Month: July 2013

Croft: Croft /kr?ft/ noun a small farm in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Managing crofts supports rural development and sustainable farming practices.

aviculture: The practice of keeping and breeding birds. Aviculture can diversify farm operations and provide additional income through the sale of birds and bird products.

screwworm: A fly similar to the bluebottle, but dark green in colour, common in Central and South America. It devastated cattle in the USA in the 1950s, but has now been eradicated there. Farmers benefit from preventing screwworm infestations to protect livestock health and prevent economic losses.

Cotton Grass: Cotton grass noun a plant with white fluffy flower heads that grows in boggy ground. Latin name: Eriophorum angustifolium. Managing cotton grass supports wetland conservation and biodiversity.

perennial: A plant that lives for more than two years. Perennials provide long-term benefits to the farm by reducing the need for replanting and improving soil structure.

damp off: To die from a fungus infection that spreads in warm damp conditions and attacks the roots and lower stems of seedlings. Damping off is a common cause of seedling loss in greenhouses and nurseries. Farmers can prevent damping off by using sterilized soil, avoiding overwatering, and ensuring proper ventilation. Fungicide treatments and proper spacing of seedlings can also help reduce the risk of this disease.

Corn Marigold: Corn marigold noun a common weed (Chrysanthemum segetum). Managing corn marigold involves using weed control measures to protect crops.

t/ha: t/ha abbreviation tonnes per hectare

Cattle Health Certification Standards (CHCS): An organization setting common standards for testing non-notifiable diseases in cattle. Engaging with CHCS helps farmers maintain herd health and comply with industry standards.

round baler: A tractor-drawn machine which straddles the swath with a pickup cylinder. The crop is passed over a system of belts to form a round bale; when the bale is complete, twine is wrapped around it and it is thrown out of the machine. Using round balers supports efficient forage harvesting and storage.