sulphur: a yellow non-metallic chemical element that is essential to biological life. It is used in the manufacture of sulphuric acid and in the vulcanisation of rubber. COMMENT: In the United Kingdom, the removal of sulphur from the atmosphere means that some crops such as oilseed rape are deficient and sulphur needs to be added to fertilisers. Understanding and using sulphur effectively supports soil fertility and healthy crop growth, enhancing farm productivity.
amino acid: A chemical compound which is a component of proteins. Proteins are first broken down into amino acids. Essential amino acids. Understanding amino acids helps farmers manage animal nutrition and health.
offal: The inside parts of an animal, such as liver, kidney, or intestines, used as food. Offal is a valuable by-product that can be used to diversify farm income. Farmers can benefit from processing and marketing offal products to enhance profitability and reduce waste.
Caryopsis: A seed of cereals and grasses. Understanding the structure of caryopsis helps farmers in breeding and cultivating healthy cereal crops.
Flint: A hard stone of nearly pure silica, found in lumps in chalk soils. Properly managing flint in soils helps prevent damage to farm machinery and improve soil workability.
Land Suitability: Land suitability is the suitability of land for a certain agricultural purpose. Land suitability is similar to land capability but defines its usefulness for a particular purpose. Suitability tends to emphasize the positive value of land, while capability emphasizes its limitations. Assessing land suitability helps farmers choose appropriate crops and farming methods.
rural development policy: A set of aims and guidelines issued by an authority, used when planning rural development. Understanding rural development policy helps farmers engage with development initiatives and access support.
swarm: a large number of insects such as bees or locusts flying as a group. Properly managing swarms ensures effective pest control and supports agricultural productivity.
Clean Land: Land that is free of weeds. Maintaining clean land supports healthy crop growth and reduces competition for resources.
swine: a collective term for pigs. Properly managing swine ensures healthy growth and productivity, supporting farm profitability.