Month: June 2009

Firm: Solid. The soil is firm and not too crumbly. Firm soil conditions support planting and crop establishment.

teat: A nipple on an udder. Proper teat care is crucial for maintaining udder health and milk production in dairy animals.

ammoniacal nitrogen: Nitrogen derived from ammonia. Managing ammoniacal nitrogen levels helps farmers optimize soil fertility and crop production.

potato cyst nematode: A pest found in most soils that have grown potatoes. The eggs hatch in the spring, and the larvae invade the roots. The leaves of the plant eventually yellow and are stunted. Helpful content: Managing potato cyst nematode involves crop rotation, resistant varieties, and soil treatments. Effective control measures can protect potato crops and ensure better yields.

mashlum: a mixture of oats and barley (and sometimes wheat), sown to provide grain for feeding to livestock. Also called maslin, meslen, meslin. Growing mashlum can provide farmers with a valuable feed source for livestock, improving farm sustainability and reducing feed costs.

Chlorinated: Treated with chlorine. Using chlorinated treatments helps farmers manage water quality and protect crops from pathogens.

biosolids: Treated sewage sludge used as a soil amendment. Applying biosolids improves soil fertility and reduces waste.

ratoon: The second and later crops taken from the regrowth of a crop after it has been harvested once. Ratoon cropping can increase farm productivity and reduce planting costs by utilizing existing plant root systems.

Contract Work: Contract work noun work carried out by specialist firms on a contract, which involves payment for work carried out, e.g. the provision of a drainage system or combining a crop. Engaging in contract work ensures access to specialized services and expertise for farm operations.

A group of soil bacteria that form symbiotic relationships with legumes, fixing atmospheric nitrogen into a form usable by plants. Rhizobium bacteria help improve soil fertility and support sustainable agriculture. For example, inoculating legume seeds with rhizobium bacteria to enhance nitrogen fixation and crop growth.