Author: April Kingsman

Flour: A soft fine powder made from ground cereal grains, used for making bread. Properly managing flour production ensures high-quality food products and marketability.

Contour Farming: Contour farming noun a method of cultivating sloping land in which the land is ploughed along a terrace rather than down the slope, so reducing soil erosion COMMENT: In contour farming, the ridges of earth act as barriers to prevent soil being washed away and the furrows retain the rainwater. Implementing contour farming practices helps prevent soil erosion and promote sustainable land use.

pig nutrition: The study of feeding pigs to ensure proper growth and production. Providing balanced nutrition for pigs ensures their health and productivity.

infectious bovine rhinotracheitis: Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis – a virus disease of cattle which affects the reproductive, nervous, respiratory or digestive systems. Milk yield is depressed as adults run a high fever. Abbr IBR. Helps farmers manage and prevent this specific cattle disease.

CLA: Abbreviation for Caseous Lymphadenitis or Country Land and Business Association. Engaging with CLA helps farmers maintain herd health and comply with industry standards.

Sustainable Development Commission: an independent body which advises the UK government on ethical considerations in environmental, social, and economic development. Engaging with advisory bodies like the Sustainable Development Commission ensures support for ethical and sustainable agricultural practices.

interculture: The practice of mixed cropping, where two or more different crops are grown together on the same area of land. Helps farmers manage crop diversity and soil health.

Ladybird: Ladybird is a beetle of the Coccinellidae family, which is useful to the farmer because it feeds on aphids which would damage plants if they were not destroyed. (NOTE: The US term is ladybug.) Encouraging ladybirds can be a natural pest control method, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.

estate: 1. A rural property consisting of a large area of land and a big house. 2. A plantation. Managing estates effectively helps farmers optimize land use and productivity.

spp.: abbreviation species (plural) (NOTE: The singular is sp.). Understanding species classifications helps farmers manage biodiversity and select appropriate crops and livestock for their specific conditions.