Category: S

swell: to grow fat. Properly managing crop swelling ensures healthy growth and optimal yields, supporting farm productivity.

supplementary levy: in the EU, a payment introduced to penalise milk production over the quota level. Understanding and managing supplementary levies ensures compliance with regulations and financial planning for dairy operations, supporting farm profitability.

SSSI: abbreviation Site of Special Scientific Interest. Understanding SSSI designations helps farmers manage land resources effectively, promoting conservation and sustainable agricultural practices.

set: 1. A seed potato 2. A seed onion 3. A badger’s burrow. To harden. The resin sets in a couple of hours. To form fruit or seed. To plant something. Farmers benefit from understanding and managing set plants for effective crop production.

syndrome: a group of signs of a disease that occur together. Properly managing syndromes ensures effective disease control and livestock health, supporting farm productivity.

sand: Fine grains of weathered rock, usually round grains of quartz, found especially on beaches and in the desert. Farmers benefit from understanding soil composition, including sand content, to manage soil health and optimize crop growth.

shepherd: A person who looks after sheep. Farmers benefit from employing skilled shepherds for efficient and effective livestock management.

seedbed: An area of land tilled to produce a fine tilth, firm and level, into which seeds will be sown. Some crops such as potatoes do not need a fine tilth and a rough damp bed is preferable. Farmers benefit from preparing seedbeds to ensure successful seed germination and crop establishment.

shearer: A person who clips the fleece off a sheep. Farmers benefit from employing skilled shearers to ensure efficient and high-quality wool production.

screwworm: A fly similar to the bluebottle, but dark green in colour, common in Central and South America. It devastated cattle in the USA in the 1950s, but has now been eradicated there. Farmers benefit from preventing screwworm infestations to protect livestock health and prevent economic losses.