Month: October 2011

thresh: To separate grains from stalks and the seedheads of plants. Efficient threshing practices can improve crop processing and yield.

vegetarian: A person who does not eat meat. Offering vegetarian products can cater to diverse consumer preferences and increase farm income.

Flaked Maize: A type of animal feedingstuff made from maize that has been treated with steam, rolled, and dried. It is highly digestible, rich in starch, and often given to pigs. Providing flaked maize ensures high-quality nutrition for livestock.

dump box: A large hopper on wheels with a floor conveyor that receives silage from trailers and from which the crop is discharged into the silo. Dump boxes help streamline the process of storing silage, ensuring it is efficiently collected and stored.

actinobacillosis: A disease of cattle affecting the tongue and throat. It also occurs in sheep as swellings on the lips, cheeks, and jaws. Also called cruels, wooden tongue. Knowing the symptoms and treatment of actinobacillosis helps farmers maintain the health of their livestock.

shoddy: A waste product of the wool industry. It contains up to 15% nitrogen and is used as a fertiliser, particularly in market gardens. Farmers benefit from using shoddy for soil improvement and as a nitrogen-rich fertilizer.

marshy soil: a very wet soil. Managing marshy soil can help farmers improve drainage and land productivity, leading to better crop yields.

glucose: A simple sugar found in some fruit. Understanding glucose levels in crops can help manage their nutritional value and marketability.

nematode: a type of roundworm, some of which, e.g., hookworms, are parasites of animals while others, e.g., root knot and cyst nematodes, live in the roots or stems of plants. Nematodes can pose serious threats to both crops and livestock. Farmers can benefit from regular monitoring and early detection of nematode infestations. Implementing management practices such as crop rotation, resistant varieties, and biological controls can help mitigate the impact of nematodes. Effective nematode management ensures healthier crops and animals, leading to improved farm productivity and profitability.

mineral matter content: the amount of minerals found in plants. Understanding mineral matter content can help farmers manage soil and crop health more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.