Author: April Kingsman

intensive: Achieving maximum production from land or animals. Helps farmers increase productivity.

maltster: a person who makes malt for sale to breweries. Understanding the role of a maltster can help farmers connect with potential buyers and improve the marketability of their barley.

nectarine: a smooth-skinned variety of peach (Prunus persica nectarina). Nectarines are a valuable fruit crop that can diversify farm income and appeal to consumers seeking fresh, high-quality produce. Farmers can benefit from cultivating nectarines by selecting suitable varieties, optimizing orchard management practices, and implementing effective pest and disease control measures. High-quality nectarines can attract premium prices in the market, enhancing farm profitability. Additionally, nectarines can be processed into value-added products like jams and preserves, further increasing their economic potential.

intrinsic factor: A protein produced in the gastric glands which reacts with vitamin B12 controls the absorption of extrinsic factor, and which, if lacking, causes pernicious anemia. Helps farmers manage livestock nutrition.

selection: The process of identifying plants or animals with desirable characteristics such as high yield or disease resistance as part of the activity of breeding new varieties. An individual chosen from a group in a breeding programme on the basis of distinctive characteristics. Farmers benefit from selection processes to improve crop and livestock productivity.

blanket spray: A method of applying pesticides uniformly across a field. Using blanket sprays effectively manages pest populations and protects crops.

marginal: referring to areas of land such as field edges or banks beside roads which are at the edge of cultivated land. Cultivating marginal areas can help farmers utilize all available land resources, potentially increasing productivity and income.

resistance: The ability of an organism not to be affected by something such as a disease, stress factor, process, or treatment. Managing resistance helps farmers protect crop and livestock health, ensuring sustainable farm productivity.

dandelion: A yellow weed (Taraxacum officinale) found in grassland and also sometimes eaten as salad. While often considered a weed, dandelions have culinary and medicinal uses. Farmers can harvest dandelions for sale in niche markets or for personal use. Additionally, understanding weed management practices can help maintain pasture and crop health, ensuring optimal growth conditions for desired plants.

The creation and implementation of guidelines and procedures to ensure the security of food production and distribution processes, including access controls, data protection, and incident response. For example, developing food product security policies to establish a secure and compliant operational environment.