Month: February 2010

Ancona: A laying breed of chicken, with white tips on black feathers. Raising Ancona chickens provides farmers with high-quality egg production.

reclamation: The act of reclaiming land. Land reclamation projects can significantly increase the available agricultural land, supporting greater farm productivity.

Escherichia coli: A Gram-negative bacterium commonly found in faeces and associated with acute gastroenteritis if it enters the digestive systems of humans or animals. Understanding E. coli helps farmers ensure food safety and implement measures to prevent contamination.

saprophytic: Referring to organisms that live and feed on dead or decaying organic matter. Farmers benefit from understanding saprophytic relationships for improving soil health and organic farming practices.

umbel: A flower cluster in which the flowers all rise on stalks from the same point on the plant’s stem, e.g. on a carrot or polyanthus. Recognizing umbel structures can aid in identifying beneficial or harmful plants on the farm, helping with crop management.

Food Advisory Committee: A UK agency advising ministers on matters relating to the labeling, composition, and safety of food. Abbr FAC. This committee helps ensure food safety and quality, benefiting farmers and consumers.

Friesian: A breed of black and white dairy cattle, famous for its very high milk yields. Properly managing Friesian cattle ensures high-quality milk production and dairy farm profitability.

Animal Health Act 2002: An Act of Parliament which put into place controls to deal with outbreaks of diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease and scrapie. Understanding this act helps farmers comply with regulations and manage disease outbreaks.

animal health planning: An official set of guidelines for controlling and treating diseases in farm animals. Following health planning guidelines helps farmers manage livestock health and prevent disease outbreaks.

aggregate measure of support: An index which shows the actual monetary value of the support given by the Government to a sector such as agriculture. Abbr AMS. Understanding aggregate measures of support helps farmers assess government support for their industry.