Month: January 2023

mast swine: a German term for a fattening pig. Understanding the growth requirements and management of mast swine can help farmers optimize their pig production, leading to better yields and profitability.

The cultivation of cereal crops such as wheat, corn, and barley for their seeds. Grain farming involves planting, managing, and harvesting grain crops. For instance, operating a farm that grows and sells corn for animal feed and ethanol production.

epiphyte: A plant that lives on another plant for physical support but is not a parasite of it. (NOTE: Many orchids are epiphytes.) Growing epiphytes can provide farmers with unique and profitable crops.

C4: A metabolic pathway for CO2 fixation, which uses four-carbon compounds. Plants with this mechanism, such as maize, are adapted to high sunlight and arid conditions. They have low photorespiration. Understanding C4 plants helps farmers in dry regions choose crops that maximize water use efficiency and yield.

oarweed: A common seaweed (Laminaria digitata) used as food and fertilizer. Oarweed can be harvested and used as a natural fertilizer, rich in nutrients that enhance soil fertility and crop yields. It can also be used as livestock feed, providing essential minerals and vitamins.

zero tillage: Zero tillage uses herbicides instead of tilling the soil before sowing crops. This practice helps farmers reduce soil erosion and maintain soil health.

heart rot: A disease of sugar beet and mangolds, caused by boron deficiency. Managing boron levels in soil helps prevent heart rot and ensures healthy crop growth.

Non-dairy products that serve as substitutes for milk, such as soy, almond, and oat milk. Milk alternatives cater to consumers with dietary restrictions or preferences. For instance, producing plant-based milk alternatives to meet the growing demand for lactose-free products.

sugar cane: a large perennial grass, whose stems contain a sweet sap. COMMENT: Sugar cane is rich in sucrose which is extracted and used for making sugar. Cane sugar is now one of the most scientifically produced tropical products, although cutting is still often done by hand. Cane is grown in many tropical and subtropical regions, in particular in the Caribbean. The principal sugar producers are Cuba, India, Brazil, China, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii for cane sugar, and Russia, the Ukraine, France, and Germany for beet sugar. Rum is a by-product of sugar cane. Properly managing sugar cane crops ensures healthy growth and high yields, supporting farm productivity and profitability.

smallholding: a small agricultural unit under 20 hectares in area. Managing smallholdings efficiently supports diverse and sustainable agricultural practices, contributing to local food security and economic resilience.