Author: April Kingsman

dam: The mother of an animal. Knowing the lineage and health of the dam is important for breeding programs and offspring quality.

olive: A Mediterranean tree with small yellowish-green edible fruit from which an edible oil can be produced. Olive cultivation can provide farmers with a high-value crop. Understanding best practices for growing, harvesting, and processing olives can enhance profitability and product quality.

pear: A pome fruit of the genus Pyrus used for dessert fruit, cooking, or for fermenting to make perry. In the UK, William’s Bon Chretien, Conference, and Doyenne du Comice are popular dessert varieties, while William’s is also commonly used for canning. Growing pears provides a valuable fruit crop that can be sold fresh, processed, or used in beverages.

sapwood: An outer layer of wood on the trunk of a tree, which is younger than the heartwood inside and carries the sap. Farmers benefit from identifying sapwood for sustainable timber harvesting and tree health assessment.

Fowl Pest: A viral disease of chickens. Proper monitoring and control measures are essential to prevent the spread of fowl pest and maintain poultry health.

ecosphere: The part of the Earth and its atmosphere where living organisms exist, including parts of the lithosphere, the hydrosphere, and the atmosphere. Also called biosphere. Knowledge of the ecosphere helps farmers adopt practices that protect and sustain the environment.

soil moisture deficit: the difference between the amount of water that is in a soil and the amount needed for crops to grow successfully. Abbr SMD. Monitoring soil moisture deficits helps farmers optimize irrigation practices, ensuring crops receive adequate water without overuse.

sweet potato: a starchy root crop grown in tropical and subtropical regions. COMMENT: The sweet potato is valuable as famine food in parts of Africa and South America. The main producing countries are Indonesia, Vietnam, and Japan. In the Southern USA, the tubers are called ‘yams’. The plant has no connection with the ordinary potato. Properly managing sweet potato crops ensures healthy growth and high yields, supporting farm productivity and profitability.

strake: an attachment bolted onto the rear wheels of a tractor to improve wheel grip. The strake has spikes which can be extended beyond the tyre and which dig into the soil. Using strakes ensures efficient tractor operation and soil preparation, supporting productive agriculture.

seed certification: The testing, sealing and labelling of seed sold to farmers. This ensures that the seed is free from disease and from weeds. Farmers benefit from seed certification to ensure high-quality and disease-free seeds for planting.