Month: April 2020

Frits: Trace elements fused with silica to form glass. This is crushed into small pieces for distribution on the soil. Properly managing frits supports soil health and plant nutrition.

greengage: Greengage is a variety of cooking plum, which is hard and green. Growing greengages adds diversity to farm produce, meeting market demands for fresh and processed fruits.

herbaceous: Referring to plants with soft non-woody tissue that die down above ground to survive through the winter. Understanding herbaceous plants helps farmers select appropriate species for seasonal growth and landscaping.

dubbin: Prepared grease used for waterproofing and softening leather. Dubbin is essential for maintaining leather goods used in farming, such as boots and harnesses, ensuring they remain durable and water-resistant.

speckled yellowing: a disease of sugar beet caused by a deficiency of manganese. Managing speckled yellowing ensures healthy sugar beet crops, preventing yield losses and maintaining quality.

Let-Down: Let-down refers to the let-down of milk, the release of milk from the mammary gland. The hormone oxytoxin activates the release of milk. The let-down lasts between seven and ten minutes, when the extraction of milk from the udder is easiest. Understanding the let-down process helps dairy farmers optimize milking efficiency.

wing: Wing refers to the limbs of birds used for flying. In agriculture, understanding bird behavior can help farmers manage bird populations that may impact crops.

butter: A dairy product made from churning cream. Producing butter provides valuable farm products and diversifies income.

second early potatoes: The crop of potatoes that follows the first early crop. Farmers benefit from growing second early potatoes to extend the harvesting season and improve crop rotation.

pupa: A stage in the development of some insects such as butterflies when the larva becomes encased in a hard shell. The plural is pupae. Helpful content: Recognizing the pupal stage in beneficial insects helps farmers implement biological control methods. Protecting and encouraging beneficial insects can enhance pest management and crop health.