A person engaged in agriculture, raising living organisms for food or raw materials. Farmers are essential to the food supply chain, working the land, and managing livestock to produce the raw materials needed for consumption and manufacturing.
Cd: Symbol for cadmium. Managing cadmium levels in soil and water is essential for protecting crop health and ensuring food safety.
broiler: A chicken raised specifically for meat production. Knowledge of broiler management practices helps farmers optimize growth rates and produce high-quality poultry meat.
COPA: COPA abbreviation Committee of Professional Agricultural Organizations. Engaging with COPA supports advocacy and policy development for farmers.
grazing food chain: A grazing food chain involves vegetation being eaten by animals, digested, and returned to the soil as dung, which is then taken up again by plants. Understanding this cycle helps farmers maintain soil fertility and sustainable ecosystems.
A type of fertilizer that releases nutrients gradually over time, providing a consistent supply to plants and reducing the risk of nutrient leaching. Slow-release fertilizers help improve nutrient use efficiency and support sustainable farming practices. For instance, using slow-release fertilizer in a greenhouse to support steady plant growth and reduce nutrient runoff.
Cwt: Cwt abbreviation hundredweight. Understanding hundredweight measurements aids in managing crop and livestock weights.
enriched cage: A type of cage in which battery hens are kept, where the birds living conditions have been improved by an increase in the size of the cage and the inclusion of perches, nests, and litter so that the bird can peck and scratch. Enriched cages will replace existing battery cages in 2012 when the EU Directive on the welfare of laying hens comes into force. However, a review of the Directive is underway, with a report expected next year. Using enriched cages helps farmers improve animal welfare and comply with regulations.
Lynchet: Lynchet is 1. 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. 2. an unploughed strip of land forming a temporary boundary between fields. Lynchets on former prehistoric fields can still be seen in the form of steps on the sides of hills. Understanding lynchets and their formation can aid in effective land management and erosion control.
LaMIS: LaMIS is an abbreviation for Land Management Information Service. Utilizing LaMIS can help farmers access valuable data for better land management decisions.