Mast The small hard fruits that have fallen from a beech tree, used as food by pigs and other animals.

Mastication The process of grinding food in the mouth, using the teeth and jaws

Mastitis A typical bacterial illness influencing dairy creatures in which the udders become aroused and enlarged, and the release of the milk is hindered.

Mat A covering of undecayed prairie vegetation which structures on exceptionally acidic soil, when the soil comes up short on microorganisms important to separate decaying matter.

Maximum Residue Level The maximum amount of a pesticide that can remain in crops or foodstuffs under European Union regulations.

May A popular name for hawthorn, a common plant for making hedges

202

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Mayweed One of a gathering of weeds which influence grains (Chamomilla spp, Anthemis spp, Matricaria spp). The weeds influence winter harvests and vegetables, and are found on headlands. They can create issues with tools. Likewise called dogdaisy, wild chamomile

MCPA A herbicide that kills the most industrious wide leaved weeds, like brambles, buttercups, charlock, dock seedlings, plantains and thorns.

Meadow A field of grass and wild plants, sometimes grown for fodder

Meadow Fescue A perennial grass (Festuca pratensis) which has impressive significance for roughage and eating. It is an exceptionally useful grass that prospers when planted with Timothy grass.

Meal A finely ground compound feeding stuff for poultry and pigs, containing every one of the components vital for good wellbeing and consistent development.

Mealworm The larva of various beetles of the genus Tenebrio that infests and pollutes grain products.

Figure 60. Mealworm. Source: Image by Flickr

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

203

Meatlinc A new breed of sheep used as a terminal sire. Only the rams are sold.

Mechanically Recovered Meat The pieces of meat which stay on a creature’s body after the great cuts have been taken out, which are taken out utilizing hardware, ground and utilized as modest filler for burgers, pies, wieners, and so forth.

Mechanization The introduction of machines for agricultural working purposes

Mecoprop A generally utilized herbicide, for the most part, used to control weeds in grain and grass crops, that is found as a toxin of water.

Melon A plant of the cucumber family (Cucumis melo) with a sweet natural product. The tissue of the organic product fluctuates from green to orange or white.

Merchant A person who sells a product seed merchant, corn merchant trader who sells seed or corn, usually wholesale.

Merino A type of sheep which began in North Africa and was then brought into Spain. It is currently reproduced in all regions of the planet, particularly in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, for its thick delicate fine downy, with solid and wavy strands.

Mesoclimate The climate over a specific locality such as a hillside or valley, extending no more than a few kilometers in radius.

Mesotrophic Referring to water that contains a moderate amount of nutrients.

204

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Metabolic Disease One of a group of illnesses that are brought about by organisms being called upon to deliver a final result quicker than their bodies can deal with their admission of feed.

Metabolize To break down or build up organic compounds by metabolism.

Metabolism The chemical processes of breaking down or building up organic compounds in organisms.

Metaldehyde A substance used in the form of pellets to kill slugs and snails, or in the form of small blocks to light fires.

Metamorphosis A process of change into a different form, especially the change of a larva into an adult insect

Methane A colorless flammable gas produced naturally from rotting organic waste, as in landfill sites or animal excreta.

Methanol A liquor produced from coal, gaseous petrol or waste wood, which is utilized as a fuel or dissolvable. Recipe: CH3OH. Additionally called methyl liquor, wood liquor.

Methyl Bromide An effective chemical for sterilizing soil and fumigating spaces

Methyl Phosphine A compound with specific action against phosphine resistant strains of storage pests.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

205

Metritis A disease of the coating of the belly in horses, the side effects of which are a white release as well as a high temperature. Additionally called whites.

Meuse-Rhine-Ijssel Double reason type of cows, beginning from the Netherlands. It is involved by reproducers in Britain to redesign Dairy Shorthorn. The variety’s dairy production is like that of the British Friesian, and it has a fine meat conformity. Steers are red and white in tone.

Mezzadria A system used in Southern Italy, where a vineyard is leased and the landlord is paid a half-share of the wine produced.

Microbial Ecology The study of the way in which microbes develop in nature

Microbial Insecticide An insecticide based on fungal, bacterial or other microorganisms that are pathogens of insects, or their toxins.

Microclimate The climate over a very small area such as a pond, tree, field, or even a leaf.

Microhabitat A single small area such as the bark of a tree, where fauna and/or flora live. Also called microenvironment.

Micron A measurement of thickness, one-millionth of a meter, used in measuring the fineness of hair or wool.

Micropropagation The propagation of plants by cloning a small piece of plant tissue cultured in a growth medium

206

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Figure 61. Passiflora Hybrid Micropropagation. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Mids Middle-sized potatoes which are graded and sold for human consumption

Middle White A variety of white pig that comes from a cross between the Large White and the Small White. It is short and reduced with long upstanding ears and a turned-up nose. It is presently an interesting variety.

Mildew A disease caused by a fungus that produces a fine powdery film on the surface of an organism.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

207

Milk Quota A system by which ranchers are simply permitted to create specific measures of milk, acquainted with confine the overproduction of milk in part conditions of the EU.

Milk Ripe Stage A phase in the advancement of grain like wheat where the seed has shaped yet is still delicate and white and brimming with white sap. Additionally called smooth stage.

Mill A processing plant where a substance is squashed to make a powder, particularly one for making flour from the dried grains of oats.

Millet A cereal crop grown in many of the hot, dry regions of Africa and Asia, where it is a staple food.

Milling Quality The computation of the fact that it is so natural to isolate the white endosperm from the earthy colored seed coat or grain in the processing system. Overall hard kinds of wheat are of higher processing quality than delicate kinds of wheat.

Milling Wheat Best-quality wheat used to make flour for making bread

Millstone A heavy round slab of stone, used to grind corn.

Mineral Nutrients Nutrients except for carbon, hydrogen and oxygen which are inorganic and are absorbed by plants from the soil.

208

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Milling Wheat Best-quality wheat used to make flour for making bread

Millstone A heavy round slab of stone, used to grind corn

Minimal Cultivation An arrangement of development which subjects the land to shallow working and limits the quantity of passes of apparatus. No furrowing is required.

Minimum Tillage A technique for furrowing in which aggravation of the dirt doesn’t influence the more profound layers. The advantages are protection of natural matter, prompting a superior soil structure and less soil disintegration, better soil biodiversity and the utilization of less energy.

Minorca A breed of poultry, originating in the Mediterranean. The birds are black or white in color.

Miscanthus A plant related to sugar cane that is grown for use as a fuel. Also called elephant grass.

Mite A little creature of the insect family which might be free-living in the soil or on put away items, or parasitic on creatures or plants.

Mixed Cropping The act of developing more than one kind of plant on a similar real estate parcel simultaneously. Inverse monocropping.

Mixed Culture The process of growing several species of tree together on the same piece of land.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

209

Mixed Farming The practice of combining arable and dairy farming.

Figure 62. Typical Mixed Crop-Livestock Farming Of Western Kenya. Source: Image by Flickr

Mixed Grazing A grazing system where more than one type of animal grazes the same pasture at the same time.

Mixed Woodland A lush region where neither conifers nor broadleaved trees represent over 75% of the aggregate.

Molasses A dull earthy colored syrup, a result of sugar production left after the sugar has been isolated. It is utilized as a limiting specialist in compound food and is additionally added to silage.

Mole Drain An underground drain formed under the surface of the soil by a mole plow as it is pulled across a field.

210

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Mole Plow A plow used to make mole drains, pulled by a tractor, and forming a wide round hole underground.

Molinia A poor type of grass found in rough mountain or hill grazings. It is of little value as grazing.

Monocotyledon A plant with seeds that have a single cotyledon, e.g. a grass or lily.

Monocropping A system of cultivation in which a single crop plant such as wheat is grown over a large area of land often for several years.

Monoecious With male and female flowers on separate plants.

Monophagous Referring to an organism that feeds on only one kind of food.

Moor An area of often high land that is not cultivated, and is formed of acid soil covered with grass and low shrubs such as heather.

Mor A type of humus found in coniferous forests, which is acidic and contains few nutrients.

Morrey System A paddock system of rotational grazing, used in the management of dairy herds.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

211

Mosaic A disease of plants that makes yellow patterns on the leaves and can seriously affect some crops. It is often caused by viruses.

Moss A very small plant without roots, which grows in damp places and forms mats of vegetation.

Mower A machine used to cut grass and other upright crops

Mudflats Areas of flat mud, usually near the mouths of rivers.

Mulch An organic material used to spread over the surface of the soil to prevent evaporation or erosion, e.g. dead leaves or straw.

Multicrop To grow more than one crop of something on the same piece of land in one year.

Multigerm A seed which occurs as a cluster of seeds fused together and which produces more than one plant when it germinates, a common example of which is the sugar beet seed. The multiple plants must be reduced to one by a process called ‘singling’.

Multiple Cropping The process of growing more than one crop on the same piece of land in one year.

Mustard A species of brassica (Sinapsis), whose seeds are among the most important spices. Mustard is also used as green manure.

212

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Figure 63. Brown Mustard Seeds. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Mycorrhiza A mutual association of a fungus with the roots of a plant in which the fungus supplies the plant with water and minerals and feeds on the plant’s sugars.

Mycotoxin A toxic substance produced by a fungus growing on crops in the field or in storage. There are regulations controlling the amount of some mycotoxins such as aflatoxin and ochratoxin permitted in food.

N

Naked Grain () A grain, for example, wheat that is handily isolated or sifted out from its husk, for example in its caryopsis state.

National Park A public park thing a huge area of land chosen on account of its grand, sporting, logical, or verifiable significance for unique assurance from advancement, and overseen by a nearby government body for sporting use by the general population and the advantage of the local area.

Native Breeds (Plural ) breeds which have been created in a nation, and not got from different nations ‘Three years on the venture incorporates 17 ranchers who have gotten awards to layout groups of eight unique local types of dairy cattle - and the meat from these cows is currently being promoted as Limestone Beef, creating a premium for the makers in question.’ [Farmers Guardian]

214

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Natural Descriptive word alluding to nature, or created ordinarily not by people normal materials areas of regular excellence.

Natural Environment 1. Same as normal natural surroundings. 2. The piece of the Earth that has not been constructed or formed by people.

Figure 64. Nature Capture from a Top of the Mountain. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Natural Habitat The standard environmental elements in which a life form lives in nature. Likewise called common habitat.

Natural Immunity Insusceptibility from an infection acquired by infant progeny from birth procured in the belly or from the mother’s milk.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

215

Natural Insecticide An insect poison created from plant separates.

Naturalize Action word to bring animal categories into an area where it has not resided or developed before with the goal that it becomes laid out as a feature of the biological system. Rhododendron ponticum has become naturalized in parts of Britain.

Natural Resource A normally happening material that can be put to use by people, for example, wood or oil (frequently plural).

Natural Selection Normal determination thing the course of transformative change, by which progeny of life forms with specific attributes are more ready to make due and replicate than progeny of different organic entities, consequently step by step changing the arrangement of a populace.

Natural Vegetation The scope of plant networks that exist in the indigenous habitat without being planted or overseen by individuals.

Nature 1. The qualities that make a person or thing what they are the idea of the undertaking. 2. Every living organic entity and the conditions wherein they live. They attempt to reside in congruity with nature.

Nature Conservation The dynamic administration of the Earth’s natural resources, plants, creatures and climate, to guarantee that they make due or are fittingly utilized.

Nature Management The movement of dealing with an indigenous habitat to energize plant and creature life. Likewise called environment managers.

216

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Nature Reserve Nature in a region where plants, creatures and their current circumstance are secured.

Nature Trail A way through the field with signs to cause to notice significant and fascinating elements about plants, creatures and the climate.

Navel-Ill An illness of youthful domesticated animals, particularly infant calves, children and sheep. It causes abscesses at the naval and swellings in certain joints. Otherwise called joint-sick.

Navy Bean A dried seed of the normal bean (Phaseolus vulgaris, utilized specifically for canning as prepared beans. Likewise called haricot bean.

Neat An old term meaning a cow or bull.

Neck Collar A calfskin band put around the neck of a pony or cow, to hold the creature in a slowdown.

Neck Rot An infection influencing bulb onions during storage. The onions become delicate and start to decay from the stem downwards.

Necrosis The demise of tissue or cells in a life form.

Nectar A sweet fluid created by blossoms, which draws in birds or bugs which fertilize the blossoms.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

217

Figure 65. Honey Bee Collecting Nectar from a Flower in a Sunny Spring Day. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Nectarine A smooth-cleaned assortment of peach (Prunus persica nectarina).

Neigh A sound made by a horse. (Verb) (Of a horse) to make the characteristic sound of a horse.

Nematicide Chemicals killing nematodes like root bunch and pimple nematodes, live in the roots or stems of plants.

Nematode Disease An infection of the wholesome parcel and lungs, brought about by nematodes. The disease is started with one group of creatures and then onto the next through infective hatchlings in herbage.

218

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Nematodirus Disease An illness of sheep brought about by parasitic roundworms. The animals endure the runs and loss of condition.

Nest 1. A development worked by birds and some fish for their eggs. 2. A development made by a few social bugs, for example, subterranean insects and honey bees for the province to live in action word to construct a home.

Nest Box An open-fronted confine in which a hen lays egg. The case might be a solitary unit or part of a progression of boxes.

Net Blotch A parasitic illness of grain, with dim earthy colored blotches influencing the leaves.

Nettle A plant, particularly one of the class Urtica that has stinging hairs.

Net Value Added The yearly worth of products sold and benefits paid for inside a nation, less duty and Government sponsorships and furthermore taking into consideration the devaluation of capital resources. Abbreviation is NVA.

Neutraceutical Same as utilitarian food.

Neutral Modifier alluding to the condition of being neither acidic nor salt pH 7 is neutral.

Neutralizing Value An estimation of the capacity of a lime material to kill soil causticity. It is equivalent to calcium oxide same.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

219

New Blood Hereditary variety brought into a variety by, e.g., acquainting another male with a rush or group.

Newcastle Disease An intense febrile infectious sickness of fowls. Impacted birds endure the loss of hunger, loose bowels and respiratory issues, and death rates are high. It is a notifiable sickness.

Nightshade A plant of the family Solanaceae which, whenever eaten by stock, is probably going to cause affliction or demise.

Night Soil Human excreta gathered and utilized for compost in certain regions of the planet.

Nip Bar A bar fitted to moving instruments to forestall portions of the body being brought into the machine.

Nipplewort An annual weed, Lapsana communis.

Nitrate 1. A particle with the recipe NO3. 2. A substance compound containing the nitrate particle, for example, sodium nitrate. 3. A characteristic constituent of plants. Beets, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli can contain up to 1mg/ kg.

Nitrate-Sensitive Area Nitrate sensitive area is a district where nitrate contamination is reasonable and where the utilization of nitrate manures is completely controlled. Abbreviation is NSA, NVZ (NOTE: Thirty new regions are proposed by

220

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

administration which will limit nitrogen use to 150 kg/ha for a considerable length of time. An EU order in 1994 was pointed toward lessening nitrate contamination on up to 2 million hectares of farmland in the UK).

Nitrification The interaction by which microscopic organisms in the dirt separate nitrogen mixtures and structure nitrates which plants can ingest (NOTE: It is important for the nitrogen cycle).

Nitrification Inhibitor A substance item used to inhibit the arrival of nitrate in natural fertilizer.

Nitrifier A microorganism that is associated with the course of nitrification.

Nitrify (Verb) to change over nitrogen or nitrogen compounds into nitrates.

Nitrite 1. A particle with the recipe NO2. 2. A substance compound containing the nitrite particle, for example, sodium nitrite.

Nitrogen Cycle The arrangement of cycles by which nitrogen is changed over from gas in the air to nitrogen-containing substances in soil and living creatures, then changed over into a gas.

Nitrogen Lack An absence of nitrogen in the soil, observed where natural matter is low and bringing about slim, weak development of plants.

Nitrogen Fertilizer Manure containing primarily nitrogen, for example, ammonium nitrate.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

221

Nitrogen Fixation The cycle by which nitrogen in the air is changed over by microbes in some plant roots into nitrogen compounds (NOTE: When the plants die, the nitrogen is delivered into the soil and goes about as compost.)

Nitrogen-Fixing Plant A leguminous plant that shapes a relationship with microorganisms that convert nitrogen from the air into nitrogen compounds in the soil, for example, a pea plant.

Nitrogenous Fertilizer Composts, for example, sulfate of smelling salts which depends on nitrogen.

Node A point on the stem of a plant where a leaf is attached.

Nodule A little bump found on the foundations of leguminous plants, for example, peas which contains microscopic organisms that can change over nitrogen from the air into nitrogen compounds.

Nomad A creature that moves from one spot to another without having a decent reach.

Nomadism A propensity for creatures that move from one spot to another without having a proper reach.

Non- Flammable (Adjective) alluding to a material that is challenging to set ablaze.

Non-Food Crops (Plural) crops which are developed for purposes other than delivering food, for example, to give environmentally friendly power or synthetic compounds.

222

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Figure 66. A Non-Food Crop of Calendulas or Pot Marigolds. Source: Image by Geograph.org

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

223

O

Oak A deciduous or evergreen hardwood tree of which there are numerous species. Latin name: Quercus.

Oarweed A typical ocean growth (Laminaria digitata) utilized as a food.

Oasis Effect The deficiency of water from an inundated region because of hot dry air coming from an unirrigated region close by.

Oasthouse A structure containing an oven for drying hops. It is around or square structure with a trademark cone-shaped rooftop.

224

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Oat A solid grain crop filled in many sorts of soil in cool wet northern mild areas. Latin name: Avena sativa. (NOTE: Oats are viewed as harmless to the ecosystem since they require fewer contributions than different grains).

Oatmeal A kind of taking care of stuff delivered when the husk is eliminated from the oats bit by a moving cycle. Oats is especially great for ponies and important for steers and sheep, however not as appropriate for pigs on account of their high fiber content.

OCDS A brief plan under which ranchers get installments and backing for the removal of horses that were conceived or raised in the United Kingdom before August 1996. The plan was acquainted in 2006 to supplant the OTMS and will run until the finish of 2008. Full form: Older Cattle Disposal Scheme.

Odor Nuisance A smell that is irritating or unsavory.

Oestrogen (UK spelling) A steroid chemical having a place with a group of chemicals that controls the regenerative cycle and the advancement of secondary sexual features in female primates (NOTE: The US spelling is estrogen.)

Oestrous Cycle The example of reproductive cycles shown by most female animals, except most primates.

Oestrous One of the times of the oestrous cycle that happens in mature female warmblooded animals that are not pregnant. In this period ovulation regularly happens and the female is prepared to mate. Likewise called heat.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

225

Oestrus A group of flies, including the bot fly.

Offal The inside parts of a creature, for example, liver, kidney or digestion tracts, when utilized as food, rather than meat, which is muscle.

Off-Going Crop A harvest planted by a sharecropper prior to leaving the farm toward the finish of his tenure. He is allowed to return and reap the yield and eliminate it.

Officinalis Adjective word ‘utilized in medication’, frequently part of the conventional name of plants.

Offspring A kid, the young of a creature, or a relative of a plant (NOTE: The plural is progeny: The birds for the most part produce three or four progeny every year.)

Figure 67. Offspring of Anemone Fish. Source: Image by Flickr

Oil Crop A yield developed for the extraction of the oil in its seeds, for example, sunflower or oilseed rapeseed.

226

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Oilseed Cake A feeding stuff concentrate, high in protein, produced using the buildup of seeds which have been squashed to create oil. Additionally, called oilcake.

Oilseed Rape A plant of the cabbage family with dazzling yellow blossoms, developed to give an eatable oil and creature feed from the handled seeds. Latin name: Brassica napus. Likewise called rapeseed (NOTE: Oil created from oilseed rapeseed is much of the time called ‘vegetable oil’.)

Oilseeds (Plural) crops developed for the oil separated from their seeds, for example, oilseed rapeseed or linseed.

Oligotrophic Adjective (of water) alluding to water that contains not many supplements.

Omasum The third stomach of a ruminant, which goes about as a channel, and where a large part of the water in food is taken out before the food goes to the stomach.

Omnivore A creature that eats both plant and creature food varieties.

Omnivorous Adjective alluding to a creature that eats both plant and creature food sources.

Onion A vegetable (Allium cepa), developed either for cooking or for eating on plates of mixed greens. The ready onion comprises the eatable enlarged leaf bases encompassed by scale leaves. It is gathered while the developing tops have fallen over. It is the torpid bulbs that are collected and eaten.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

227

Onion Couch A grass weed (Arrhenatherum elatius) develops to 24-48 inches and grows long oat-like hairs like bloom heads. Onion couch influences oats.

Onion Fly A bug (Hylemyia antiqua) or the parasites of which cause harm to onions by eating into the creating bulb.

Onion Set A seed onion, a little onion developed from seed, which has been dried, and which is established the next year with the goal that it will attach and develop on to development.

Open Countryside Area of the country without many trees or high mountains.

Open Fields (Plural) fields which are not isolated by fences or dividers, but by banks of earth. Previously fields were isolated into strips, each worked by a rancher; the system was utilized initially by the Saxons.

Open Furrow A wrinkle formed like a V, with the wrinkle cuts laid in inverse bearings to one another.

Opening Bid The main bid at a sale.

Optimize (Verb) to make something as proficient as could really be expected.

Optimum (Adjective) alluding forthright at which the condition or measure of something is awesome.

228

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Orache A typical weed (Atriplex patula) which influences sugar beet and maize yields, and makes gathering the harvest troublesome.

Orange The product of Citrus aurantium, a local tree of China, whose dietary benefit is expected predominantly to its high L-ascorbic acid substance. Filled in semi-tropical and Mediterranean locales, it is eaten as a new organic product or utilized for juice and for making jelly. The USA, Brazil, Spain, Morocco and Israel are huge exporters of oranges.

Orchard An area of land utilized for developing organic product trees.

Figure 68. Apple Orchard. Source: Image by Pixabay

Ordnance Survey An organization which produces exact planning information for Great Britain. Abbreviation: OS

Orf An infection illness influencing sheep, dairy cattle and goats. The infection causes scabs and ulcers which influence the mouth, nose and eyes. In its later stag,e legs, private parts and udders might be impacted.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

229

Organ Is a part of a living being that is unmistakable from different parts and has a specific capacity, for example, an eye or a flower.

Organelle A specific design inside a cell, for example, a mitochondrion or core.

Organic (Adjective) 1. Alluding to a compound containing carbon. 2. Alluding to food created utilizing just a limited number of allowed pesticides and composts, or to the development of such food. 3. Alluding to a substance that comes from a creature or plant.

Organic Conversion The most common way of changing over from regular agribusiness to natural formation

Organic Fertilizer Manure produced using dead or rotting plant matter or creature wastes, for example, leaf shape, barnyard fertilizer or bone feast.

Organic Fertilizer Carbon-based material got from organic entities, for example, deteriorated plant material or creature waste.

Organic Material 1. A blend found in the soil of plant material that is decaying, microorganisms like parasites, and humus. Likewise called soil natural matter. 2. Same as a natural material.

Organic Matter A synthetic compound containing chlorine, utilized as a bug spray COMMENT: Organochlorine insect sprays are extremely relentless, with a long half-existence of as long as 15 years. Chlorinated hydrocarbon insect poisons can enter the established order of things and kill little creatures and birds which feed on bugs.

230

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Organophosphate An engineered insect poison that goes after the sensory system, for example, chlorpyrifos COMMENT: Organophosphates are not quite as persistent as organochlorines and don’t enter the natural pecking order. They are, in any case, extremely poisonous and should be dealt with cautiously, as taking in their fume might be deadly.

Orphaned Animal A youthful creature whose mother has passed on, and is in this way either grown by another animal or must be hand-raised.

Oryza The Latin name for rice.

Osier Types of willow, the shoots of which are utilized in making containers.

Osmosis The development of particles of a dissolvable from a region of one concentration to another area of a higher concentration through a semipenetrable film until the two concentrations balance each other.

Osmotic Pressure The strain expected to forestall the progression of a dissolvable into an answer through a semi-porous film.

Osteomalacia A condition where the bones become delicate due to the absence of calcium or phosphate.

Ostrich A huge flightless bird (Struthio camelus) brought up on ranches for its meat.

P Packhouse Before the product is sent to the customers, a building utilized for cleaning, packing, and grading the produce on a farm is known as a packhouse.

Paddock Paddock is a small enclosed field that is usually near the farm buildings.

Paddock Grazing Paddock grazing is a rotational grazing system that utilizes paddocks of equal area for grazing, followed by a rest period.

Palatability Palatability can be described as the extent to which something is good to eat.

Pale Pale can be described as the following: 1. it is a pointed piece of wood that is utilized for fencing. 2. it is a husk on cereal seeds or grass.

Pale Leaf Spot Due to potash deficiency, white spots formed on leaves of clover plants is known as pale leaf spot.

232

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Pale Persicaria Pale persicaria is a weed found in spring-sown crops.

Pale Soft Exudative Muscle The abbreviation for pale soft exudative muscle is PSE. It is a condition where the meat of an animal becomes pale and lacks firmness.

Palm Palm is described as the following: 1. It is a large tropical plant like a tree with branching divided leaves and it produces fruits that give oil and other foodstuffs. 2. The inner surface of the hand or the underside of the forefoot of a mammal that is often in contact with the ground is also known as the palm.

Palynology Palynology is the scientific study of pollen, particularly of pollen found in coal and peat deposits. It is additionally known as pollen analysis.

Pan A wide shallow pot utilized for growing seeds is known as a pan.

Pandemic Pandemic refers to an epidemic disease that affects numerous parts of the world.

Panicle The panicle is a flower head (inflorescence) with various branches that carry small flowers, for example, the flower head of a rice plant.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

233

Figure 69. Rice Panicle. Source: Image by Flickr

Panicum Panicum is the Latin name for millet.

Pannage Pannage is described as pasturage for pigs in a wood or forest or the corn and beech mast on which pigs feed.

Papain Papain is an enzyme found in the juice of the papaya utilized in medicine to help wounds to heal and as a meat tenderizer.

Papaver Papaver is the Latin name for the poppy.

234

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Paraquat Paraquat is a herbicide that is poisonous to mammals, including humans, and it destroys a wide range of plants by killing their foliage and becoming inert in contact with the soil.

Parasite A parasite is an animal or a plant that lives inside or on another organism, the host, and obtains its nourishment and other needs from it.

Parasitic Parasitic refers to animal or plant parasites or a parasitic worm; Dodder is a parasitic plant.

Parasitic Gastro-Enteritis The abbreviation for parasitic gastro-enteritis is PGE. It is an infection of the stomach caused by roundworms, particularly Osteragia. It can be cured by anthelmintics.

Parasiticide A substance that kills parasites is known as a parasiticide.

Parasitism Parasitism is a state in which one organism, the parasite, lives inside or on another organism, the host, and obtains its nourishment and other needs from it

Parasitoid A parasitoid is an organism that in its development, is a parasite only at one stage.

Parasitology Parasitology is the scientific study of parasites.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

235

Parathion Parathion is an organophosphorus insecticide and it is no longer approved for use in the United Kingdom.

Paratyphoid Paratyphoid is a disease of pigs triggered by infection with salmonella bacteria. Young pigs run a high fever and within 24 hours they may die.

Parent Material Rock Parent material rock is the unweathered base rock that breaks down to form a constituent part of the surface soil

Parent Plant The parent plant is a plant from which offspring are produced.

Parkland Parkland is a grazed grassland or heathland with small groups of large trees or large individual trees, usually part of a managed and designed landscape.

Parrot Mouth Parrot mouth is a malformation of the upper jaw of horses that prevents proper mastication. It is the condition that prevents the horses from grazing.

Parsley Parsley is a common herb (Petroselinum crispum) that is used for flavoring and garnishing.

Parsley Piert Parsley piert is a common weed (Aphanes arvensis) and it affects winter cereals. It is also known as lamb’s foot.

Parsnip Parship is a plant (Pastinaca sativa) whose long white root is eaten as a vegetable.

236

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Parthenais Parthenais is a breed of cattle originating in France. It is known for its high growth rate and for easy calving. It produces calves for a suckler herd.

Parthenocarpy Parthenocarpy is the production of seedless fruits without fertilization has taken place.

Figure 70. Seedless Strawberries. Source: Image by Plants Craze

Parthenogenesis Parthenogenesis is a form of reproduction in which an unfertilized ovum develops into an individual.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

237

Particle A particle is a very small piece of substance soil particles. Particles of volcanic ash were carried into the upper atmosphere.

Particle Size Distribution Particle size distribution is a way of measuring the composition of the soil, which can be utilized in crop arrangement and planning irrigation.

Partly Mixed Ration The partly mixed ration is a winter feed for livestock that combines total mixed ration and separate concentrate feeding, by mixing some concentrates with the roughage and keeping the rest aside as additional feed for higheryielding animals. The abbreviation for partly mixed ration is PMR.

Part-Time Farming Part-time farming is common throughout much of central and Eastern Europe. It is a type of farming, where the farmer has a regular occupation other than farming.

Parturition Parturition is the act of giving birth to offspring when the fetus leaves the uterus and is called by various names according to the animal-like lambing, calving, foaling, farrowing, and so on.

Parvovirus Any group of viruses that have a single strand of DNA, particularly those causing infertility in pigs is known as parvovirus.

Passive Immunity Passive immunity is immunity received from the mother in the womb. Antibodies produced by the immune system of the mother to resist diseases that she has been vaccinated against or experienced are transferred to the embryo.

238

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Passport A passport is an official document issued to numerous types of plants or animals being moved from one nation to another, certifying they are free from any kind of disease.

Passporting Passporting is the provision of an animal or a plant passport.

Pastern The thin part of a horse’s leg, between the hoof and the fetlock, is known as the pastern.

Pasteurellosis Pasteurellosis is a clostridial disease largely affecting store lambs, young lambs, and adult sheep. Contaminated food or water may be caused this. Difficult breathing and high temperature are the symptoms of this, and after a few days of the symptoms becoming apparent, death may follow.

Pasteurization To destroy bacteria, the heating of food or food products for a specific period is known as pasteurization.

Pasture A pasture is a land covered with small plants or grass, utilized by farmers as a feeding place for animals.

Pasture Topper A pasture topper is a piece of machinery that is fastened to the back of a tractor and is utilized to keep grassy areas such as pastures free from coarse grasses and weeds.

Patch A patch is a small cultivated area with one type of plant growing in it, for example, an onion patch or a pumpkin patch.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

239

Patent Flour Patent flour is a very fine and good quality wheat flour.

PathoPatho- is a prefix to a disease.

Pathogen The pathogen is an agent, usually a microorganism, which causes a disease.

Figure 71. The Oral Fungal Pathogen Candida albicans (Red) Produce Hyphae That Allow Attachment of another Fungus Candida glabrata (Green). Source: Image by Flickr

Pathogenesis Pathogenesis refers to the production, origin, or development of a disease.

Pathogenic Pathogenic is able to produce or cause disease.

Pathogenicity Pathogenicity is the ability of a pathogen to cause disease.

240

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Pathology Pathology is the study of diseases and the changes in structure and function which diseases can cause.

Pause A rest period in a laying cycle of birds is known as a pause.

PCV2 The full form of PCV2 is porcine coronavirus type 2. It is a virus that is thought to be a key cause of PMWS in pigs.

PDNS PDNS is an abbreviation for Porcine Dermatitis and Nephropathy Syndrome.

Pea Pea is an important grain legume.

Pea and Bean Weevil Pea and bean weevil is a pest (Sitona sp) affecting beans, peas, and other legumes. The eggs are laid in the soil near the plants. The larvae feed on the roots and the adult weevils feed on the leaves, making U-shaped notches on the edges of the leaves.

Peach Peach (Prunus persica) is a small deciduous tree found specifically in Mediterranean areas, however, it will grow as far north as southern England. The fruit is huge and juicy, with a downy skin, however, it cannot be stored for an extended period of time. (NOTE: Peaches are separated into two types: freestone (where the flesh is not attached to the stone) and clingstone (where the flesh is attached to the stone). The nectarine is a smooth-skinned peach variety.

Peach-Leaf Curl Peach-leaf curl is a fungal disease that impacts peaches, where the leaves become red and swell.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

241

Pear Pear is a pome fruit of the genus Pyrus utilized for dessert fruit, for fermenting to make perry, or cooking. In the United Kingdom, William’s Bon Chretien, Doyenne du Comice, and Conference are popular dessert varieties, while William’s Bon Chretien is also commonly utilized for canning.

Peat Peat is the accumulated partly decayed mosses and other plants that form the soil of a bog, often forming a deep layer.

Peat-Free Material such as compost that does not contain peat is known as peat-free.

Peatland An area of land which is covered with peat bog is known as peatland.

Pecan Pecan is a North American tree (Carya illinoensis) that produces sweet nuts which are used in many forms of confectionery and eaten as dessert nuts.

Peck Peck is a measure of the capacity of dry goods, equal to two gallons or a quarter of a bushel. Pecks are utilized as a measure of grains.

Pecking Order Pecking order is the order of social dominance in a group of birds, and also animals (NOTE: The equivalent in cattle is the ‘bunt order’).

Pectin Pectin is a sticky mixture of different polysaccharides found in the wall of the plant cell.

Ped An aggregate of soil particles is known as ped.

242

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Pedigree The ancestral line of cultivated plants, or of animals bred by breeders is known as pedigree.

Pedigree Market The market for animals where they are sold for breeding rather than for slaughter is known as pedigree market.

Pedigree Records Records of pedigree stock kept by breed societies and by the breeder. At the time of birth, pedigree animals are registered and given official numbers.

Pedigree Selection Based on the records of their ancestors, the selection of animals for breeding is known as pedigree selection.

Pedologist A scientist who specializes in the study of the soil is known as a pedologist.

Pedology The study of the soil is called pedology.

Peel Peel is the outer layer of a fruit or vegetable.

Pekin Pekin is a breed of table duck. It has bright orange feet, legs and bill and buff colored feathers.

Pellet Pellet is a form of feeding stuff, usually mash, that has been moistened and pressed to form small grains.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

243

Figure 72. Fish Food Pellet. Source: Image by Pixabay

Pelleted Seed A seed coated with clay to produce pellets of uniform size and density is known as pelleted seed. To make the sowing of very fine seed easier, pelleting is done.

Pen Pen is a small enclosure for poultry or animals.

Penicillin Penicillin is an antibiotic, originally produced from a fungus, that controls fungal and bacterial infections (NOTE: Penicillin and the related family of drugs have names ending in -cillin: for example, amoxycillin.)

Penicillium Penicillium is the genus of fungus from which penicillin is obtained.

Pen Mating Pen mating is the practice of utilizing one male animal to mate with numerous females.

244

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Pepino Mosaic Virus Pepino mosaic virus is a highly contagious virus and it usually affects tomato plants.

Pepper Pepper is described as following: 1. It is a spice, either white or black, and is made from the berry-like fruit of the pepper vine 2. It is the fruit of the Capsicum, green, red, or yellow.

Peppermint Peppermint is an aromatic herb also known as Mentha piperata that is cultivated to produce an oil utilized in toothpaste, confectionery, and drinks.

Pepsin An enzyme in the stomach that breaks down the proteins in food is known as pepsin.

Peptic Peptic refers to the digestive system or to digestion.

Peptone Peptone is a substance that is produced by the action of pepsins on proteins in food.

PER PER is an abbreviation for the protein efficiency ratio.

Percheron Percheron is a heavy breed of horse. It is developed in Normandy and is grey in color.

Perendale Perendale is a breed of sheep found in New Zealand.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

245

Perennial Perennial refers to plants that persist for more than two years. It is a plant that lives for a long time. It flowers annually without dying. (NOTE: In herbaceous perennials, the plant persists under the ground and the parts above ground die back in winter. It produces new shoots in the spring. In woody perennials, in the winter, permanent stems remain above the ground).

Perennial Agriculture Perennial agriculture is a system of agriculture in areas where there is no winter and each year various crops can be grown on the same land.

Perennial Irrigation Perennial irrigation is a system of irrigation that allows the land to be irrigated at any time. This may be by distributing water from barrages by ditches and canals, or by primitive means such as shadufs.

Performance Test Performance test is a record of the growth rate in an individual animal when fed on a standard ration, over a given period of time.

Pericarp The part of a fruit that encloses the seed or seeds is known as pericarp.

Permaculture Permaculture is a system of permanent agriculture that involves carefully designing food production systems and human habitats.

Figure 73. Aanandaa Permaculture Farm. Source: Image by Leisaindia.org

246

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Permanent Grassland, Permanent Pasture Permanent grassland or permanent pasture is a land that is not plowed and remains as grassland for a long time.

Permanent Wilting Point The soil water content below which plants wilt and are unable to recover is known as the permanent wilting point.

Permeability Permeability is the ability of a rock to allow water to pass through it or it can be described as the ability of a membrane to allow chemical substances or fluid to pass through it.

Perpetual-Flowering Perpetual-flowering refers to a variety of plant which bears flowers almost all year round.

Perry Fermented pear juice is known as perry.

Persimmon Persimmon is a native tree also known as Diospyros kaki of China and Japan that produces reddish-orange fruit, similar in appearance to tomatoes. The fruit are very rich in vitamins and is eaten either as a dessert or may be cooked.

Persistence Persistence is described as follows: 1. for a period of time, the ability of a chemical to remain active without breaking down in the environment. 2. The ability of a plant to grow for several seasons.

Persistency Even when the soil is cultivated, ability of a plant to survive for a long time is known as persistency.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

247

Pest Pest is an organism that carries disease or harms animals or plants. It is the name given to some diseases, for example, fowl pest.

Pest Control The process of keeping down the number of pests by numerous methods is known as pest control.

Pesticide Pesticide is a chemical compound utilized to kill pests such as weeds, insects, fungi, or other animals.

Pesticide Residue After application, the amount of a pesticide that remains in the environment is known as pesticide residue.

Pesticide Safety Precaution Scheme Pesticide Safety Precaution Scheme is an agreement between the government and the agrochemical industry, and is supported by Health and Safety regulations, which designates products as safe to utilize, provided during their use, recommended precautions are taken. FEPA. PSPS is an abbreviation for Pesticide Safety Precaution Scheme.

Pesticides Trust Pesticides Trust is a group that works to minimize and eventually eliminate the hazards of pesticides.

Pesticide Tax To restrict the use of pesticides, a tax is proposed that is known as a pesticide tax.

Pesticide Usage Survey An annual survey conducted to measure the range and amount of pesticides used on crops is known as Pesticide Usage Survey.

248

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Petal A single part of the corolla of a flower is known as petal.

Petiole The stalk of a leaf is known as petiole.

PGE PGE is an abbreviation for parasitic gastroenteritis

PGR PGR is an abbreviation for plant growth regulator.

pH pH is a measure of the acidity of a solution, determined as the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration, on a scale from 0 to 14.

Phagocyte Phagocyte is a cell that can surround and destroy other cells like bacteria, for example, a white blood cell.

Pharming Pharming is the production of proteins that have medicinal value in genetically modified crops or livestock.

Phaseolus Phaseolus is the Latin name for beans such as butter bean or the French bean.

Pheasant Pheasant is a game bird also known as Phasianus colchicus and has long tail feathers.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

249

Figure 74. Ring Necked Pheasant. Source: Image by Flickr

Phenolics Phenolics are organic chemicals.

Phenotype The physical attribute of an organism that is produced by its genes is known as phenotype.

Phenylalanine Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid.

Pheromone Pheromone is a chemical substance produced and released by an animal into the environment, that influence the behavior of another individual of the same species.

250

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Phloem Phloem is the vascular tissue in a plant that is made up of living cells and conducts organic substances from the leaves to the rest of the plant.

Phosphate Phosphate is a salt of phosphoric acid that is naturally formed by the weathering of rocks.

Phosphorus Phosphorus is a chemical element that is imperative to biological life.

Photoperiodicity Photoperiodicity is the degree to which animals and plants react to changes in the length of the period of daylight from summer to winter.

Photorespiration Alongside photosynthesis, a reaction that occurs in plants, in which the plant fixes oxygen from the air and loses carbon dioxide is known as photorespiration. (NOTE: Photorespiration lowers the production of sugars by photosynthesis. Few crop plants have been bred to lower their photorespiration rate).

Photosensitization Photosensitization is a disease of livestock that is caused by the activation of photodynamic agents in the skin by light. Skin becomes inflamed and pink and may develop deep cracks.

Photosynthesis Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugar by utilizing sunlight as energy.

Phototroph Phototroph is an organism that derives its energy from sunlight.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

251

Phylloxera Phylloxera is an aphid that attacks vines. In the 19th century, it threatened to destroy the vineyards of Europe, but the vines were preserved by grafting susceptible varieties onto resistant American rootstock.

Physiology The scientific study of the functions of living organisms is known as physiology.

Phytomer Phytome is a community of plants.

Phytonutrient Phytonutrient is a substance in plants that is valuable for the health of humans, for example, an antioxidant or a vitamin.

Phytophagous Phytophagous refers to an animal that eats plants.

Figure75. Phytophageous Lady Beetle – Copula. Source: Image by Flickr

252

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Phytotoxic Phytotoxic is poisonous to plants.

Phytotoxin Phytotoxin is a poisonous substance that is produced by a plant.

Pick To take vegetables or ripe fruit from plants.

Picker A person who picks vegetables or fruit is known as picker.

Pickle Pickle refers to the food preserved by keeping it in vinegar.

Pick-up attachment Pick-up attachment is an attachment that is used on a combine to lift grass swath and feed it into the main elevator. It is fitted over the combine cutter bar.

Pick-up baler A machine which picks up cut grass and makes small bales is known as pick-up baler and a machine which makes big bales is called a big baler.

Pick-up reel A pick-up reel is a part of a combine harvester with spring tines, utilized to enhance cutting efficiency in tangled crops.

Piebald Piebald refers to an animal whose coat has two colors, in irregular shapes especially white and black.

Piecework Piecework refers to the work for which workers are not paid an hourly rate instead are paid for the products produced or for the piece of work done. Strawberry pickers and potato pickers are paid in this way.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

253

Piedmontese Piedmontese is a breed of beef cattle found in north-west Italy. The animals are dark or light grey, with black horns, ears and tails.

Pietrain Pietrain is a Belgian breed of pig imported into the United Kingdom for crossbreeding. It is very muscular and has irregular dark spots over the whole body and has prick ears. It is extremely skinny but carries the halothane gene.

Pig Pig is an animal of the Suidae family kept exclusively for meat production.

Pigeon Pigeon is a bird that is regarded as a pest, and can cause severe damage to small plants. The wood pigeon eats cereal seed and causes damage to mature and young crops of brassicas and peas.

Piggery Piggery is a place where pigs are provided shelter.

Piglet A young pig is known as a piglet.

Piglet Anemia Piglet anemia is a metabolic disease caused by milk deficiency. It can even cause death of piglets. As treatment, iron compounds are administered.

Pigman Pigman is a term previously utilized for a male farm worker who looks after pigs. In advertisements, it is now replaced by ‘pig person’.

Pig Pox Pig pox is a disease in pigs caused by infection with one of two different viruses, generally the swinepox virus. Piglets have red spots on the head, belly, and face which turn into blisters. Fever may also follow.

254

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Pig Production Pig production is the commercial farming of pigs

Pigstock Herds of pigs are known as pigstock.

Pinewood Pinewood is a wooded region containing mostly pines.

Pining Pining is a disease in sheep that is caused by a shortage of cobalt, which causes the animals to lose condition, have general weakness, poor fleece, and dull eyes.

Pinworm Pinworm is a thin parasitic worm Enterobius, which infests the large intestine. It is also known as threadworm.

Pioneer Crop A pioneer crop is a crop grown to enhance general soil fertility, before the sowing of another more valuable crop. Pioneer crops are grazed by livestock, as a result, their manure enhances the fertility of the soil.

Piperazine Piperazine is a drug utilized to treat worm infestation.

Pippin Pippin is a name given to various dessert apples.

Pistachio Pistachio is a small tree, also known as Pistacia vera. It is a native of central Asia and is now cultivated in Mediterranean regions. The nuts are utilized in confectionery or eaten salted.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

255

Figure 76. Pistachio Nuts. Source: Image by Pixabay

Pistil Pistil is the female reproductive part of a flower, and it is made up of the ovary, the style, and the stigma.

Pisum Pisum is the Latin name for pea.

Pit Pit is the stone in certain fruits, for example, in peaches, cherries, plums, or dried fruit like dates, raisins and so on.

Placenta Placenta is the tissue that during pregnancy grows inside the uterus in mammals and links the baby to the mother.

Plague Plague is described as below: 1. It is an infectious disease that occurs in epidemics and kills various organisms 2. It is also described as a widespread infestation by a pest. A plague of locusts is destroying crops and has invaded the region.

256

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Plain Plain is a large area of flat nation with few trees, largely in the middle of North America.

Plane Tree A plane tree is a common temperate deciduous hardwood tree, often grown in towns due to its resistance to air pollution.

Planning Authority A planning authority is a local authority that gives permission for development like new use of land or changes to existing buildings.

Planning Controls Legislation utilized by a local authority to control buildings is known as planning controls.

Planning Department A section of a local authority that deals with requests for planning permission is known as the planning department.

Planning Inquiry Planning inquiry is a hearing before a government inspector associated with a decision of a local authority in planning matters.

Plant Plant is an organism that contains chlorophyll with which it carries out the process of photosynthesis.

Plantain Plantain is a name given to many types of banana, utilized for brewing and cooking. It has lower sugar content as compared to dessert bananas. It is also referred to as a common weed which is also known as Plantago major.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

257

Plantation Plantation is an estate, particularly in the tropics, on which large-scale production of cash crops takes place (NOTE: Plantations specialize in the production of a single crop such as rubber, cocoa, tea, coffee, or cotton). It is additionally referred to an area of land planted with trees for commercial purposes, also known as plantation forest.

Plant Breeder Plant breeder is a person who produces new forms of crop or ornamental plants.

Plant Breeding Plant breeding is the method of producing new forms of crop and ornamental plants by artificial selection.

Plant Cover The percentage of a region occupied by plants is known as a plant cover. Plant cover at these altitudes is scarce.

Plant Ecology The study of the relationship between plants and their environment is known as plant ecology.

Planter Planter can be described in two ways: 1. A person who plants and looks after a plantation is known as a planter 2. A device utilized for planting is also known as a planter.

Plant Food Ratio The ratio of nitrogen to potash and phosphate in a fertilizer is known as the plant food ratio.

Plant Genetic Resources Plant genetic resources is the gene pool of plants, particularly of those plants that are regarded as of high value to humans for food or pharmaceutical needs.

258

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Plant Growth Regulator A plant growth regulator is a chemical treatment that slows the growth of plants, and mainly used in low-maintenance areas such as roadside verges. It is abbreviated as PGR.

Plant Health The areas related to the prevention of diseases and pests impacting plant produce and plants, including the control of exports and imports.

Plant Hormones Plant hormones are hormones like auxin that specially impact plant growth. They are more precisely called ‘plant growth substances’.

Plant Nutrient Plant nutrient is a mineral whose presence is important for the good growth of plants.

Plant Protection Plant protection is the activity of safeguarding plants from disease by the application of pesticides, biocontrol, and cultivation practices.

Plant Protection Product A plant protection product is a common term for a chemical like a fungicide or pesticide that is utilized to keep plants free from pests and disease.

Plant Senescence Plant senescence is the last stage in the life cycle of a plant, leading to the death of a part of the plant or whole plant (NOTE: understanding of plant senescence is significant for farmers as it ascertains in order to ensure the crop is of the highest possible quality, when they should harvest it).

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

259

Figure 77. A Sea Grape Tree with Yellow Leaves in Key West, Florida. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Plastic Plastic is a man-made material, utilized as a cover to protect young crops. Thin films of polythene are used to warm and cover the soil, on the other hand, black plastic sheeting is utilized as a form of mulch, and additionally to cover bales and clamps.

Plate and Flicker Plate and flicker is a type of machine utilized for distributing fertilizer.

Plateau An area of high flat land is known as plateau.

Plate Mill A plate mill is a type of mill utilized for grinding grain. The machine has two circular plates, one is fixed, while the other rotates against it.

260

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Plot A small area of cultivated land that has been defined clearly is known as plot.

Plow In order to cultivate crops, an agricultural tool is utilized to turn over the surface of the soil. The modern plow is normally fully mounted on a hydraulic system of a tractor, on the other hand, some are semi mounted, with one or more wheels supporting the rear, and some are trailed. Main components of the plow are the frame or beam to which a number of parts are attached that engage the soil, like the disc coulter, the share, and the mouldboard that turns the furrow slice. There are three varieties of plows: traditional with righthanded mouldboards, reversible with left- and right-handed mouldboards, and disc plows, that are utilized for deep fast cultivation of hard dry soils but are not prevalent in the United Kingdom. Plow bodies come in a variety of sizes and shapes, with the most common being the general-purpose plow, the Bar Point, the semi-digger, and the digger. The three main plowing methods are systematic, in which the field is divided into lands by shallow furrows; round and round plowing, where fields are plowed from the center to the outside or from the edge to the center, and reversible plowing, in which the field is plowed up and down the same furrow, giving a very level surface.

Plow Pan A plow pan is a hard layer formed in the soil as a result of plowing at the same depth each year.

Q

Quail Quail is a small game bird also known as coturnix. It is now reared to produce oven-ready birds and also for their eggs

Quality Assurance Quality assurance is the system of procedures utilized to check that the product’s quality is good.

Quality Grain When selling grain, the application of quality standards. Good quality of grains is specified by a high specific weight.

Quarantine Quarantine refers to the time period when a plant, animal, ship, or a person just arrived in a nation is kept in isolation in case it carries a serious disease, in order to allow the disease time to develop and the disease to be detected.

262

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Quart Quart is a measure of dry goods such as grain and liquids equal to two pints, or 1.14 liters.

Quercus Quercus is the Latin name for the oak tree.

Quick-Freeze Freezing the food products rapidly in order to preserve them is known as quick freeze.

Quicklime Quicklime is a calcium compound that is made from burnt limestone (NOTE: It is utilized in many industrial processes and in the composition of cement).

Quince Quince is a small tree, also known as Cydonia vulgaris and is native of western Asia. The hard pear-shaped sour fruits of quince are rich in pectin and utilized in making jellies and various other preserves.

Figure 78. Quince Fruit Cydonia oblonga. Source: Image by Pixabay

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

263

Quintal A Quintal is a unit of weight and equal to 100kg. It is sometimes utilized to measure bulk agricultural commodities.

Quota System Quota system is a system where supplies or imports are regulated by fixing minimum or maximum amounts.

R

Rabbit Rabbit is a common furry herbivorous rodent also known as Oryctolagus cuniculus.

Rabies Rabies is an often fatal notifiable viral disease that is transferred to humans by infected animals.

Race A group of individuals within a species that are different, particularly ecologically or physiologically, from other members of the species.

Raceme Raceme is an inflorescence in which flowers are borne on individual stalks on the main flower stem with the youngest flowers at the top of the main stalk.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

265

Rack A rack is a frame of metal or wooden bars which holds fodder, and from which animals eat.

Raddle A flexible length of wood utilized for making fences or hurdles is known as raddle.

Radicle The minute structure in a plant embryo from which the root develops is known as radicle.

Radish Radish is a small plant with white or red roots that are mainly used in salads.

Radnor Radnor is a breed of small hill sheep and it is similar to the Welsh Mountain.

Rafter Rafter is used to plow land by leaving a space between the furrows.

Ragwort Ragwort is a weed also known as Senecio jacobea and is mainly found in grassland. It must be controlled as it can cause poisoning of sheep, cattle, and horses.

Rain Water that falls from clouds as small drops is described as rain.

Rainfall Over a period of time, the amount of water that falls as rain on an area is known as rainfall.

Rain water Rain water is the water that falls as rain from clouds.

266

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Raise Raise means to make plants germinate and nurture them as seedlings from seeds. It is also described as breeding and keeping of livestock.

Rake Rake is a tool with a handle and a crossbar with numerous prongs, utilized for smoothing loose soil to form a seedbed, or for pulling hay together. It is also used to move a flock of sheep from one pasture to another.

Ram A male goat or sheep that has not been castrated is known as ram.

Ranch Ranch is a large farm, specializing in raising horses, cattle, sheep or any type of animal. It is also described as a large farm utilized for growing any type of crop.

Ranching Ranching is an agricultural system based on commercial grazing on ranches and it is also refers to the raising of cattle on large grassland farms.

Range Range is a large area of grass covered farmland utilized for raising sheep or cattle. It is an open space, especially for poultry free-range eggs (NOTE: ‘free-range eggs’ are the eggs that are produced on a range).

Rare Breed A breed of farm animal that is safeguarded since it is in danger of becoming extinct as its numbers are falling.

Raspberry A raspberry is a cane also known as Rubus idaeus that gives a most important soft fruit, that is sold fresh, sent for freezing and also utilized for processing into jams.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

267

Figure 79. Fresh Ripe Raspberry. Source: Image by Flickr

Raspberry Beetle The raspberry beetle is a serious pest also known as Byturus tomentosus whose larvae get their food from young raspberry fruits.

Rat A rat is a rodent (Genus Rattus) with a long tail, like a mouse but it is larger than it, that can be extremely destructive for stored and growing crops and it also carries disease to pigs and cattle.

Ration An amount of food given to a person or an animal is known as ration.

Ration Formulation In order to provide the amount of nutrients required by a particular animal or type of animal, the process of putting together different types of feedstuff is known as ration formulation.

Ratoon A ratoon crop is the second and later crop taken from the regrowth of a crop after it has been harvested once. For example, sugar cane plants can be harvested many times.

268

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Ray Fungus Ray fungus is a bacterium that affects cereals and grasses, and it can also cause actinomycosis in cattle.

REACH REACH is an abbreviation for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restrictions of Chemicals.

Reafforestation Reafforestation is the planting of trees in a region that was earlier covered by forest.

Reap To cut a grain crop is known as reap.

Reaping Hook A reaping hook is a short-handled semicircular tool and has a sharp blade. It was previously used for cutting corn by hand.

Rear To look after young animals till the time they are old enough to take care of themselves is known as rear.

Rearer A person who rears livestock is known as rearer.

Receptacle A receptacle is the top part of a flower stalk that supports the flower. (NOTE: In a few plants like strawberries it develops into the fruit.)

Recessive Recessive (of a gene or genetically controlled feature) subdued by the existence of a corresponding dominant gene.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

269

Recessiveness When a corresponding dominant gene is present, recessiveness is a property of a gene that prevents it from being expressed in the individual who has it.

Reclaim Reclaim means to make land usable for commercial or agricultural purposes, generally marshy land, a waste site, land that has been previously built on or utilized for industry, or land that has never been cultivated to reclaim land from the sea.

Record Keeping Record keeping is the act of making records like a livestock register, which are open for examination by the welfare authorities and the Government.

Rectal Palpation A technique utilized to diagnose pregnancy in cows is known as rectal palpation.

Rectum Rectum is the last part of the large intestine, where waste material before leaving the body through the anus accumulates.

Recumbent Recumbent refers to animals that are lying down, like in the case of cows after injury or illness.

Red Red is the English name for the Rouge de l’Ouest breed of sheep

Red Clover Red clover is a deep-rooted short-lived species of clover also known as Trifolium pratense.

270

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Figure 80. Red Clover (Trifolium pratense). Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Red Corpuscle A red corpuscle is a red blood cell that carries oxygen to the tissues and contains hemoglobin.

Red Currant Red currant is a soft fruit, and grows on bushes. It is mainly utilized for making jams.

Red Data Book Red Data Book is a catalog previously published by the IUCN, listing species that are in danger of becoming extinct or rare. Now the information is available in a searchable database.

Red Deadnettle Red deadnettle is a weed also known as Lamium purpureum that is common in gardens, and affects oilseed rape and cereals. It is also called French nettle.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

271

Red Fescue Red fescue is a species of grass also known as Festuca rubra, used on marginal land and hills, and in fine-leaved lawns.

Redistribution Of Land The practice of taking land from major landowners and dividing it into smaller plots for many people to own is known as land redistribution.

Redlegs Redlegs is a common weed also known as Polygonum persicaria that impacts spring crops, and at the time of harvesting causes problems. Redshanks is the another name for this.

Red List The IUCN’s Red List is a searchable database that tracks the conservation status of many organisms around the world. The full form is the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is a list indicating the status of conservation of a specific type of organism in a particular geographic region.

Redwater Redwater is a parasitic disease spread by the common tick that affects cattle. The affected animal feels drowsy, salivates profusely, feverish, and staggers and falls often. The disease’s acute phase is often lethal.

Reed Reed is an aquatic plant that grows near the shores of lakes, and is utilized in making thatched roofs.

Reed Bed A mass of reeds growing together is known as reed bed.

Reed Bed Filter A reed bed is utilized as part of a system of cleaning dirty water or sewage.

272

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Reel A component of a combine harvester’s mechanism that keeps the crop against the cutter bar for cutting (NOTE: After the crop has been cut onto the cutter bar table or platform, the crop is directed by the reel. The pick-up reel of most combines can be modified to deal with tangled or inlaid crops).

Refection Consumption of feces by an animal itself is known as refection.

Reference Price The reference price is the minimum price at which certain vegetables and fruit can be imported into the European Union.

Refrigerate To keep the produce at a cool temperature to cool it is known as refrigeration.

Refrigerator A refrigerator is a device used for cooling the product and keeping it cool.

Refrigerator Ship A ship that carries produce under refrigerated conditions is known as a refrigerator ship.

Regenerate To grow something again, or to grow again is known as regenerate.

Regeneration Regeneration is the process of vegetation growing back on land that has been burnt or cleared.

Regenerative Allowing new growth to replace damaged tissue.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

273

Regrowth Regrowth is the growth that occurs after accidental damage or fire, or after a cut or harvest.

Regulator A regulator is someone or something controlling an activity or a process.

Rein Rein is a long narrow strap utilized to control a horse, each end of which is attached to the bit in the mouth of the horse.

Rendzina Rendzina is a soil developed on limestone rocks and chalk characterized by a lack of true subsoil and its shallowness.

Renewable Renewable refers to something that can renew itself or can be replaced by breeding regrowing, or reforming.

Renewable Energy Renewable energy is the energy from the tides, Sun, waves, wind, from burning waste or from geothermal deposits.

Figure 81. Solar Cell Panels in the Foreground, Wind Turbines in the Middle Ground, And Electricity Pylons in the Background. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

274

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Renewable Resource A renewable resource is a natural resource that replaces itself unless overused, for example, plant or animal life, wind energy or freshwater.

Rennet An extract from the stomach of a calf is known as rennet. It contains the enzyme rennin, which clots milk. It is utilized in the production of few milk products like cheese.

Rennin Rennin is a digestive enzyme that causes milk to clot in the stomach, slowing its passage through the digestive system.

Rent For a period of time, money paid to use a farm or land is known as rent.

Replacement Milk Replacement milk is milk that is utilized to feed young animals that cannot be fed by their mothers, for example, lamb replacement milk.

Replacement Rate The rate at which heifers are introduced into a dairy herd to replace aging cows or cows with inadequate milk production is referred to as the replacement rate.

Replant Replant refers to growing plants in a given region again after the land was cleared and replanted with mixed conifers and broadleaved species after the trees were felled. It also refers to put a plant in the ground.

Replant Disease Replant disease is a disease that affects apple trees that have been planted in a grubbed-out orchard.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

275

Repot Repotting is the process of removing a plant from its original container and replanting it in a new one, at the same time also adding or changing the soil.

Reproduction The production of offspring is known as reproduction.

Reproductive Organs Parts of an animal’s body that have a role in the conception and development of a foetus are known as reproductive organs.

Reseed Re-establishing a ley by sowing seed again is known as reseed.

Reserve A reserve is an area of land where no commercial exploitation is allowed and is maintained for the benefit of plant or animal life.

Reservoir Reservoir is a natural or an artificial area of water, utilized for storing water for industrial or domestic use.

Residual The amount of something that is left behind is referred to as residual.

Residual Herbicide A herbicide that is administered to the soil’s surface and works through the roots of existing plants as well as new plants when they germinate is known as residual herbicide.

Residue Residue is the substance left after a material has been used or after a process has taken place.

276

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Resin When some conifers or other trees are cut, a sticky oil is secreted which is known as resin.

Resist To be able to fight off or avoid being affected by something is known as resist.

Resistance Resistance is an organism’s ability to remain unaffected by something like a treatment, disease, process, or stress factor.

Resistant Resistant refers to something that is not affected by a treatment, disease, process, or stress factor.

Respiration The action of breathing is known as respiration.

Respiratory Quotient The ratio of the amount of carbon dioxide transferred from the blood into the lungs to the amount of oxygen taken into the blood from the air. RQ is an abbreviation for respiratory quotient.

Reticulum Reticulum is the second stomach compartment of ruminants like sheep and cows.

Retinol Retinol is a fat-soluble vitamin that can be formed in the body but is mostly found in foods including cod liver oil, liver, eggs, and vegetables. It is also known as Vitamin A.

Retting Retting is a flax preparation technique in which flax is soaked in water and allowed to decay, releasing the fibers from the plant stems.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

277

Reversible Plow A reversible plow is a plow with left and right-handed mouldboards, allowing plowing up and down the same furrow.

Rhizoctonia Root Rot Rhizoctonia root rot is a common soil fungus also known as Rhizoctonia solani that retards growth by attacking the roots of seedlings.

Rhizomania Rhizomania is a notifiable virus disease that affects sugar beet, in which the leaves turn yellow and hair grows on the roots. In some cases, the disease has been reported in the UK but it is endemic in the Netherlands.

Rhizome Rhizome is a plant stem that lies under or on the ground and has adventitious roots, leaf buds, and sometimes branches.

Figure 82. Bamboo Rhizome. Source: Image by Pixabay

Rhizosphere Rhizosphere is the soil that surrounds the roots of a plant.

278

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Rhubarb Rhubarb is a perennial plant also known as Rheum rhaponticum. The stalks of the leaves are cooked and served as a dessert. It contains a lot of oxalate, and the leaves are poisonous.

Ribes Ribes is the Latin name for blackcurrant

Rib Grass Rib grass is a palatable deep-rooting herb that benefits pasture since it has a high mineral content.

Riboflavin Riboflavin is a vitamin found in yeast, eggs, liver, milk, and green vegetables and is used as an additive (E101) in processed food. It is also known as vitamin B2.

Rice Rice is a plant that is the most significant cereal crop and the staple food of almost 50 percent of the population all around the world. Oryza sativa is the Latin name for rice.

Rick Rick is a stack, generally made up of hay, with a sloping roof.

Riddle Riddle is a coarse sieve used for sieving soil. To grade and classify produce by size using a sieve is also known as riddle.

Ridge Ridge is 1. A lengthy raised stretch of ground that can be found on the ocean floor, in a mountain range, on a beach, or in a field. 2. It is a long, narrow band of high pressure that extends away from an anticyclone’s center. Across the country, a ridge of high pressure exists. 3. It is a long raised piece

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

279

of earth created by plowing up and down on both sides of a furrow. Ridges mark off territory in a field before the plow is reset for normal work and the field is plowed in systematic plowing.

Ridger A ridger is a type of plow utilized for forming ridges for earthing crops like potatoes.

Rig Rig is a male animal in which at the usual time, one or both testicles have not descended into the scrotum.

Ring Rot Ring rot is a disease that affects potatoes.

Ringworm Any of several diseases of the skin caused by a fungus that spread out in a circle from a central spot. (NOTE: Ringworm is extremely contagious and difficult to eradicate.) It is most common in young store cattle in animals, but it can also affect humans).

Riparian Riparian refers to the bank of a river.

Ripe Ripe refers to grain or fruit that is ready for eating.

Ripen To get anything ready to eat or to make something ready to eat, especially fruit. Bananas that are not ripe are transported in specific containers and they ripen in storage. Tomatoes can be picked while still pink and left to ripen off the plant.

280

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Ripper A ripper is a large cultivator with a sturdy frame and long tines attached to it. It is used to break up compacted soil and allow air and water to flow freely. It is also known as a subsoiler.

Risk Risk is defined as follows: 1. A combination of the possibility of loss, injury, or damage caused by a potentially hazardous substance, activity or technology, or by a failure to act, and the seriousness of the potential consequences. 2. Something that is regarded to be prone to causing damage, loss, or injury, a fire hazard and a health risk. COMMENT: A practice or substance may have the potential to cause harm, that is, it may be a hazard, but risk only exists when there is a chance of something being hurt by it in a particular set of circumstances. Even something that appears to be extremely harmful may actually pose a minor risk. Risk assessment is used to determine the degree and nature of a risk, if any, so that steps to avoid or reduce it can be taken.

River River is a large flow of water, running from a natural source in hills or mountains down to the sea.

Riverine Riverine is referred to as a river. The dam has destroyed the riverine flora and fauna for hundreds of kilometers.

Roan Roan is the coat of an animal in which the main color is mixed with another, for example, black and white or red and white.

Robot Milker A robot milker is a system for milking cows in a fully automated milking parlor. To put all four caps on the teats at the same time, lasers, mirrors, and cameras are used.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

281

Rock Rock is a solid mineral component that makes up the Earth’s outer crust.

Rock Phosphate Rock phosphate is a natural rock pounded into a fine powder that is used as a fertilizer.

Rod It is an old measurement of land. When used as a measurement of length a rod equals 5 meters, and when used as a measurement of the area it equals 25 square meters.

Rodent A rodent is a mammal that has sharp teeth for gnawing, for example, a mouse or a rat.

Figure 83. Animal Rodent Mouse. Source: Image by Maxpixel

Roe Deer Roe deer is one of the breeds of deer that are found wild in the United Kingdom.

282

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Rogue Rogue means to remove undesired plants from a crop, usually by hand and it is also described as a plant of a different variety found growing in a crop.

Roguing Glove A roguing glove is a glove that is impregnated with herbicide, and used to destroy wild oats.

Roll Roll is a tractor-drawn tool for providing a smooth firm surface for drilling, breaking clods, pushing stones into the soil, and firming the soil (NOTE: The two main types are the flat roll which leaves a smooth surface and the Cambridge roll, with a number of cast iron rings on an axle which leave a corrugated surface.)

Rolled Grain A grain that has been processed through a roller mill before being fed to livestock. Grain that has been rolled, mainly barley, is easier to digest.

Roller A roller is the same as a roll. Ball and roller bearings are the most prevalent types of bearings used in gas turbine engines.

Roller Crusher A roller crusher is a machine that is used to condition freshly-cut grass. The rolls pick up a swath of cut grass, flattening the stems as the grass is passed between them. The drying process is significantly faster since the sap has been removed from the stems.

Roller Mill A roller mill is a piece of equipment used to grind flour and animal feed. The grain is crushed by two smooth steel rollers.

Roller Table A roller table is a machine that removes stones and clods from a crop, such as potatoes, and it consists of a horizontal line of rotating rollers.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

283

Romagnola Romagnola is a large, docile, hardy beef cow breed from north-east Italy. The animals have a black muzzle and hooves and are grey in color.

Roman Roman is a breed of white goose, which is quite rare these days.

Romney A white goose breed that is currently extremely scarce in the Roman world. Romney is a hardy breed of sheep with substantial fine-quality long wool fleece found in large numbers in Romney Marsh. Romney half-breeds have been widely exported since they were developed by crossing Romney ewes with North Country Cheviot rams. It is also known as kent.

Rook Rook is a crow-like bird that causes a lot of damage to crops.

Rookery A breeding place for a colony of rooks is known as rookery.

Roost Roost is a place where birds rest at night. It can also be defined as to sleep on a perch at night.

Rooster Rooster is a cock, a male domestic fowl, especially in the United States.

Root A plant component that is normally underground and absorbs nutrients and water from the soil around it.

Root Crop Root crop is grown as food and it is a plant that stores edible material in a root, corm or tuber.

S

Sack A capacity measurement, notably for grains, equivalent to four bushels, also known as comb.

Saddle A leather seat mounted on the back of a horse for a rider 2. A colored patch on the back of a pig that resembles a saddle. 3. The section of a shaft horse’s harness that carries the shafts.

Saddleback A pig breed known commonly as the British Saddleback 2. Any pig with a white saddle, such as the Hampshire breed from the United States.

Saddle Bow A saddle’s high point in front of the rider.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

285

Safety Cab A tractor-mounted protective cab designed to protect the driver in the event that the tractor rolls over.

Safflower An oilseed crop (Carthamus tinctorius) mostly cultivated in India. The oil is used to make margarine, while the remnant oilseed cake is utilized as livestock feed in small quantities.

Saffron A spice made from dried flower petals of the crocus plant. Crocus sativus.

Sage A fragrant herb (Salvia officinalis) whose leaves are dried and used for flavoring.

Sainfoin A fodder legume comparable to lucerne that is mostly cultivated in places with calcareous soil.

Saler A robust breed of French cattle found in the central French department of Cantal. The reddish-colored animals are raised for both meat and milk production. The Saler is one of the top suckler cows in France.

Salination A process that causes the salt content of soil or water to rise, particularly as a result of irrigation in hot climes. Also known as salinization.

Saline In reference to salt.

Salinization Salinization is the same as salination.

286

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Salinized Referring to soil when evaporation forms a crust of salts on the dry surface.

Salinity The quantity of salt in a given volume of water or land.

Saliva A transparent fluid released into the mouth by the salivary glands that contains water, mucus, and enzymes to lubricate food and break down starch into sugars.

Salivary Digestion The initial stage of digestion, which is triggered by saliva in an animal’s mouth.

Salivary Gland A saliva secreting gland.

Salivation The act of producing saliva.

Salmonella A genus of bacteria present in the intestines and acquired by the consumption of contaminated food (NOTE: Food poisoning and typhoid fever are caused by different species.)

Salmonellosis A disease caused by a bacteria called Salmonella.

Salsify A vegetable-producing plant with a long white root.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

287

Salt Poisoning A pig sickness that is generally caused by a lack of water, but can also be caused by an excess in salt in the feed. Pigs become constipated before they twitch, have fits, or die.

Salty Having a salt content. Excess minerals in fertilizers coupled with naturally saline earth to make the land so salty that crops could no longer be grown on it. 2. Salty flavor.

Sand Fine worn rock grains, typically spherical quartz grains, found primarily on beaches and in the desert.

Sandstone A sedimentary rock composed of spherical quartz particles.

Figure 84. Ferruginous Sandstone (Newark Supergroup, Upper Triassic; Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, USA). Source: Image by Flickr

Sandy Soil Soil containing a high amount of sand particles, generally 50% (NOTE: Sandy soil feels gritty. These soils drain well and are inherently deficient

288

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

in plant nutrients due to leaching. They are commonly referred to as ‘light’ soils since they are simple to deal with, as well as ‘hungry’ soils because they require fertilizer. Market gardening is well suited to sandy soils.)

Sap A nutrient-carrying liquid that flows within a plant.

Sapling A young tree

Sappy Referring to sap-filled tree trunks, branches, or wood.

SaproPrefix. Decay or rotting.

Saprophagous Referring to organisms that feed on organic stuff that has decayed.

Saprophyte A living creature that feeds on dead or decaying organic substances, such as a fungus.

Saprophytic Organisms that survive and feed on deceased or decaying organic matter.

Sapwood An exterior layer of wood on a tree’s trunk that is younger than the heartwood within and transports sap.

Sardinian A notable breed of Italian sheep that supplies milk for cheese production.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

289

Satellite A man-made spacecraft that revolves around the Earth, receiving, processing, and transmitting signals as well as producing imagery such as weather maps.

Sativus A Latin term that means ‘sown’ or ‘planted,’ and is included in the generic names of numerous plants.

Saturate To fill something up with the maximum liquid that can be absorbed by it. Nitrates leached from forest soils, indicating that the soils are nitrogensaturated.

Savoy A winter cabbage with crinkly leaves.

Sawdust The powder created while cutting wood. Sawdust is utilized as both a mulch for plants and as animal bedding.

Sawfly A family of insects whose larvae or caterpillars inflict significant harm to fruits and crops. The apple sawfly, gooseberry sawfly, pear and cherry sawfly, and rose sawfly are among them.

Saw-Toothed Beetle A dark brown beetle that lives on grain that has been stored. The eggs are deposited in the grain, and the larvae eat it, causing mold to grow.

Scabies A severely irritating skin condition caused by a mite that resides beneath the skin.

290

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Scald A defect in stored apples in which brown spots form on the surface and the tissue beneath softens. 2. A bacterial illness that affects sheep. Lambs get lame as a result of it.

Scale A leaf structure with a thin membrane.

Scaly Leg A disease that affects the legs of chickens and is caused by a mite that burrows under the leg scales, causing severe itching. On the unfeathered regions of the legs, large hard scales form.

Scar A scar that remains on the skin’s surface after a wound has healed.

Scarecrow A man-shaped figure dressed in old clothes that is placed in fields to drive birds away from growing crops.

Scarifier A machine with tines that stirs the surface of the soil without turning it over.

Scarify To agitate the surface of the soil with a tined device, such as a wire rake, without turning it over. Scarification can be used to remove moss and matted grass from lawns. 2. To break the seed’s outer shell in order to hasten germination.

Schistosoma A fluke that enters the patient’s circulation and causes schistosomiasis.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

291

Figure 85. Schistosoma mansoni. Source: Image by Flickr

Schistosomiasis A tropical sickness caused by flukes ingested in water that affects the bowel or bladder Also known as bilharziasis.

Sciarid Fly A pest (Bradysia) that preys on greenhouse pot plants. The larvae feed on plants’ tender roots, causing them to wilt.

292

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Scion A plant fragment that has been grafted onto a rootstock.

Sclerotic Refers to the process through which plant cell walls harden and thicken, causing stems to become woody.

Sclerotinia A soil-borne disease that affects a wide range of crops, including potatoes, oilseed rape, and peas.

Scots Pine A common European conifer that is commercially cultivated. Latin name: Pinus sylvestris.

Scour To clean wool by washing it to remove grease and impurities.

Scouring Livestock diarrhea. It might be a sign of another ailment, such as Johne’s disease, dysentery, or coccidiosis, or it could just be the result of a cold or a bad diet.

SCP The abbreviation for sustainable consumption and production.

Scraper A tractor attachment with a steel frame It features a rubber scraping edge and is used for heavy-duty tasks such as cleaning sludge from farmyards.

Scrapie A sheep and goat brain illness. Affected animals jitter, followed by severe itching and thirst. They grow incredibly thin and die as a result. It is an illness that must be reported.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

293

Screen A hedge or row of trees planted to provide shade for other plants, to cover something from the wind, or to hide something, To grade grain by passing it through a sieve or to shield plants from wind, for example, by planting windbreaks.

Screenings The little grains that pass through the sieve when grain is screened.

Screwworm A fly that looks like a bluebottle but is dark green in color, found throughout Central and South America. It wiped off cattle in the United States in the 1950s, but it has since been eliminated.

Scrub Small trees and shrubs 2. A plot of land densely forested with tiny trees and shrubs scrubland, Terrain densely forested with tiny trees and shrubs.

Scurs Small horns that are connected to the skin rather than being part of the animal’s skull.

Seakale A cabbage family plant whose leaves are eaten as a vegetable.

Figure 86. Sea Kale (Crambe maritima) On Cogden Beach. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

294

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Season One of the four seasons of the year, i.e. spring, summer, autumn, and winter 2. The period of year when something occurs, such as the mating season 3. The oestrus phase of a female animal when she is in season and ready to mate.

Seasonal Seasonal temperature changes pertaining to or happening during a season. Plants develop in a predictable seasonal cycle.

Seaweed Any of the large algae seen in the sea that are often adhered to a surface.

Secateurs A pruning tool, such as little shears with sharp curved blades.

Secrete To generate a material such as a hormone, oil, or enzyme (of a gland).

Secretion A fluid that is secreted.

Sedentary Agriculture Engagement in subsistence agriculture in the same location by an established farmer.

Sedimentary Rocks Rocks created by the deposition of loose material such as sand and gravel, primarily in water.

Seed A fertilized ovule that, upon germination, produces a new plant, To create offspring by dropping seed, which germinates and matures into plants in subsequent seasons (of a plant). The poppies seeded throughout the garden. The tree was kept standing so that it might seed the area that had been cleared

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

295

around it, or To plant seeds at a certain location. The woods were cleared and then seeded with pines. To seed itself in order to organically spread seeds and expand the next year 3. To spray salt crystals, carbon dioxide, and other substances from an airplane into clouds in order to promote rain to fall.

Seedbed A plot of soil that has been tilled to generate a good tilth that is solid and level, onto which seeds will be sown. Some crops, such as potatoes, do not require a fine tilth and prefer a rough moist substrate.

Seedbed Wheels A set of wheels attached to the front of a tractor that provides consistent compaction and uniform sowing depth.

Seed-Borne Transmitted by seeds.

Seed-Borne Disease A disease transmitted through a plant’s seed.

Seed Box A container in which seeds can be placed in preparation for growing in a greenhouse 2. The portion of the plant head containing the seeds.

Seedcase A hard outer covering that protects the seeds of some plants.

Seed Certification Seed testing, sealing, and labeling sold to farmers. This guarantees that the seed is disease and weed free.

Seed Dormancy A time during which a seed remains dormant.

296

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Seed Dressing The application of a fungicide and/or an insecticide to seeds in order to avoid certain soil and seed-borne illnesses.

Seed Drill An equipment that consists of a hopper on wheels and a feed mechanism that distributes grain to seed tubes.

Seeder A seed-sowing machine.

Seeder Unit A seed drill that sows the seed at predetermined intervals in the soil.

Seedhead The top of a stalk with seeds, either in a seedcase or separately attached to the stem.

Seeding Year The calendar year in which the seed is sown.

Seedless With no seeds.

Seedless Hay Hay obtained from a grass crop after threshing out the seed heads.

Seedling A young plant that has recently grown from a seed.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

297

Figure 87. Seedling Gardening. Source: Image by Pixabay

Seed Mixture Seeds of different plants supplied by seed merchants to farmers to produce a new ley. It will include grasses and legumes.

Seed Potato A potato tuber which is sown to produce new plants. In the UK, these are grown mainly in Scotland, and produced under a certification scheme (the Seed Potato Classification Scheme).

Seed Rate The amount of seed sown per hectare written as kilos per hectare (kg/ha)

Seed Ripeness The stage at which the seed can be harvested successfully.

Seed Royalties Money paid by seed growers to breeders of seeds.

298

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Seed Tree A tree left standing when others are cut down, to allow it to drop seeds on the cleared land around it.

Seed Trials Tests of new seeds to see if they germinate correctly.

Seed Weevil A pest affecting brassica seed crops. Seeds are destroyed in their pods by the larvae.

Seep (Of a liquid) to flow slowly through a substance Water seeped through the rock. Chemicals seeped out of the container.

Seepage Slow oozing out of groundwater from the soil surface.

Select To identify plants or animals with desirable characteristics such as high yield or disease resistance as part of the activity of breeding new varieties.

Selection The process of identifying plants or animals with desirable characteristics such as high yield or disease resistance as part of the activity of breeding new varieties 2. An individual chosen from a group in a breeding program on the basis of distinctive characteristics.

Selective Pesticide A pesticide which takes toxic action against specific pests without affecting the growing crop.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

299

Selenium A trace element, an essential part of the diet for all animals. White muscle disease is the symptom of selenium deficiency.

Self-Blanching Celery A variety of celery where the stalks are naturally white, and do not need to be earthed up.

Self-Contained Herd A dairy herd which breeds its own replacements, the calves being kept and reared.

Self-Feed To take a controlled amount of feed from a large container as required.

Self-Feed Silage A feeding system where the stock feed from silage, the amount of silage available being centrally controlled.

Self-Fertile Referring to a plant that fertilizes itself with pollen from its own flowers.

Self-fertilization The fertilization of a plant or invertebrate animal with its own pollen or sperm selfing /selfiŋ/ same as self-fertilization.

Self-Pollination The pollination of a plant by pollen from its own flowers.

300

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Figure 88. Self - Pollination Ophrys apifera. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Self-Purification The ability of water to clean itself of polluting substances.

Self-Raising Flour A type of flour with baking powder added to it.

Self-Regulating (Of an ecosystem) controlling itself without outside intervention most tropical rainforests are self-regulating environments.

Self-Seeded Referring to a plant that grows from a seed that has fallen to the ground naturally rather than being sown intentionally several self-seeded poppies have come up in the vegetable garden.

Self-Sterile Referring to a plant that cannot fertilize itself from its own flowers.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

301

Self-Sufficiency A simple traditional way of farming with little use of modern technology that provides only enough food and other necessary materials for a family.

Self-Sufficient Able to provide enough food and other necessary materials for a family, often by means of a simple traditional way of farming with little use of modern technology. We’re self-sufficient in salad crops from the garden in the summertime. 2. able to provide the required quantity of a product locally or for yourself, without needing to purchase or import it.

Sell-By Date A date on the label of a food product which is the last date on which the product should be sold and can be guaranteed as of good quality.

Semen In mammals, a thick pale fluid containing spermatozoa, produced by the testes and ejaculated from the penis.

Semi-Digger A type of mouldboard on a plow.

Semi-Mounted Referring to an implement which is supported by a tractor but also has its own wheels.

Seminal Referring to semen or to seed.

Seminal Propagation The process of growing new plants from seed or from tubers such as potatoes.

Seminal Roots The secondary roots of a plant which support the primary root. This root system is then replaced by adventitious roots.

302

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Semio-chemical A chemical released by animals, especially insects, as a means of communication, e.g. a pheromone.

Semolina A coarse flour made from wheat after the fine flour has been ground. It is used to make puddings.

Senescence The process of growing older.

Sentient Capable of feeling and perception (NOTE: Since 1997 EU law has recognized that animals are sentient, and this concept lies behind the animal welfare codes that set out guidelines for the treatment of farm animals in the United Kingdom).

Sepal A part of the calyx of a flower, usually green and sometimes hairy.

Separate Concentrate Feeding A winter feeding system for livestock in which the animals are allowed free feeding of roughage and concentrates are fed separately in restricted quantities. Abbr SCF

Separated Milk Milk from which the cream has been removed. Also called skimmed milk.

Septic Tank An underground tank for household sewage that is not connected to the main drainage system and in which human waste is decomposed by the action of anaerobic bacteria.

Septoria A fungal disease which affects the leaves of wheat crops.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

303

Sericulture Raising silkworms for the production of silk.

Serve Of a male animal, to mate with a female.

Sessile Attached directly to a branch or stem without a stalk the acorns of a sessile oak tree have no stalks or very short stalks.

Sewage Waste water and other material such as faeces, carried away in sewers. Also called sewage waste.

Sewage Sludge The solid or semisolid part of sewage.

Sex One of the two groups, male and female, into which animals and plants can be divided.

Sex Linkage An existence of characteristics which are transmitted through the X chromosomes.

Sex-Linked Referring to a genetically inherited characteristic that appears in only one sex.

Sex Organs Organs which are associated with reproduction and sexual intercourse.

Shade A place sheltered from direct sunlight.

304

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Shade Plants Plants which prefer to grow in the shade.

Shading The action of cutting off the light of the sun Parts of the field near tall trees suffer from shading.

Shaggy Referring to an animal such as Highland cattle which has long hair.

Shank The lower part of a horse’s leg between the knee and the foot.

Sharecropper A tenant farmer who pays a part of his crop to the landlord as a form of rent.

Sharecropping A system of land tenure, whereby tenants pay an agreed share of the crop to the landlord as a form of rent.

Sharefarming A joint enterprise between a party with an interest in the land and another party involved in farming operations. Usually, one party provides the capital and the other the farm management inputs such as labor and equipment.

Shavings Thin curled pieces of wood removed when planing, used as litter for animals.

Sheaf A bundle of corn stalks tied together after reaping (NOTE: The plural is sheaves).

Shear To clip the fleece from a sheep.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

305

Shearer A person who clips the fleece off a sheep.

Shearling A young sheep which has been sheared for the first time.

Sheen The bright shiny appearance of a surface, used of fruit, animals’ coats, meat, etc.

Sheep A ruminant of the genus Ovis, family Bovidae. It is one of many domesticated varieties, farmed for its wool, meat and milk.

Sheep-Dip A chemical preparation used in a dipping bath to disinfect sheep to control diseases such as sheep scab.

Sheepdog A breed of a dog trained and used by shepherds in controlling sheep.

Sheep Maggot Fly A type of fly that lays its eggs on the wool of sheep. The eggs hatch into maggots that burrow into the flesh causing a condition known as ‘strike’.

Sheepman A shepherd, a farm worker who looks after sheep.

Sheepmeat A term used in the EU for meat from a sheep or lamb.

Sheep Pox A highly contagious viral disease. Symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, and difficulty in breathing and in the final stages scabs and ulcers appear. It is a notifiable disease.

306

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Sheep Run An extensive area used for sheep grazing, especially in New Zealand and Australia.

Sheep Scab A serious disease of sheep, caused by a parasitic mite, which results in intense irritation, skin ulcers, loss of wool and emaciation. It is a notifiable disease.

Sheep’s Fescue A species of grass useful under hill and marginal conditions.

Sheep Tick A small wingless dipterous insect, parasitic on sheep. Also called sheep ked.

Sheep Walk An area of land on which sheep are pastured.

Sheet Erosion Erosion that takes place evenly over the whole area of a slope, caused by the runoff from saturated soil after heavy rainfall.

Shelf-Life The number of days or weeks for which a product can stay on the shelf of a shop and still be good to use.

Shelter A structure or feature providing protection from wind, sun, rain or other weather conditions, or to protect something from weather conditions.

Shelter Belt A row of trees planted to give protection from wind ‘Over the years the family has carried out extensive improvements, putting in shelter belts, new buildings, land drainage and farm road layouts.’ [Farmers Guardian].

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

307

Shelterwood A large area of trees left standing when others are cut, to act as shelter for seedling trees.

Shepherd A person who looks after sheep.

Shepherd’s Purse A common weed (Capsella bursa-pastoris) in gardens and market gardens, found particularly among vegetables and root crops. Also called pepper and salt.

Shetland A rare breed of cattle, native to the Shetland Isles. It is medium-sized, black and white, with short legs, short horns and a bulky body. 2. A breed of sheep, native to the Shetland Isles. The color varies from white, through grey and black to light brown; the ewes are polled and the rams horned; it produces fine soft wool of high quality, used in the Shetland wool industry. A small Shetland ewe yields a fleece of 1.5–2 kilos in weight. 3. A breed of pony, used as a riding horse for children.

Shifting Cultivation An agricultural practice using the rotation of fields rather than of crops. Short cropping periods are followed by long fallows and fertility is maintained by the regeneration of vegetation. fallow 2. A form of cultivation practiced in some tropical countries, where land is cultivated until it is exhausted and then left as the farmers move on to another area. COMMENT: In shifting cultivation, the practice of clearing vegetation by burning is widespread. One of the simplest forms involves burning off thick and dry secondary vegetation. Immediately after burning, a crop like maize is planted and matures before the secondary vegetation has recovered. Where fire clearance methods are used, the ash acts as a fertilizer.

Shin The lower part of the foreleg of cattle 2. The upper part of a plowshare.

308

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Shire Horse A tall heavy breed of draught horse. The coat may be of various colors, but there is always a mass of hair at the feet.

Shivering An affliction of the nervous system with involuntary muscular contractions, usually of the hind legs. It is a progressive condition found in horses.

Shoddy A waste product of the wool industry. It contains up to 15% nitrogen and is used as a fertilizer, particularly in market gardens.

Shoe To make, fit and fix horseshoes to the feet of a horse.

Shoot 1. A new growth from the stem of a plant. 2. Part of a young seed plant, the stem and first leaves which show above the surface of the soil, or to kill something with a gun.

Short-Day Plant A plant that flowers as the days get shorter in the autumn, e.g. a chrysanthemum.

Short Duration Ley A ley which is kept only for a short time.

Short Duration Ryegrass A class of grasses that are important to the farmer, including Westerwolds, Italian and Hybrid. These grasses are quick to establish and give early grazing. They are used where persistency is not important.

Short-Grain Rice Varieties of rice with short grains, grown in cooler climates such as Japan.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

309

Shorthorn A breed of cattle, with short horns. COMMENT: In the 18th century, Charles Colling used many of the breeding principles established by Robert Bakewell to develop the shorthorn breed, which became the most common in Britain and remained so for over a hundred years. It later developed into three different strains: the Beef Shorthorn, the Dairy Shorthorn and the Lincoln Shorthorn.

Short Rotation Coppice Varieties of willow or poplar which yield a large amount of fuel and are grown as an energy crop ‘Though there are plenty of bio-feedstocks around, for example, short rotation coppice, few can be cost- and carbon-effectively turned into transport fuel.’ [Arable Farming].

Shred To tear something into tiny pieces Farmyard manure is shredded before being spread on fields.

Shredder A machine for shredding waste vegetable matter before composting.

Shrivel To become dry and wrinkled the leaves shriveled in the prolonged drought.

Shropshire A medium-sized breed of sheep with a black face and heavy fleece, now rare.

Shrub A perennial plant with several woody stems.

Sickle A curved knife-edged metal tool with a wooden handle, used for harvesting cereals.

310

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Sideland A strip of land left at the side of a field during plowing. It may be plowed up with the headlands.

Side Rake A machine that picks up two swaths and combines them into one before baling.

Sidewalk Farmer US: a farmer who cultivates land some way away from his or her house in a town.

Sieve A garden implement with a base made of mesh or with perforations through which fine particles can pass while coarse material is retained, or to pass soil, etc. through a sieve to produce a fine tilth, or to remove the soil from root crops such as potatoes.

Silage Food for cattle formed of grass and other green plants, cut and stored in silos. COMMENT: Silage is made by fermenting a crop with a high moisture content under anaerobic conditions. It may be made from a variety of crops, the most common being grass and maize, although grass and clover mixtures, green cereals, kale, root tops, sugar beet pulp and potatoes can also be used. Trials indicate that very high-quality grass silage can be fed to adult pigs.

Silage Additive A substance containing bacteria and/or chemicals used to speed up or improve the fermentation process in silage or to increase the amount of nutrients in it.

Silage Effluent An acidic liquid produced by the silage process, which can be a serious pollutant, especially if it drains into a watercourse.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

311

Silage Liquor A liquid which forms in silage and drains away from the silo.

Silage Tower A container used for making and storing silage.

Silk A thread produced by the larvae of a moth to make its cocoon (NOTE: It is used to make a smooth light fabric).

Silkworm A moth larva which produces silk thread.

Silo A large container for storing grain or silage COMMENT: There are many different types of silo. Some are pits dug into the ground, others are forms of surface clamp, while built silos are towers which may be either top- or bottom-loaded and are built of wood, concrete or steel.

Silopress A polythene ‘sack’ into which silage is forced. As the sack fills up, it gradually grows longer and when completely full is sealed. A ‘sack’ may contain up to 80 tonnes of silage.

Silt Soft mud which settles at the bottom of water 2. Particles of fine quartz with a diameter of 0.002 – 0.06mm.

Silvicide A substance which kills trees.

Silviculture The cultivation of trees as part of forestry.

312

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Simmental A breed of cattle originating in Switzerland, the color of which is yellowishbrown or red. It is a dual-purpose breed, with a high growth rate potential and good carcass quality.

Single-Suckling A natural method of rearing beef cattle, where calves are permitted to suckle their own mothers.

Singling The process of reducing the number of plants in a row 2. The process of reducing the number of plants from a multigerm seed to a single plant.

Sire The male parent of an animal 2. a male animal selected for breeding.

Skimmed Milk Milk which has had both fat and fat-soluble vitamins removed. It is used as a milk substitute for calves and lambs.

Skin The outer layer on an animal, fruit or vegetable.

Skin Spot A potato disease causing pimple-like dark brown spots which can harm the buds in the eyes of seed tubers.

Slapmark The herdmark allocated by Defra, put on both shoulders of a pig. There are no specifications on the size of the slapmark, but it must be legible.

Slaughter The killing of animals for food (NOTE: Animal welfare codes lay down rules for how animals should be slaughtered to ensure that they are not caused any avoidable and unnecessary pain or distress.) or to kill animals for food.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

313

Sling A type of harness that is used to support the weight of an animal that is suffering from some kind of disability.

Slink Calf A calf born early, before the normal period of gestation is complete.

Slip A small piece of plant stem, used to root as a cutting, or in budding or (of an animal) to miscarry.

Sludge A thick wet substance, especially wet mud or snow 2. The solid or semisolid part of sewage.

Sludge Composting The decomposition of sewage for use as a fertilizer or mulch.

Slug An invertebrate animal without a shell. It causes damage to plants by eating leaves or underground parts, especially in wet conditions.

Slug Pellet A small hard piece of a mixture containing a substance such as metaldehyde which kills slugs. Slug pellets are usually colored blue-green.

Sluice A channel for water, especially through a dam or other barrier.

Slurry Liquid or semi-liquid waste from animals, stored in tanks or lagoons and treated to be used as fertilizer ‘All the slurry from the cows and pigs is spread on the grass and maize ground. Regular soil testing is used to check the nutrient content, but there is seldom any need for artificial fertilizer.’ [Farmers Weekly].

314

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

SMEs Abbreviation small and medium-sized enterprises.

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.)

Smooth-Stalked Meadowgrass A species of grass that can withstand quite dry conditions. It is a perennial grass with smooth greyish-green leaves and green purplish flowers.

Smut A disease of cereal plants, caused by a fungus, that affects the development of the grain and makes it look black.

Snail A mollusc of the class Gastropoda. It is a pest that can be controlled by molluscicides.

Snap Beans US beans which are eaten in the pod, e.g. green beans or French beans, or of which the seed is eaten after drying, e.g. haricot beans. As opposed to broad beans or Lima beans, the seeds of which are eaten fresh.

SNF Percentage Abbreviation solid not-fat percentage.

Snout The nose and mouth of some animals, including the pig.

Snow Mold A fungal pre-emergent blight and root rot of cereals (Micronectriella nivalis).

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

315

Snow Rot A white mold growth affecting wheat, causing leaves to turn brown and shrivel (Typhula incarnata).

Soakaway A channel in the ground filled with gravel, which takes rainwater from a downpipe or liquid sewage from a septic tank and allows it to be absorbed into the surrounding soil ‘It is essential to investigate the history of the site to avoid the risk of flash flooding, and to ensure that the old clay land drain system is fully operational and accessible. If it discharges into soakaways it should be diverted if possible into open ditches’.

Sodium A chemical element that is a constituent of common salt and essential to animal life.

T

Tabanidae A group of horse flies with long, stout antennae that are generally big and fast-flying. The majority of females drink blood and use their blade-like jaws to attack big creatures like cattle.

Table Bird A meat-producing poultry bird.

Table Chicken Chicken that has been bred for consumption rather than for egg production

Tack 1. Harnessing equipment 2. On tack obtained from or used by a farmer to graze on the pastures of another farmer

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

317

Tackroom A place to keep harnesses and other safety gear. It is important to keep the tack dry and damp-free

Taenia A tapeworm genus

Tag A label that is placed on an animal in order to identify it

Tail biting A type of behavior in which one animal bites the tail of another animal, notably in pigs. While the reason is unknown, it might be related to poor housing.

Tail Corn Corn kernels of a smaller size

Tailpiece An appendage to a plow’s mouldboard that aids in pressing down the furrow slice

Taint Verb to give food a disagreeable flavor

Take Verb to succeed in growing

Tall Fescue A tough perennial grass that is commonly utilized for winter grazing in mountainous or less arable locations.

Tallow A byproduct of cattle generated by reducing all inedible waste. It is used in the production of soap and previously added to animal diets

318

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Tamworth A pig breed with a red-gold coat that protects the animal from sunburn.

Tan Verb to turn animal hides into leather

Tandem Parlour A milking parlour in which the cows line up with their sides towards the milker

Tank 1. A large storage container for fluids, such as a water tank or a fuel tank 2. A huge liquid-holding container that is part of a spraying mechanism

Tanker A vehicle that transports liquids such as gasoline or milk

Tank Mix The technique of combining numerous insecticides into a single spray combination

Tanning The procedure of turning animal hides into leather

Tap A pipe having a handle that may be cranked to discharge liquid or gas from a container. Verb to empty or discharge liquid from a container

Tapeworm A parasite worm that dwells mostly in the guts of vertebrate animals, such as humans, and has a lengthy flattened striated appearance.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

319

Figure 89. Taenia saginata and Taenia solium, Pork Tapeworm (top) and Beef Tapeworm (bottom). Contributed by Dr. Mae Melvin; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Source: Lesh EJ, Brady MF. Tapeworm. [Updated 2021 Sep 4]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537154/

Taproot A plant’s thick primary root that grows directly down into the ground. In contrast to a fibrous root system, which does not have a main root, a taproot system contains a main root that has many smaller roots growing off it.

Tare 1. The same as vetch 2. The weight of a container or the packing used to wrap items.

320

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Tarentaise A French dairy cow breed from the Savoie area. The animals have a golden fawn color and a black muzzle, ears, and tail.

Target Price The wholesale price for specific items, such as wheat, that market management aims to reach inside the European Union. It is associated with the support price.

Tariff A government-imposed tax or taxes on imported or occasionally exported commodities.

Tar Oil. A winter treatment applied to fruit trees in order to reduce aphids and scale insects

Tarragon A fragrant plant (Artemisia dracunculus) whose leaves are used as a seasoning

Tassel 1. A maize plant’s male flower 2. A hairy outgrowth that hangs from a male turkey’s neck

Tattoo An identification mark on an animal’s body

TBC Abbreviation for total bacterial count

Tea The dried leaves of one or more Camellia plants, of which Camelia sinensis is the most prevalent.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

321

Teaser Ram A vasectomized ram which is used to rouse ewes by ‘non-fertile’ mating before fertile rams are introduced.

Teat An udder’s nipple. The udder in cows has four sections, each of which is emptied by a teat.

Teat Chaps Plural Teat sores, most likely induced by abrasions from the milking machine

Teat Cup A tube that goes over the cow’s teat and is a component of a milking machine

Teat Dipping A method of preventing mastitis in cattle. The teats are disinfected by dipping them in a cup with iodophor.

Technology 1. The application of scientific knowledge to the development of industrial machinery and procedures 2. Machines and procedures created with the use of scientific knowledge.

Tedder A machine that lifts and loosens a swath of chopped crop to let air circulate through it.

Tedding The practice of spreading hay by raising swathes of freshly mown grass in order to expose more grass to the light and air and allow it to dry more rapidly

Teeswater A longwool sheep breed with a black muzzle. It is used to create Masham hybrids by providing rams for crossbreeding with Swaledale ewes.

322

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Teg A sheep that is in the second year of its life

Telemark A dairy cow breed from Norway. The animals are red with white spots on their bodies.

Tel Quell Adjective refers to the weight in tonnes of any variety of sugar

Temporary Grassland Fertile ground cultivated for a brief time

Tenant A person who pays a landlord rent in exchange for the lease of a farm and land.

Tender Adjective 1. Fragile and prone to injury 2. Refers to a plant that is unable to withstand frost

Tenderize Verb to make meat softer by storing it in cold temperatures for a period of time, administering compounds such as papain, infusing it with enzymes, and so on.

Tenderometer An instrument for determining the firmness of vining peas so that harvesting can occur at the appropriate time.

Tendon A connective tissue strip that links a muscle with a bone.

Tendril A plant’s stem, leaf, or petiole that has been transformed into a thin touchsensitive organ that wraps around things and supports climbing plants.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

323

Figure 90. Tendril Spiral of Garden Pea. Source: Image by Flickr

Terminal Adjective a bud or shot near the completion of a shoot

Terminal Sire A crossbreeding sire whose offspring will have a rapid rate of development and good carcass quality, but will not be suited for breeding.

Terrace A level stretch of ground running along the contours of a sloping mountain. Verb to create terraces on a hillside

Terrace Cultivation Hill slopes carved in order to create terraced fields that rise in a series of steps one above the other and are farmed, typically with water.

324

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Terrain The surface properties of a ground or a region of land.

Terra Rossa A red soil that grows atop limestone and can be found in Spain, Southern France, and Southern Italy.

Terrier A list of land that has been owned, as well as the occupation and usage of that land.

Tertiary Adjective following two other items.

Teschen Disease An enterovirus-caused viral illness in pigs. It is a communicable disease that causes fever, paralysis, and, in some cases, death.

Testa A seed’s strong protective covering that shields the embryo inside. Another name for it is seed coat.

Testis One of two sperm-producing male sex glands in the scrotum. The paired testes release sex hormones in animals, including humans. Testes is the plural form of testis.

Tetanus A soil infection produced by Clostridium tetani. It infects the spinal cord and induces the occurrence of spasms in the jaw.

Tether A halter, a rope, or a chain for tying up animals. Verb to bind an animal using a rope or chain in order to prevent it from fleeing.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

325

Tetracycline An antibiotic that is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections.

Tetraploid Grass and clover varieties having bigger seeds and plants than regular grass and clover. They have a deep green color, are low in dry matter, and are appetising and digestible. Wheat also comes in tetraploidal variants.

Texan Angora Goat A fine-haired goat breed brought from the United States.

Texel A sheep breed from northern Holland. It is used in crossbreeding as a flock sire.

Thatch Verb to construct a roof out of reeds, straw, grass, or other plant material.

Theaves Plural a female sheep in between the first second shearing.

Theoretical Field Capacity The amount of work that could be done if a machine worked at its maximal forward speed all of the time.

Therophyte An annual plant that grows from a seed and dies after one season in favorable conditions then survives the unfavorable season as seeds. Therophytes include several desert plants as well as species that grow on cultivated ground.

Thiabendazole A worming agent for cattle.

326

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Thiamine Vitamin B1. It may be found in yeast, cereals, liver, and pig.

Thicket A densely packed forest of saplings and shrubs.

Thin Verb removing a lot of tiny plants from a crop field so that the remaining plants can develop more vigorously.

Thinnings Small plants that are eliminated to allow others to thrive.

Thistle A thorny or prickly perennial weed (Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare) with big purple or white flower heads that grows as an upright plant.

Thorax 1. A hollow in an animal’s upper body above the belly that contains the diaphragm, heart, and lungs, and is bordered by the rib cage. 2. The part of an insect’s body that is between the head and the abdomen.

Figure 91. Thorax. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

327

Thorn 1. A sharp, wooden spike on the stems or branches of plants 2. A plant or tree whose stems or branches have pointed woody tips.

Thornless Adjective referring to a thornless plant He created a thornless blackberry strain.

Thoroughbred Adjective, refers to a horse that has been bred for certain attributes, such as racing ability.

Thousand Grain Weight The weight of a thousand grains. It is used as a grain quality measure.

Thousand-Headed Kale A type of kale cultivated for the purpose of feeding cattle throughout the winter months. It has a lot of little leaves and a lot of branches. In the winter season, the dwarf thousand-head grows a huge number of new shoots.

Threadworm A little parasitic worm that dwells in the large intestine. Belongs to the genus Enterobius.

Three-Point Linkage A system for attaching tools to a tractor. Implements may be linked quickly and safely with automatic couplers for three-point connection.

Three-Times-A-Day A milking method that milks cows three times each day. Milk yields can be increased by using this approach.

Thresh Verb to remove grains from plant stems and seed heads.

328

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Threshing Machine A machine that was used to thresh grains but has now been substituted for a combine harvester.

Threshold Price The lowest price at which agricultural produce imported can be sold in the European Union. This is the domestic market price below which the government or its agencies should purchase all of the produce available for sale at that price by producers.

Thrift An animal’s well being.

Thrifty Adjective: a term used to describe an animal that is growing healthily.

Thrips An insect that is a vegetable pest. Thrips feed on the undersides of leaves, making crimson or blackish-brown stains of sap or other fluids. Onion thrips, grain thrips, and pea thrips are common examples.

Thrive Verb: robust development and growth of an animal or plant.

Throw Verb giving birth to an offspring.

Thrunter An ewe that is three-years-old.

Thrush A condition that affects the frog of a horse’s hoof.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

329

Thyme A popular fragrant Mediterranean herb (Thymus). It is used as a flavoring agent in soups, stuffings, and sauces.

Tick A little parasite that feeds on the blood of the host. Belongs to the Order Acarida.

Tick Bean A tiny bean (Vicia faba L) that is commonly fed to horses and other livestock.

Tick-Borne Fever A contagious condition spread by tick bites. The illness reduces milk output in cattle and makes them more susceptible to other diseases. It causes fever, lethargy, and weight loss in sheep. Tick-borne fever has the ability to cause abortions.

Tick Pyaemia A disease that causes limb joint and internal abscesses in newborn lambs.

Tied Cottage A residence that can be inhabited by a renter as long as the tenant is a landlord’s employee.

Tier A collection of items arranged in a row above one another, such as the cages of a battery.

Tilapia A white tropical fish that can be raised in fish farms.

330

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Figure 92. Farmed Nile Tilapia in a Fish Market, Cairo, Egypt. Source: Image by Flickr

Tile Draining A method of draining land utilizing clay, plastic, or concrete subsurface drains. This task may be done with special machinery known as ‘tile-laying machines.’

Till Verb to prepare the land for agricultural production, particularly through digging and plowing.

Tillage The process of preparation of soil for farming.

Tiller A grass or cereal plant shoot that develops at ground level at the angle formed by a leaf and the main shoot. True stems emerge from the tillers only later in the plant’s growth.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

331

Tillering The process of wheat, barley, or oats plant producing several seedheads. Tillering results in a higher yield and may be caused by rolling the young crop when it begins to develop in the spring. Tilling is done to make up for a lack of establishment. It has a role in grasses as well.

Tilth An excellent, light crumbly soil that has been prepared for plant growth.

Timber Trees that have been or will be felled and turned into logs.

Timothy A tasty perennial grass with tufts (Phleum pratense). It may be grown in a variety of soils and is able to withstand winter. Along with ryegrass, it is used in grazing mixtures and as a hay plant.

Tipulidae A genus of insects that damages plant roots tissue culture. It includes crane flies and their larvae and leatherjacket.

Tissue Culture 1. Tissue of a plant or animal that is grown in a culture medium 2. A plant propagation process in which clones of the parent plant are reproduced on medium bearing plant hormones.

Title 1. The right to own things or property 2. a document that establishes a person’s legal right to own property.

Title Deeds Plural records proving who owns a piece of property.

TMR An acronym for total mixed ration.

332

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Toadstool A fungus that looks like an edible mushroom but is potentially deadly.

Tobacco Mosaic Virus A virus that affects both tobacco and tomato plants.

Tocopherol One of the fat-soluble compounds that comprise vitamin E.

Toe-In The difference in distance between the bases of a tractor’s front wheels and their tops. Toe-in increases steering response and decreases front tire degradation.

Toggenburg A little Swiss goat breed with white markings on the forehead, legs, and rump, and is pale brown in color. It has been evolved in the United Kingdom into a bigger, darker animal that is a good milker with an extended lactation phase.

Tolerance The aptitude of a living creature to accept or not be bothered by something.

Tolerant Adjective not having a negative reaction to a situation.

Tolerant Variety A crop variety that has been genetically modified to withstand disease or insect infestations.

Tolerate Verb not to have a negative reaction to anything.

Toleration The capacity or act of tolerating something.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

333

Tomato A popular food crop that yields a spherical fruit with a brilliant red exterior and a pulpy interior containing numerous seeds. The ripe fruit is used in salads and a variety of prepared meals, as well as juice and sauces. Large amounts are also canned.

Figure 93. Image Showing Tomatoes. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Ton 1. A metric unit of weight equal to 1016 kg. Another name for it is long ton 2. In the United States, it is equivalent to 907 kilograms. Another name for it is short ton.

Tonne A weight measuring unit equivalent to 1000kg. Another name for it is a metric ton.

Top Dressing A fertilizer that is sprayed on a growing crop.

Topknot A patch of hair on top of an animal’s head present in several cow and sheep breeds.

334

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Top Link Sensor The method through which many draught controls detect draught on a tractor implement. It employs the three-point linkage’s top link.

Topper A machine that removes the sugar beet tops.

Topper Unit A device having a chopper and blower that is part of a two- and threestage system.

Topping The procedure of removing the sugar beet root’s leaves and stems. Since overtopping can diminish yield, it must be handled carefully.

Tops Plural: Plants’ leaves and stems, such as with sugar beets, are harvested and utilized for feeding cattle and sheep, or processed into silage.

Top-Saving Attachment A topper unit attachment that gathers the sugar beet tops after they’ve been chopped off.

Topsoil The uppermost layer of soil, which typically contains organic material and is washed by rainfall into the subsoil below.

Total Bacterial Count A method of determining the severity of an illness by measuring the number of bacteria present in a sample of fluids obtained from the animal. It is abbreviated as TBC.

Total Mixed Ration A winter feed for cattle that consists of combining concentrates with roughage and providing the animals free access to the combination. It is

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

335

abbreviated as TMR.

Toulouse A medium-sized grey and white goose breed native to France.

Tow Verb to pull or carry a wheeled vehicle or device.

Towbar A sturdy bar on the rear of an automobile or tractor onto which another vehicle may be hooked to be towed.

Tower Silo A tall circular tower for silage storage.

Toxaemia Blood poisoning.

Toxic Adjective refers to a dangerous or hazardous chemical to humans, animals, or the environment.

Toxicity The extent to which a material is dangerous or hazardous.

Toxicologist A scientist who deals exclusively in the study of poisons.

Toxicology The scientific study of toxins and the effects they have on humans.

Toxic Substance A dangerous or hazardous substance to humans, animals, or the environment.

336

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Toxin Microorganism-produced poisonous chemical.

Toxoplasmosis A viral illness that affects ewes and causes miscarriages in pregnant animals.

Trace Element A chemical element required for organic development but only in minute amounts.

Traces Plural side-straps or chains used to draw a wagon or object behind a horse.

Tracklayer A large caterpillar tractor that is mostly used for earthmoving and drainage operations.

Tractor A huge wheeled vehicle used for a variety of activities. It is mostly used on farms to pull cultivation and spraying equipment.

Tractor-Mounted Loader A loader that is placed on a tractor rather than being towed.

Trafficability The soil’s capacity to support machinery or cattle without taking major soil damage. It is connected to the water content of the soil.

Trailed Implements Plural equipment hauled behind a tractor, such as harrows.

Trailer A machine used for transportation. Trailers with two or four wheels are used to transport grain and root crops, as well as for general agricultural purposes.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

337

Trailing Adjective refers to a plant whose shoots are spread out on the ground.

Train Verb to shape plants by connecting branches to supports or by trimming, particularly fruit trees and climbing plants.

Tramline A passage kept clean for tractor wheels to travel over. This passage is used as guidemark during the spraying and application of fertilizer to ensure that crop damage is kept minimized.

Transgenesis The process of passing genetic information from one organism to another.

Transgenic Adjective 1. A term used to describe an organism into which genetic information from a different species has been transplanted via genetic modification procedures. 2. Refers to methods of passing genetic material from one creature to another. An organism developed via genetic modification.

Figure 94. Double Transgenic Zebrafish. Source: Image by Flickr

338

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Transhumance The technique of transporting sheep and herds to higher summer pastures and then returning them to a valley in winter.

Translaminar Fungicide A fungicide that enters a plant’s system through the leaves.

Translocate Verb to transport chemicals through a plant’s tissues.

Translocated Herbicide A herbicide that, after being absorbed by the plant’s leaves, kills it.

Transpiration 1. Water loss in a plant via its stomata 2. The process of plant roots removing moisture from the soil and transferring it up the stem to the leaves.

Transplant 1. Uprooting a developing plant from one location and replanting it in another location’s soil 2. A plant transferred from one location to another. Verb to move a developing plant from one location and put it in soil in another.

Transport 1. A system for transferring goods from one location to another; road and rail transport form an integrated transport policy. Also referred to as transportation. 2. The act of transporting something from one location to another. (Animal welfare laws establish guidelines for how animals and birds should be handled during transportation to ensure their health and well-being.).

Tray A shallow flat container, often made of plastic, which is used to sow seeds in a greenhouse.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

339

Tree A plant having a single primary woody stem that can grow to considerable heights.

Tree Farming The cultivation of trees for commercial reasons

Tree Surgeon A specialist in the care of unhealthy or elderly trees through the cutting or lopping of branches.

Trefoil A leguminous plant that looks like a slender wiry version of a small-flowered yellow clover and is sometimes used in pasture combinations. It is a good catch crop that grows well on marshy acid soils.

Trematode A fluke, a flatworm parasite.

Trench A long, narrow opening in the earth.

Trenching A double-digging technique that relaxes the soil till a depth of two feet, which is double the depth achieved through ordinary digging.

Trial A test to determine if something works properly.

Triazine One of a family of herbicides that act in the soil, such as atrazine and simazine. These compounds do not harm maize.

340

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Triazole One of a family of systemic, preventative, and curative fungicides, such as tebuconazole or myclobutanil. Triazoles are effective on a wide variety of crops.

Trichomonas A type of long, thin parasite that lives in the intestines. Cattle infertility can be caused by Trichomonas foetus.

Figure 95. Image Showing Trichomonas vaginalis. Source: Image by Wikimedia Commons

Trifolium The crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum). It is a plant that thrives on calcareous loams and is used as a catch crop following cereals. It is grown as a winter annual in mixed herbage for feed, notably for sheep.

Trifuralin A popular herbicide that is put into the soil before growing a variety of crops. (It is being evaluated for removal from usage in the European Union.)

Trim Verb to remove the ends of anything, such as branches from a shrub or a hedge, in order to give the item a sleeker appearance.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

341

Trimmer A device for pruning hedges.

Trimmings Plural little fragments of plant clipped from a hedge when pruning.

Trip Device A gadget that detects when a person is gaining much proximity to a hazard and separates the hazard before contact is made. Trip devices can be trip bars, as seen on certain rotating arm bale wraps.

Triple-Purpose Animal A breed of animal, mainly cattle, utilized for three purposes: milk, meat, and as a draught animal.

Tripoding The method of drying hay in the field on a wooden frame. It is seldom practiced in the United Kingdom, although it is still widespread in various regions of Europe. Tripoding may also be used to dry out peas.

Triticale A new wheat and rye cereal hybrid. It combines wheat’s production potential with rye’s winter hardiness and drought resistance. Triticale is increasingly being utilized in the UK to replace winter and spring feed barleys. It has strong disease resistance and a little need for chemical fertilizer. The name is a combination of the Latin words for wheat (Triticum) and rye.

Triticum Refers to wheat in Latin.

Trocar A pointed rod that slides into a cannula to extract fluids or pierce an animal’s stomach to allow gases to pass, as done in the management of bloat.

342

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Trotter A pig or sheep’s foot.

Trough 1. A long, narrow band with low pressure having cold air flowing through it that leads away from the middle of a depression 2. A long, thin, open wooden or metal container used to store cattle water or feed.

Trough Space The maximum length of a trough that should be provided to each animal in a cage ensuring that they all have enough room to feed comfortably. Troughs should not be more than 500 meters distant, else, the length that the cow must walk for a drink may have an impact on production. The trough should be big enough for 15% of the herd to drink at once.

Truck Farming US: a term used to denote intense vegetable farming far off from metropolitan marketplaces where the products are distributed.

Trug A low fruit or garden basket composed of willow strips attached to a sturdy ash or chestnut structure.

Trunk A tree’s primary woody stem.

Truss 1. A hay or straw bundle 2. A clump of flowers or fruit, such as tomatoes.

Tryptophan A necessary amino acid.

TSE Abbreviation for transmissible spongiform encephalopathy.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

343

Tuber A swelling subterranean stem or root that stores nutrients and bears buds from which branches emerge. A potato is a tuber that grows on a potato plant. New shoots emerge from tubers such as potatoes, cassavas, and sweet potatoes.

Figure 96. Potato Tuber with Shoots. Source: Image by Flickr

Tubercle 1. A little elevated region on a plant or animal’s body 2. A little tuber.

Tuberculosis An infectious illness produced by the TB bacillus that causes infectious lumps in tissue. It affects humans and other animals, though cattle and pigs are the generally impacted species. It is a notifiable disease.

344

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Tunnel A large structure having a semicircular roof.

Tunnel Cloche A long continuous covering, generally made out of plastic that is placed over rows of plants.

Tunnel Drying A hay drying storage method in which the bales are piled in the shape of a tunnel above a central duct through which unheated air passes.

Turbary A location where grass or peat is excavated for fuel.

Turf A grass-covered dirt surface with roots tangled in the soil.

Turkey A large meat-producing poultry bird. Mature males are referred to as cocks or toms, while adult females are referred to as hens.

Turnip A brassica plant with a swollen root that serves as a fodder crop as well as a vegetable.

Turn Out Verb to release cattle into pasture after keeping them inside all winter. In March, the ewes are turned out.

TUSDAC Abbreviation an acronym for Trade Union Sustainable Development Advisory Committee.

Tussock Grass A coarse grass that grows in tufts.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

345

TVO Abbreviation for tractor vaporizing oil.

Twice-A-Day A milking technique that requires cows to be milked twice a day.

Twig A tiny woody outgrowth on a tree limb that bears leaves, flowers, or fruit.

Twin One of two offsprings or animals born at the same time from two ova fertilized at the same time or from a single ovum that divides into two twin embryos of twin young, employed in ET.

Twinning The process of giving birth to twin babies.

Twinter An ewe that is two years old.

Twist A cereal and grass disease that causes deformation of the leaves and stalks owing to the presence of an internal fungus (Dilophospora alopecuri). This may obstruct the ear’s emergence from its sheath.

Two-Tooth A sheep about 18 months old with two permanent incisors.

U Udder The mammary organ of an animal, which secretes milk. It appears as a sack under the body of the creature with nipples from which the milk is sucked.

Udder Oedema A sickness in which the udder becomes enlarged, presumably because of expanded tension in the milk vein around the hour of calving. It tends to be brought about by the overabundance of sodium in diet.

Ugli A trademark for a citrus fruit similar to a grapefruit, but of uneven shape.

UHT Sterilization Disinfection of milk at exceptionally high temperatures. Milk which has been treated in this manner might be hidden away times of as long as one year.

Ulcer An open sore in the skin or in the mucous membrane, which is inflamed and difficult to heal.

Ulceration 1. A condition where ulcers develop. 2. The development of an ulcer.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

347

Ultra-Heat Treated Modifier (of milk) treated by cleaning at temperatures above 135°C, and afterward put aseptically into holders. Ultra-heat treated milk has a significantly longer timeframe of realistic usability than typical milk.

Ultra-High Temperature Modifier alluding to something, for example, milk which has gone through a course of disinfection at extremely high temperatures. Abbr UHT

Ultramicroscopic Ultramicroscopic refers to - a too small to be seen with a light microscope.

Ultrasonics Utilizing high-recurrence sound waves to determine what is beneath the skin of a live creature. By utilizing ultrasonics, it is feasible to tell how much layers and the muscle region fat.

Umbel A flower bunch in which the flowers all rise on stalks from a similar point on the plant’s stem, for example on a carrot or polyanthus.

Umbellifer A plant belonging to the Umbelliferae.

Umbelliferae A group of spices and bushes, including significant food plants like carrot, parsnip and celery.

Umbelliferous Referring to a plant of the Umbelliferae.

Unavailable Water Water in the soil which is held in the smallest soil pores and so is not available for plants.

348

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Uncastrated A male animal which has not been castrated. Also called entire.

Unchitted Referring to seed that has not been chitted.

Uncropped Land Land on which crops are not currently being grown or have never been grown.

Undercoat Undercoat is a coat of fine hair under the main coat of some animals.

Under-Drain A drain under the surface of the soil, e.g., a mole drains or pipe drain.

Underfeeding The action of giving an animal less feed than it needs.

Undergrowth Shrubs and other plants growing under large trees.

Undershot Wheel It is a sort of waterwheel where the wheel rests in the progression of water which passes under it and makes it turn. Look at overshot wheel.

Undersow Undersow is a grass combination after an arable harvest has laid out, so that both create simultaneously. Grains are most frequently utilized as cover crops.

Understorey The lowest layer of small trees and shrubs in a wood, below the canopy.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

349

Unenclosed Land It is an area of land without any walls or fences round it.

Ungulata Ungulata refers to grazing animals that have hoofs, e.g., cattle, sheep, goats and horses.

Unheated The term ‘unheated’ refers to something which is not heated.

Unimproved Descriptor alluding to land which has not been all around taken care of and has not been improved by preparing and legitimate farming.

Unisexual It is a plant that has either male or female flowers, yet not both.

Unit Cost It refers to the expense of one thing, determined as the all-out item cost isolated by the quantity of units delivered.

Unit of Compost Unit of compost refers to 1% of one hundred weight.

Unnecessary Pain, Unnecessary Distress Any experiencing caused to animals which can and ought to be kept away from, cases of which will make a farm bomb quality and sponsorship related reviews. Abbr UPUD

Unpaired A chromosome which isn’t related to one more chromosome of a similar sort.

Unpalatable Having an unpleasant taste.

350

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Unpasteurized Refers to something such as milk that has not been pasteurized.

Unplowed Land It is land that has not been plowed.

Unsaturated Fat Fat that does not have a large amount of hydrogen and so can be broken down more easily.

Unthrifty Not thriving or not growing well.

Untreated Milk Milk which has not been treated and which is sold directly from the farm to the public.

Unweaned A young animal that has not yet been weaned.

Upgrade Verb to make improvements to a herd by repeated crossing with superior males.

Upland An inland area of high land.

Upland Crop A crop that is grown in hilly areas.

Uptake The taking in of trace elements or nutrients by a plant or animal ‘Poor rooting is responsible for poor nutrient uptake and drought stress during the

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

351

growing season. This phenomenon is not unique to just direct drilled crops, but the system exaggerates the problems which can be diluted by tillage.’ [Arable Farming]

Urban Fringe An area of land use where the urban activities meet the rural, usually a source of conflict between townspeople and farmers.

Urea A popular fertilizer used as a top dressing to supply nitrogen. Formula: CO(NH2)2.

Uric Acid A chemical compound that is formed from nitrogen in waste products from the body.

Urine A liquid secreted as waste from an animal’s body.

Urticaceae Urticaceae is a family of shrubs and herbs with stinging leaves such as the common stinging nettle (Urtica dioica).

Urticaria Urticaria is an allergic reaction, e.g., to injections or certain foods, where the skin forms irritating reddish patches.

Uterus An organ inside which the eggs or young of animals develop (NOTE: In humans and other mammals it is often called the womb and has strong muscles to push the baby out at birth.)

V

Vaccinate The process of giving a vaccine to a person to increase immunization against a specific disease.

Vaccination The action of vaccinating someone against a disease.

Vaccine It is a substance which contains the germs of a disease, used to inoculate or vaccinate someone against it.

Vacuum Silage Silage placed in large polythene bags, usually by a baler specially adapted for this purpose. Air is excluded, so preventing the development of Moulds and the green crop is conserved in succulent form.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

353

Vagal Indigestion A disease of livestock due to malfunction of the vagus nerve which controls the activity of the stomach and intestines.

Valine An essential amino acid.

Value Added The difference between the cost of the materials purchased to produce a product and the final selling price of the finished product (NOTE: In agriculture, activities that add value include butchering, milling wheat or turning milk into cheese.)

Vanilla A tropical climbing plant (Vanilla planiolia) that produces long pods, used for flavoring in confectionery.

Variable Premium An extra payment which varies according to production quality.

Variant A specimen of a plant or animal that is different from the usual type.

Variant CJD a form of Creutzfeldt Jakob disease which was observed first in the 1980s, especially affecting younger people. Abbr vCJD

Variegated A plant with different-colored patches.

Variegation A phenomenon in some plants where two or more colors occur in patches on the leaves or flowers.

354

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Varietal A variety of cultivated plants such as a grapevine.

Variety A named cultivated plant a new variety of wheat also called cultivar.

Vasectomise Vasectomize is an action to perform a vasectomy on an animal.

Vasectomy An operation to cut the duct which takes sperm from the testicles, so making the animal infertile.

Veal Is meat of a young calf fed solely on a milk diet, slaughtered between three and fifteen weeks old.

Vector An insect or animal which carries a disease or parasite and can pass it to other organisms.

Veer (Of the wind) to change in a clockwise direction, in the northern hemisphere.

Vegetable A plant grown for food, especially plants grown for leaves, roots or pods or seeds that are usually cooked.

Vegetable Oils Plural oils obtained from plants and their seeds, which are low in saturated fats.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

355

Vegetable Protein Protein obtained from cereals, oilseeds, pulses, green vegetables and roots, which provides for the feeding requirements of both humans and livestock.

Vegetarian A person who does not eat meat.

Vegetation Plants that are growing.

Vegetative Propagation The artificial reproduction of plants by taking cuttings or by grafting, not by seed.

Ventilate Helps to cause air to pass in and out of a place.

Ventilation The process of air passing in and out of a place freely.

Ventilator A device that causes fresh air to pass into a room or building.

Ventricle 1. A chamber of the heart that receives blood from the atria and pumps it to the arteries. 2. One of the cavities of the vertebrate brain that connects with the others and contains cerebrospinal fluid.

Verandah A type of housing for poultry or pigs with a slatted or wire floor, through which the droppings fall.

356

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Verge 1. The edge or boundary of something. 2. An area of grass and other plants at the side of a road.

Vermicide It is a substance that kills worms.

Vermiculite A substance that is a form of silica processed into small pieces. It is used instead of soil in horticulture because it retains moisture.

Vermifuge A substance used to get rid of parasitic worms in the intestines of livestock.

Vermin An organism that is regarded as a pest.

Vernalization 1. A requirement by some plants for a period of cold in order to develop normally. 2. The technique of making a seed germinate early by refrigerating it for a time.

Verroa A disease that affects bees.

Vertebrate An animal that has a backbone adjective referring to animals that have a backbone.

Vertical-Looking Radar Radar equipment used for the analysis of features such as insect populations and movement. Abbr VLR

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

357

Verticillium Wilt A plant disease caused by a fungus, which makes leaves become yellow and wilt. It is a notifiable disease of hops, and also a serious disease in lucerne and clovers.

Vetch A leguminous plant (Vicia sativa). Vetches can be sown with oats as an arable silage. Also called tare.

Veterinary Adjective referring to the care of sick animals.

Veterinary Science The scientific study of diseases of animals and their treatment.

Veterinary Surgeon A person who is qualified to give medical treatment to animals.

Veterinary Surveillance Strategy A 10-year initiative by Defra to monitor animal diseases in farms, so that the information can be used to plan future health and welfare practices.

V-Graft A method of grafting, where the stem of the stock is trimmed to a point, and the stem of the cutting is split to allow it to be fitted over the point of the stock.

Vibriosis A venereal disease in cattle that leads to a high incidence of infertility and abortion. It can be prevented by vaccination.

Vice A bad habit in an animal, e.g., the habit of biting other animals’ tails.

358

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Vicia The Latin name for beans such as broad beans.

Vida VIDA abbreviation Veterinary Investigation Diagnosis Analysis.

Vigorous Adjective growing strongly.

Vine 1. A plant that supports itself by climbing up something or creeping along a surface. 2. A flexible stem of a vine plant. 3. Same as grapevine.

Vine Crops Plural crops (Cucurbitaceae) such as cucumber, marrow, gourds and melons, which are annuals and produce long trailing shoots and heavy fleshy fruit.

Viner A machine for harvesting vining peas.

Vineyard A plantation of grapevines.

Vining The harvesting of peas for processing.

Vining Peas Peas used for canning or freezing.

Violet Root Rot A common disease of sugar beet in which a violet-colored fungus (Helicobasadium purpureum) grows on the surface of the root. It lowers the sugar content of the plant.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

359

Viral Adjective referring to or caused by a virus.

Viral Strike Any apparently new virus disease, borne by wind or vectors, which travels through a wide area causing devastating effects for a time, especially in large livestock units.

Virgin In its natural state, untouched by humans.

Virgin Land Land which has never been cultivated.

Virus A microorganism consisting of a nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat which can only develop in other cells, and often destroys them.

Virus Yellows A disease of sugar beet and mangolds as a result of which the leaves turn yellow and the sugar content is greatly reduced. Crops are most at risk when virus-carrying aphids infest the plants at the two-leaf stage.

Viscera The internal organs, in particular, the intestines and other contents of the abdomen.

Vitamin A substance not produced in the body, but found in most foods, and needed for good health.

Vitamin A Vitamin A is a vitamin which is soluble in fat and can be synthesized in the body from precursors, but is mainly found in food such as liver, vegetables, eggs and cod liver oil. Also called retinol.

360

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Vitamin B1 A vitamin found in yeast, liver, cereals and pork. Also called thiamine.

Vitamin B2 A vitamin found in eggs, liver, green vegetables, milk and yeast. Also called riboflavin.

Vitamin B6 A vitamin found in meat, cereals and molasses. Also called pyridoxine.

Vitamin B12 A water-soluble vitamin found especially in liver, milk and eggs but not in vegetables, and important for blood formation, nerve function, and growth. Also called cyanocobalamin (NOTE: A deficiency of B12 causes pernicious anemia).

Vitamin B Complex A group of vitamins that are soluble in water, including folic acid, pyridoxine and riboflavin.

Vitamin C A vitamin that is soluble in water and is found in fresh fruit, especially oranges and lemons, raw vegetables and liver. Also called ascorbic acid (NOTE: Lack of vitamin C can cause anemia and scurvy.)

Vitamin D A vitamin that is soluble in fat, and is found in butter, eggs and fish (NOTE: It is also produced by the skin when exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D helps in the formation of bones, and lack of it causes rickets in children.)

Vitamin E a vitamin found in vegetables, vegetable oils, eggs and whole meal bread.

Vitamin K Vitamin K is a vitamin found in green vegetables such as spinach and cabbage, which helps the clotting of blood and is needed to activate prothrombin.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

361

Viticulture Viticulture is the cultivation of grapes.

Viviparous 1. Referring to an animal such as a mammal or some fish that give birth to live young. 2. Reproducing by buds that form plantlets while still attached to the parent plant or by seeds that germinate within a fruit.

Volatile Oils Plural concentrated oils from a scented plant used in cosmetics or as antiseptics.

Volatile Organic Compound Volatile organic compound s an organic compound that evaporates at a relatively low temperature. Abbr VOC (NOTE: Volatile organic compounds such as ethylene, propylene, benzene and styrene contribute to air pollution.)

Voluntary Initiative A five - year program of measures aimed at minimizing the environmental impact of crop protection products. It was introduced in 2003 under agreement between the agriculture industry and the government to prevent the introduction of a pesticide tax. Abbr VI

Voluntary Restraint Agreement An agreement by which farmers agree not to spray in windy conditions. Such agreements are not legally binding. Abbr VRA

Volunteer Is a plant that has grown by natural propagation, as opposed to having been planted Volunteer cereals are a problem in establishing oilseed rape.

Vomiting and Wasting Disease A disease of piglets, symptoms of which include vomiting and loss of appetite.

W

Wages Plural money paid to an employee for work done.

Wall Barley Grass A weed (Hordeum murinum) found in grassland.

Walnut A hardwood tree of the genus Juglans, with edible nuts. The timber is used in furniture making.

Warble Fly A parasitic fly whose larvae infest cattle. Infestation by warble fly is a notifiable disease.

Warbles Swellings on the backs of cattle caused by the warble fly.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

363

Ware Growers Farmers who grow potatoes for consumption, not for seed.

Ware Potatoes Potatoes grown for human consumption, as opposed to those grown for seed.

Warfarin A substance used to poison rats, to which many rats in some areas are now resistant.

Warping A farming practice which permits a river to flood low-lying land to cover it with silt in which crops will be grown.

Wart A small often infectious growth, caused by a virus, which appears on the skin of an animal, or a similar growth on a plant.

Wart Disease A notifiable disease of potatoes, in which warts appear on the surface of the tubers, and develop into large eruptions which may become larger than the potatoes themselves.

Waste Material that is thrown away by people or is an unwanted by-product of a process household waste, industrial waste: adjective without a specific use and unwanted. Waste products are dumped in the sea. Waste matter is excreted by the body in the feces or urine. Verb to use more of something than is needed.

Wasteland An area of land that is no longer used for agriculture or for any other purpose.

364

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Waste Lime It is obtained from industrial concerns after it has been used as a purifying material.

Water A liquid which forms rain, rivers, lakes and the sea and which makes up a large part of the bodies of organisms. Formula: H2O. Verb to give water to a plant COMMENT: Water is essential to plant and animal life. Water pollution can take many forms: the most common are discharges from industrial processes, household sewage and the runoff of chemicals used in agriculture.

Water Abstraction The diversion or removal of water from any surface or underground source for some purpose, such as for irrigation.

Water Act 1989 An Act of Parliament which made it an offense to cause a discharge of poisonous, noxious or polluting matter or solid matter to any controlled water under the responsibility of the National Rivers Authority. Controls are also in force to ensure that silage, slurry and fuel oil installations are of adequate standard.

Water Balance 1. A state in which the water lost in an area by evaporation or by runoff is replaced by water received in the form of rain. 2. A state in which the water lost by the body in urine and perspiration or by other physiological processes is balanced by water absorbed from food and drink.

Waterbowl Waterbowl is a container for water in a stable or loose-box.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

365

Water Buffalo A large buffalo with a grey-black coat and long backward sloping horns (Bubalus bubalis), which is kept for its meat and used as a draught animal, especially in Asia.

Water Catchment The act of rainwater being collected in a place, whether naturally (in a surface pool) or deliberately (using a water catchment system).

Watercourse Watercourse is a stream, river, canal or other flow of water.

Waterfowl Birds that spend much of their time on water, e.g., ducks.

Water Framework Directive A basis for future policy decisions in the European Union, setting objectives for water use and management and wastewater disposal. Abbr WFD

Waterlogged Adjective referring to soil that is saturated with water and so cannot keep oxygen between its particles (NOTE: Most plants cannot grow in waterlogged soil.)

Water Management Water management is the process of the careful and appropriate use of water.

Water Meadow A grassy field near a river, which is often flooded.

Water Melon A plant of the genus Citrullus vulgaris with large green fruit with watery pink flesh.

366

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Water Meter A device that records the amount of water that passes through a pipe, e.g., to monitor the water intake of animals.

Water Mill A mill which is driven by the power of a stream of water which turns a large wheel.

Watershed A natural dividing line between the sources of river systems, dividing one catchment area from another.

Water-Soluble Adjective able to dissolve in water.

Water Table The area below the soil surface at which the ground is saturated with water.

Waterwheel A wheel with wooden steps or buckets that is turned by the flow of water against it and itself turns machinery such as a mill wheel or an electric generator.

Watery Mouth A disease affecting new-born lambs.

Wattle 1. Rods and twigs woven together to make a type of fence. 2. A piece of fleshy skin hanging down below the throat of birds such as the turkey.

Wean A young animal from the milk source of its mother. Weaning is common at 5 weeks.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

367

Weaner A young animal which has been weaned, especially a young pig.

Weather Daily atmospheric conditions such as sunshine, wind and precipitation in an area verb to change the state of soil or rock through the action of natural agents such as rain, sun, frost or wind or by artificially produced pollutants.

Weathering The alteration of the state of soil or rock through the action of natural agents such as rain, sun, frost or wind or by artificially produced pollutants.

Wheatings A byproduct of milling wheat, made up of brans of various particle sizes and varying amounts of attached endosperm, which is used as feeding stuff. Also called wheatings.

Web Conveyor A machine used to move material along a moving web; found on all types of harvesters and some processing machines.

Weed A plant that grows where it is not wanted, e.g., a poppy in a wheat field (NOTE: Some weeds are cultivated plants, for example, oilseed rape growing in hedgerows.) COMMENT: Weeds compete with crops for nutrients and water; the presence of weeds can lower the quality of a crop and often make it more difficult to harvest. Some weeds may taint milk when eaten by cows and some are poisonous and can affect livestock. Weeds also harbor pests and diseases which can spread to crops. Chemical control of weeds is an additional cost, but weeds can be controlled by good rotations and tillage treatment.

Weed Beet A type of beet which is regarded as a weed because it produces seeds as opposed to roots which can be harvested. Weed beet affects sugar beet crops and can harbor rhizomania. It is controlled by limiting bolters and so

368

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

preventing cross-pollination. The most effective control is by hand-pulling bolters.

Weevil A kind of beetle which feeds on grain, nuts, fruit and leaves. The larvae of grain beetles feed on the stored grain where they also pupate.

Weil’s Disease Weil’s disease is sometimes a fatal disease of humans caused by Leptospira bacteria, caught from the urine of infected cattle or rats.

Welfare The fact of being happy, healthy and well-looked-after.

Welfare Code An official set of rules for making sure that animals are healthy and happy in a particular situation, e.g., in quarantine, or when being transported.

Welfare Legislation Welfare legislation is a law or set of laws that makes it illegal to cause harm or distress to animals while caring for them.

Welfare of Animals Order 1997 The Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 is legislation which sets out the minimum standard of welfare for an animal in transport, including guidelines on vehicle condition, journey times and necessary documentation. Abbr WATO (NOTE: New EU legislation on animal welfare in transport is due come into force in 2007.)

Welfare of Animals (Slaughter Or Killing) Regulations 1995 Legislation which sets out rules under which animals should be slaughtered or killed, including making it an offense to cause unnecessary pain or distress during the slaughter process. Abbr WASK (NOTE: The original regulations from 1995 have been regularly updated, including updates in 1999, 2000 and 2003.)

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

369

Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2000 Legislation which sets out guidelines for the humane treatment of animals on farms, including separate schedules on the treatment of specific types of animals such as laying hens, cattle or pigs (NOTE: This legislation also requires that anyone attending to farm animals should have full knowledge of the relevant animal welfare code for that type of animal. Similar pieces of legislation are also in place for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.)

Well A hole dug in the ground to the level of the water table, from which water can be removed by a pump or bucket.

Welsh Referring to a breed of pig, white in color, with lop ears. It is one of the older breeds of British pigs.

Welsh Black A hardy dual-purpose breed of cattle formed when the northern Anglesey strain was bred with the Castlemartin strain. Welsh blacks produce a reasonable milk yield and very lean meat.

Welsh Half Bred Welsh half bred is a cross between a border Leicester ram and a Welsh mountain ewe.

Welsh Mountain A hardy breed of sheep, well adapted to wet conditions. The animals are small with white faces and very fine fleece, and only the rams have horns.

Welsh Mule Welsh mule is a cross between a Blue-faced Leicester and a ewe of one of the Welsh mountain breeds.

370

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Wensleydale 1. A long wool breed of sheep. The animals are large and polled, and the skin of the face, legs and ears is blue. Wensleydales are now rare, but are still found in Yorkshire. 2. A type of hard white cheese.

Wessex Saddleback Wessex Saddleback refers to one of two saddleback breeds now joined with the Essex Saddleback to give the British Saddleback, a dual-purpose breed of pig, now rare.

Westerwold Ryegrass An annual type of ryegrass, which is a fast-growing summer crop.

Wet-Feeding A method of feeding livestock such as pigs in which the animal has access to dry feeding stuffs and water at the same time.

Wether Wether is a castrated male sheep.

Wetlands An area of land which is often covered by water or which is very marshy.

Wet Mash Mash feed mixed with water.

Wet Pluck The process of removing the feathers when the carcass is wet. This is easier than dry plucking, but may harm the skin.

Wheat A cereal crop grown in temperate regions. Genus: Triticum. (NOTE: Wheat is one of the major arable crops.) The two main species of wheat grown are Triticum aestivum which is grown for bread flour, and some

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

371

varieties of which produce the most suitable flour for cakes and biscuits, and Triticum durum which is grown for pasta. Cereal drilling usually takes place in the UK between September and April. Winter wheat usually yields higher quantities than spring wheat and is harvested before it. Spring wheat varieties are grown in those areas with more extreme climates as they are the quick-maturing varieties. Spring wheat is grown in the prairie provinces of Canada, in the Dakotas and Montana in the USA, and in the more northerly parts of the steppe wheat belt in Russia. Winter varieties account for about three-quarters of the total output of wheat in the USA, and over 80% of exports. The state of Kansas grows 30% of the hard red winter wheat grown in the USA.

Wheat Blossom Midge A pest that affects wheat.

Wheat Bulb Fly A fly whose larvae feed on the roots of wheat. The central shoot turns yellow and dies.

Wheatgerm The central part of the wheat seed, which contains valuable nutrients.

Wheatmeal Brown flour with a large amount of bran, but not as much as is in whole meal.

Wheat Offal The embryo and seed coat of the wheat grain, used as animal feed.

Whey A residue from milk after the casein and most of the fat have been removed. Whey is used as pig feed.

Whip A short stick with a lash attached, used to control horses.

372

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Whip and Tongue Cutting A form of graft in which the stock and scion are cut diagonally to form large open surfaces with a small notch in each. The surfaces are bound together tightly with twine.

Whipworm A variety of worm affecting pigs, especially weaners.

Whitbred Shorthorn A breed of white beef cattle

White Clover A type of perennial clover (Trifolium repens). There are several varieties including the large-leaved variety suitable for silage or hay and the smallleaved variety which is quick to establish and keeps out weeds and other grasses.

White Corpuscle A blood cell which does not contain hemoglobin.

White-Faced Woodland A large hill breed of sheep, with white face and legs and pinkish nostrils. The ram has heavy twisted horns. Found mainly in the South Pennines, it has been crossed with other hill breeds to give them its size and vigor. Also called Penistone.

White Leghorn A laying breed of poultry.

White Lupin A new strain of lupin (Lupinus albus) that is able to withstand cold. Seeds are 40% protein and at least 12% edible oil.

White Mulberry A tree grown for its leaves, on which silkworms feed.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

373

White Mustard A crop grown to increase the organic content of the soil by using it as a green manure.

White Park A rare breed of cattle, white in color with either black or red muzzle, eyelids, ears or feet. It is one of the most ancient breeds of British cattle.

White Plymouth Rock A large heavy breed of table poultry.

White Rot A fungal disease of onions and leeks. The leaves turn yellow and a white mass appears on the bulb.

White Scour A disease affecting young calves.

White Wyandotte A dual-purpose breed of poultry.

Whole Crops A type of crop which is being used for silage which does not need wilting.

Whole Farm Approach An official system of communication between the Government and farmers which is more streamlined and aims to avoid duplicated information and ‘red tape’. Abbr WFA

Wholefood Food such as brown rice or whole meal flour that has not been processed and so contains the vitamins, minerals and fiber that are removed by processing.

Wholegrain A cereal grain containing the whole of the original seed, including the bran.

374

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Wholemeal Flour that contains a large proportion of the original wheat seed, including the bran.

Wholesale Seed Merchant A merchant who sells seed in bulk.

Wild Boar A species of feral pig, common in parts of Europe, but extinct in the UK. Wild boars are preserved for hunting but are now bred on farms. Their meat is dark, with very little fat, and is of high value.

Wild Crop A crop which is harvested by man, but not cultivated, e.g., wild berries or herbs.

Wildlife Refers to wild animals of all types, including birds, reptiles and fish Plantations of conifers are poorer for wildlife than mixed or deciduous woodlands. The effects of the open-cast mining scheme would be disastrous on wildlife, particularly on moorland birds.

Wildlife Reserve An area where animals and their environment are protected.

Wild Oats Wild oats refer to several species of annual weeds, including Avena fatua and Avena ludoviciana, found among cereal crops, and now largely controlled by selective herbicides, although manual weeding or roguing is also used.

Wild Onion A perennial weed affecting cereal crops, beans and rape. Also called crow garlic.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

375

White Clover Wild A variety of small-leaved white clove which is slow to get established, but is an essential part of a long ley. It is drought-resistant and very productive.

William A temperate hardwood tree that often grows near water. Genus: Salix. (NOTE: Willow is sometimes grown as a crop and is coppiced or pollarded to produce biomass for fuel.)

Wilt 1. The drooping of plants particularly young stems, leaves and flowers, as a result of a lack of water, too much heat or disease. 2. One of a group of plant diseases that cause drooping and shriveling of leaves (NOTE: It is caused by fungi, bacteria, or viruses that block the plant’s water-carrying vessels).

Wilting Limpness found when plant tissues do not contain enough water. Permanent wilting point

Wiltshire Cure A special method of mild curing and smoking sides of bacon over wood fires.

Wiltshire Horn A distinctive white-faced breed of sheep, with curled horns. It grows a coat of thick matted hair and is found in the Midlands and Anglesey. It is a hardy breed, producing rapid-growing lambs. Also called Western.

Wind Air which moves in the lower atmosphere, or a stream of air.

Windbreak A hedge or line of trees, planted to give protection from the wind to land with growing crops.

376

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Wind Chill Factor A way of calculating the risk of exposure in cold weather by adding the speed of the wind to the number of degrees of temperature below zero.

Windmill A construction with sails which are turned by the wind, providing the power to drive a machine.

Windrow A row of the cut stalks of a crop gathered together and laid on the ground to be dried by the wind.

Windrowed A crop which has been lifted and left in a swath.

Windrower A machine which lifts a crop such as potatoes and leaves it in a swath on the surface of the soil.

Windrow Pick-Up A pickup mechanism which lifts a crop into a harvester.

Wind Turbine A turbine driven by wind ‘According to Mr. Schultze, there are over 16,500 wind turbines in German fields, though new developments were slowing due to resistance from environmental groups. Farmers were therefore turning increasingly to biogas plants, producing electricity and heat for their own businesses and for local communities.’

Wing 1. One of the feather-covered limbs of a bird or membrane-covered limbs of a bat that are used for flying 2. An outgrowth on a seed case of seeds such as sycamore dispersed by wind 3. The lower part of the plowshare behind the point.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

377

Winnow Is a process to separate grain from chaff. Originally this was done by throwing the grain and chaff up into the air, the lighter chaff being blown away by the wind.

Winter The season of the year, following autumn and before spring, when the weather is coldest, the days are short, most plants do not flower or produce new shoots and some animals hibernate: verb to spend the winter in a place.

Winter Feeding A system of feeding livestock during the winter months, giving them feeds of hay, silage and concentrates.

Winter Greens Plural hardy varieties of Brassica which are grown for use during the winter.

Wintering Grounds Refers to area where birds come each year to spend the winter.

Winter Kill Refers to the death of plants in winter.

Winter Wash An egg-killing spray applied to fruit trees in the dormant winter period. Tar oil is the commonest winter spray.

Winter Wheat Wheat of a variety sown in the autumn or early winter months and harvested early the following summer.

Wireweed A common name for ‘knotgrass’ (Agriotes lineatus)

378

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Wireworm The shiny thin hard-bodied larvae of the click beetle, which feeds on the roots of cereals and other plants.

Withers A ridge between the shoulder blades of an animal.

Withstand Refers to - not to be affected by some plants can withstand very low temperatures.

Wolds Areas of low chalk or limestone hills. Wolds are characterized by having few hedges and no surface water.

Wood 1. A large number of trees growing together. 2. A hard tissue which forms the main stem and branches of a tree. 3. A construction material that comes from trees.

Wood Ash Wood ash is ash from burnt wood, a source of potash.

Wood fuel Wood which is used as fuel.

Woodland An area in which the main vegetation is trees with some spaces between them.

Woodland Grant Scheme An agri-environmental scheme aimed at ensuring good management of forests and woodland.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

379

Woodlot A small area of land planted with trees.

Woody Referring to plant tissue which is like wood or which is becoming wood.

Wool Soft curly hair, the coat of the domesticated sheep. Wool is also produced by goats and rabbits.

Wool Ball A mass of wool found in the first or fourth stomachs of lambs. Small amounts of wool swallowed by the lamb collect to form a ball which can increase in size until it blocks the stomach and causes death.

Wool Fat Lanolin, a fat which covers the fibers of sheep’s wool.

Workability The ability of soil to be cultivated. It is an interaction between climatic conditions and the physical condition of the soil.

Work Days The number of days when land can be worked with acceptable risk of damage to soil structure during the main activities of tillage, drilling and harvesting. Heavy soils have fewer work days than light soils. In general, good ground conditions exist when the soil is below field capacity.

World Food Program Part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The program is intended to give international aid in the form of food from countries with food surpluses.

380

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

World Trade Organization An international organisation set up with the aim of reducing restrictions in trade between countries (replacing GATT). Abbr WTO

Worm 1. An invertebrate animal with a soft body and no limbs, e.g., a nematode or flatworm. 2. An invertebrate animal with a long thin body and no legs that lives in large numbers in the soil. Also called earthworm verb to treat an animal in order to remove parasitic worms from its intestines.

Worm Cast Waste earth rejected by an earthworm.

Wormer A substance used to worm animals such as cattle.

Worms A condition in which an animal is infested with parasitic worms which can cause disease. COMMENT: Parasitic worms infest most animals, but especially cattle and sheep, and can be removed with anthelmintics. Wormed cattle may give higher yields of milk than untreated animals, but tests are not conclusive. Various substances are used in worming, such as thiabendazole or fenbendazole.

Worrying The chasing of sheep and other livestock, by dogs which are not controlled by their owners.

WWF An international organization, set up in 1961, to protect endangered species of wildlife and their habitats, and now also involved with projects to control pollution and promote policies of sustainable development. Full form World Wide Fund for Nature.

X

X Chromosome X chromosome is a chromosome that determines sex.

Xenobiotics Chemical compounds that are foreign to an organism.

Xeromorphic A plant which can prevent water loss from its stems during hot weather.

Xerophilous A plant which lives in very dry conditions.

Xerophyte A plant which is adapted to living in very dry conditions.

382

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Xerosere A succession of communities growing in very dry conditions.

Xylem Xylem is a type of tissue found in plants which helps in the transportation of water and dissolved minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant.

Y

Yard 1. A unit of length in the US and British Imperial Systems equal to 3 ft or 0.9144 m. Abbr yd 2. An open space in a farm, surrounded on three sides by barns, stables and farm buildings.

Yard and Parlor A system of housing dairy cattle in yards and bringing them through a parlor for milking.

Yarrow A common weed (Achillea millifolium) which can cause taints in milk. Also called milfoil.

384

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Y Chromosome A chromosome that determines sex, carried by males and shorter than an X chromosome. X chromosome (NOTE: A male usually has an XY pair of chromosomes.)

Yearling An animal aged between one and two years.

Yeast A single-celled fungus that is used in the fermentation of alcohol and in making bread.

Yellow Cereal Fly A pest which affects early-sown wheat crops and causes the death of the plant’s central shoot.

Yellow Dwarf Virus A fungal disease affecting barley, and also wheat and grass. The leaves turn red and yellow and yields are reduced. The disease is carried by wingless aphids and the common name for it is ‘BYDV’.

Yellowing 1. A condition where the leaves of plants turn yellow, caused by lack of light. 2. A sign of disease or of nutrient deficiency: Yellow diseases are often caused by viruses, but may also be caused by bacteria and fungi. Yellowing is a common symptom when there is a deficiency of elements that are important to chlorophyll production, such as iron and magnesium.

Yellow Rattle An annual weed (Rhinanthus minor) found in grasslands.

Yellow Rust A fungal disease (Puccinia striiformis) of cereals, mainly affecting wheat and barley. Yellow pustules form on leaves, stems and ears. Also called stripe rust.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

385

Yellows 1. A general term for any plant disease in which the leaves become yellow 2. Jaundice in animals.

Yelt A young female pig.

Yew A coniferous tree or large shrub (Taxus baccata) COMMENT: All varieties of the British yew tree are poisonous and stock that eat the leaves or berries suffer vomiting and in severe cases die.

Yew Poisoning Poisoning through eating yew berries or leaves.

Yield The quantity of a crop or a product produced from a plant or from an area of land the usual yield is 8 tons per hectare. The green revolution increased rice yields in parts of Asia. Verb to produce a quantity of a crop or a product the rice can yield up to 2 tons per hectare. The oil deposits may yield 100000 barrels a month.

Yoghurt, Yogurt, Yoghourt Soured milk in which fermentation is accelerated by the introduction of specific bacterial microorganisms.

Yoke 1. A wooden crosspiece fastened over the necks of two oxen. 2. A pair of oxen.

Yolk 1. The yellow central part of an egg. 2. Greasy material present in sheep wool.

386

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Yorkshire A breed of large white pig, similar to the Large White. This name is not much used in the UK.

Yorkshire Fog A weed grass (Holcus lanatus) able to grow under poor conditions. It is unpalatable and of little value.

Z

Zadoks Scale A scale used to show the growth stages of a plant from germination to ripening.

Zea The Latin name for maize or corn.

Zebu A humped cattle of the tropics; a domesticated Asiatic cattle breed with a shoulder hump and prominent dewlap. In the USA, it is called a ‘Brahman’.

Zero Grazing The practice of harvesting forage crops and taking the green material to feed housed livestock.

Zero Tillage Zero tillage is a technique using herbicides instead of tilling the soil before sowing an arable crop by direct drilling.

388

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Zigzag Harrow A light harrow used for final seedbed work, and also for covering sown seeds. The frames are zigzag in shape, with short tines bolted to them.

Zinc A white metallic trace element, essential to biological life. It is used in alloys and as a protective coating for steel. COMMENT: Zinc deficiency in plants prevents the expansion of leaves and internodes; in animals, zinc forms part of certain enzyme systems and is present in crystallized insulin.

Zoonoses Order An order under which the presence of conditions such as salmonellosis and brucellosis, which affect both animals and humans, must be notified.

Zoonosis A disease that a human can catch from an animal, e.g., tuberculosis and disorders caused by Salmonella bacteria ‘The USDA considers TB to be a serious zoonosis which is dangerous to humans. It is seen as a grave threat to the cattle industry that will debilitate cattle and cause exports to be stopped.’ [Farmers Guardian]

Zoophyte An animal that looks like a plant, e.g., a sea anemone.

Zoo technology The use of modern technological advances in animal breeding to increase quality and production.

Zucchini An Italian or American name for courgettes, the fruit of the marrow at a very immature stage in its development, cut when between 10 and 20cm long. Zucchinis may be green or yellow in color.

Zygote A fertilized ovum, the first stage of development of an embryo.

REFERENCES 1.

2.

3.

4.

Broadbent, K., 1974. A NOTE ON UNDERSTANDING SOCIALIST ECONOMIC TERMINOLOGY - THE CASE OF CHINA AND THE NEED FOR A DICTIONARY OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS. Journal of Agricultural Economics, [online] 25(1), pp.93-95. Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. Gawrychowski, P. and Starikovskaya, T., 2021. Streaming Dictionary Matching with Mismatches. Algorithmica, [online] 84(4), pp.896-916. Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. HAENSCH, G. and HABERKAMP, G., 1963. Dictionary of Agriculture. Soil Science, [online] 96(5), p.359. Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. Hall, D., 1985. Book Review: English-Russian Dictionary of Agriculture. Outlook on Agriculture, [online] 14(3), pp.153-153. Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022].

390

5.

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Jiang, Y., 2004. Dictionary of Agricultural and Environmental Science. Journal of Environment Quality, [online] 33(3), p.1161-a. Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. 6. Kubdenova, G., 2022. THEORETICAL PROBLEMS OF DICTIONARY FORMATION. Tiltanym, [online] 185(1), pp.53-64. Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. 7. Matviienko, L. and Krasota, O., 2021. ELEMENTS OF COMPUTER LEXICOGRAPHY IN AGRICULTURAL MANAGERS EDUCATION. Alfred Nobel University Journal of Philology, [online] 2(22), pp.211-218. Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. 8. Putra Githa, D., Purnami Singgih Putri, D. and Arsa Putra, I., 2020. Android Based Dictionary Application of Agricultural Terms in Bali. International Journal of Computer Applications Technology and Research, [online] 9(8), pp.249-253. Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. 9. Serdega, R., 2020. Sructure of dictionary articles in the Dictionary of Agricultural Vocabulary of Central Slobozhanshchyna (Kharkiv region). Linguistics, [online] (1 (42), pp.58-70. Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. 10. Weil, R., 2004. Dictionary of Agricultural and Environmental Science. Soil Science, [online] 169(3), pp.225-227. Available at:

[Accessed 14 April 2022].

References

391

11. Atanasova, M., Nicholls, R., Joosten, R. and Agirre, J., 2022. Updated restraint dictionaries for carbohydrates in the pyranose form. Acta Crystallographica Section D Structural Biology, [online] 78(4), pp.455-465. Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. 12. Božinovski, B., 2021. All-inclusive LSP dictionaries and the Slovene– English Dictionary of Tourism. Jezik in turizem, Language and Tourism, Sprache und Tourismus, [online] pp.3-32. Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. 13. Fajfar, T. and Žagar Karer, M., 2022. Doublets in terminological dictionaries. Pravopis na zrnu graha, [online] Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. 14. Glenz, W., 2021. Dictionary. A Glossary of Plastics Terminology in 8 Languages, [online] pp.2-317. Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. 15. Lale, S. and Shandilya, D., 2021. Implementation of Deep Dictionary Learning and Coding Network for Plant Disease Detection in Agricultural Field. International Journal of Scientific Research in Computer Science, Engineering and Information Technology, [online] pp.547-553. Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. 16. Lale, S., 2021. A Survey on Implementation of Deep Dictionary Learning and Coding Network for Plant Disease Detection in Agricultural Field. International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology, [online] 9(5), pp.712-714. Available at:

[Accessed 14 April 2022]. 17. Lewis, R., 2001. CRC Dictionary of Agricultural Sciences. [online] Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. Manley, W., Foot, K. and Davis, A., 2019. A Dictionary of Agriculture and Land Management. [online] Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. Melentyeva, Y., 2021. “Reading. The encyclopedic dictionary.” Scientific and Technical Libraries, [online] (11), pp.147-152. Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. Temardi, T., Regina, R. and Sada, C., 2022. Developing a Visual Dictionary for Nursing Students. KnE Social Sciences, [online] Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. References Ayres, D. and Hellier, D., 2022. Dictionary of Environmentally Important Chemicals. [online] Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. Baigell, M., 2021. Dictionary of American Art. [online] Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. Haastrup, T., McGowan, L. and Phinnemore, D., 2021. A Dictionary of the European Union. [online] Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. Hyamson, A., 2021. A Dictionary of International Affairs. [online] Available at:

[Accessed 14 April 2022]. Ivanov, V. and Solovyev, V., 2022. Automatic generation of a large dictionary with concreteness/abstractness ratings based on a small human dictionary. Journal of Intelligent & Fuzzy Systems, [online] 42(5), pp.4513-4521. Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022].

References

393

27. Keiser, S. and Tortora, P., 2022. The Fairchild Books Dictionary of Fashion. [online] Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. 28. Klein, B., 2021. Dictionaries. Einführung in Python 3, [online] pp.83-97. Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. 29. Liu, Y., Liu, J., Long, Z. and Zhu, C., 2021. Tensor Dictionary Learning. Tensor Computation for Data Analysis, [online] pp.59-91. Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. 30. MALAU, C., 2021. A Dictionary of Vurës, Vanuatu. [online] Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022]. 31. Wang, D., Zhang, K., Li, Z., Xu, X., Liu, Q., Zhang, Y. and Hu, M., 2022. Application of greedy deep dictionary learning. SEG 2021 Workshop: 4th International Workshop on Mathematical Geophysics: Traditional & Learning, Virtual, 17–19 December 2021, [online] Available at: [Accessed 14 April 2022].

INDEX

A Abdomen 1 Aberdeen Angus cattle 1 Abomasal Ulcer 2 Abortion 2, 90 acidity 5, 6, 14 Acid rain 5 Agriotes lineatus 377 Air contamination 11 alcohol 106 Allium cepa 226 Allium sativum 117 Alongside photosynthesis 250 anaerobic bacteria 106 antibiotics 8, 17 Aphanes arvensis 235 Apium graveolens 46 Aquaculture 110 aquatic organisms 110 Arrhenatherum elatius 227 Artemisia dracunculus 320 Artificial Insemination (AI) 25 asthma 101 atmospheric pollution 11 atoms 166

Atriplex patula 228 Atropa belladonna 21 Available Water Holding Capacity (AWHC) 26 Avena sativa 224 B Bacteria 7, 16, 17, 18, 32, 33, 38, 62, 66, 73 biosphere 37, 45, 86 Body Condition Scoring (BCS) 28 bore cole 171 Broad bean 107 C Cabbage lettuces 185 Capsicum 244 carbohydrates 106 Carthamus tinctorius 285 Carya illinoensis 241 cell membranes 3 Chenopodium album 104 Citrus aurantium 228 Citrus limon 185 Citrus paradisi 123 Coccinellidae 176

396

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

cocoa 165 coffee 165 Crataegus azarolus 24 Crataegus monogyna 135 crop rotation system 106 cucumber 203 Cucurbita pepo 200 cultivation 178, 193, 210 D dairy farming , 11 denitrification 66 drought 1, 2, 69, 80 E ecosystem 224 embryo 371, 388 energy 172, 208 environmental conditions 1 F Farming system 186 Farmland 102, 103 fermentation 106 Festuca pratensis 202 Fish farming 109 flood 111 fodder crops 171 food supply 100 furrow 179 G Game birds 116 Garcinia mangostana 197 glucosamine 120 Glycyrrhiza glabra 188 H habitat 214, 215

haylage 106 Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points 131 Home Grown Cereals Authority 143 hormones 8 horticulture , 11, 85 hydrogen ions 5 hydrosphere 86 Hylemyia antiqua 227 I intestines 1, 3, 12, 29 irongrass 174 ironweed 174 irritation 100 L Laminaria digitata 223 Lapsana communis 219 Linum usitatissimum 188 lithosphere 86 liver 1 livestock husbandry 11 Lupinus albus 372 Lupinus polyphyllus 192 M maize 13, 71, 84 Mangel 197 Mangifera indica 197 manure 104, 127, 150 Maranta arundinacea 19 Mentha piperata 244 Micronectriella nivalis 314 microorganisms 177, 201, 205, 221, 229 minerals 3, 20, 52, 53, 72 mineral supplements 8 moisture 3, 53, 64, 69, 81

Index

mulching 178 N natural ecological systems 38 natural resources 101 nutrients 3, 24, 27, 33, 37, 43, 56, 64, 72 O Older Cattle Disposal Scheme 224 omasum 2 organic matter 150 organic wastes 15, 41 organisms 2, 5, 9, 29, 33, 45, 49, 76, 89 organochlorine pesticide 188 organs 1, 16 P Pale persicaria 232 Palm 232 Palynology 232 Panicum 233 Pannage 233 Papain 233 Papaver 233 Paraquat 234 parasitic gastroenteritis 248 parasiticide 234 Parasitism 234 Parasitology 234 Paratyphoid 235 Parsley 235 Parthenais 236 Parthenocarpy 236 Parthenogenesis 236 Particle size distribution 237 partly mixed ration 237

397

Part-time farming 237 Parturition 237 parvovirus 237 Passive immunity 237 Pasteurellosis 238 Pastinaca sativa 235 pathogen 239 Pathology 240 Peach-leaf curl 240 Pear 241 peas 104, 132 Pecan 241 Peck 241 Pectin 241 pedology 242 pelvis 1 Penicillin 243 Pepino mosaic virus 244 Pepper 244 Perennial 245 Permaculture 245 Persea americana 23 Pest 247 pest control 247 Pesticide 247, 298 Pesticide Safety Precaution Scheme 247 petal 248 petiole 248, 322 Petroselinum crispum 235 Phagocyte 248 Phaseolus vulgaris 216 Phasianus colchicus 248 Phenylalanine 249 Pheromone 249 Phloem 250 Photoperiodicity 250 Photosensitization 250 Photosynthesis 250

398

Key Concepts in Agriculture and Farming

Phototroph 250 Phylloxera 251 Phytonutrient 251 Phytotoxin 252 Pietrain 253 pigweed 174 Pistacia vera 254 Pisum 255 plant 105, 106, 107, 108, 113, 115, 117, 118, 120, 121, 123, 125, 126, 128, 129, 132, 134, 138, 140, 146, 149, 150, 151, 153, 154, 157, 161, 162, 168, 169 Plant-based energy 38 plant growth regulator 248, 258 planting 178, 197 pollen 232, 299 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) 48 Porcine Dermatitis and Nephropathy Syndrome 240 Potatoes 186, 195 propagation 11, 43 protein efficiency ratio 244 proteins 3, 13 Prunus persica 240 Prunus persica nectarina 217 Puccinia striiformis 384 Pyrenopeziza brassicae 186 Q Quercus 223 R reticulum 2 Rhinanthus minor 384 Rhynchosporium secalis 183 Root crop 283 row crops 104

rumen 2, 6, 28 rye 113, 138 S salt 3, 5, 12, 68, 69 seed germination 119 shrub 169 Sitona 240 Soil 7, 22 soil erosion 13, 41, 42, 69 solid 3, 8, 33, 81, 94 solid not-fat percentage 314 sorghum 13 Spring cereals 104 stomach 1, 2, 3, 8, 12, 80, 92 Stress 1, 2 Struthio camelus 230 sugar beet 106, 112, 121, 137 sustainable consumption and production 292 T throat 7, 12 timber crop 180 total mixed ration 237, 331 tractor vaporizing oil 345 Trade Union Sustainable Development Advisory Committee 344 transmissible spongiform encephalopathy 342 Trichomonas foetus 340 Trifolium incarnatum 340 Trifolium repens 372 Triticum aestivum 370 Triticum durum 371 Typhula incarnata 315

Index

U Ultra-heat treated milk 347 Ustilago nuda 191, 192, 195 Uterus 351 V Vaccine 352 vitamins 8, 53 W Water management 365 wheat 99, 104, 106, 109, 113, 114, 121, 124, 127, 131, 138 wireweed 174

X X chromosome 381, 384 Xylem 382 Y yeast enzymes 106 Yogurt 6 Z Zero tillage 387 zinc 388 Zoophyte 388 Zygote 388

399