S

speckle: a small spot. Beulah speckle face. Managing speckle conditions in livestock ensures healthy skin and overall well-being, supporting productivity.

soft fruit: a general term for all fruits and berries that grow on bushes and canes, have a relatively soft flesh, and so cannot be kept, except in some cases by freezing. Typical soft fruit are raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries, and the various currants. Growing soft fruits provides farmers with high-value crops for fresh and processed markets, enhancing farm income.

sheaf: A bundle of corn stalks tied together after reaping. The plural is sheaves. Farmers benefit from managing sheaves for efficient grain collection and storage.

superlevy: same as supplementary levy. Understanding and managing superlevies ensures compliance with regulations and financial planning for dairy operations, supporting farm profitability.

soil organic matter: decayed or decaying vegetation that forms part of soil. Abbr SOM. Maintaining soil organic matter enhances soil fertility and structure, promoting healthy crop growth and sustainable agriculture.

silkworm: A moth larva which produces silk thread. Farmers benefit from raising silkworms for the production of valuable silk products.

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. Farmers benefit from using silage additives to enhance silage quality and nutrient content.

self-blanching celery: A variety of celery where the stalks are naturally white, and do not need to be earthed up. Farmers benefit from growing self-blanching celery for ease of cultivation and market preference.

SDA: Severely Disadvantaged Area. Farmers benefit from receiving support and resources for farming in SDAs to ensure sustainable agriculture and rural development.

slurry gun: a powerful spraying device that spreads slurry. Compare rain gun. Using slurry guns ensures even distribution of slurry, improving soil fertility and crop growth.