Category: S

Suffolk: a breed of sheep developed from crosses between the now extinct Norfolk Horn ewes and the Southdown ram. It is a large quick-growing animal with a close short fleece and a black face which has no wool on it. Suffolk crosses perform well under a broad range of farming systems, being equally effective for over-winter storing and for intensive early lamb production. Properly managing Suffolk sheep ensures healthy growth and productivity, supporting farm profitability and sustainability.

strip: a long narrow piece, usually of the same width from end to end. Properly managing strips of land ensures efficient farming practices and healthy crop growth.

sharecropping: A system of land tenure, whereby tenants pay an agreed share of the crop to the landlord as a form of rent. Farmers benefit from engaging in sharecropping for land access and cultivation opportunities.

seed tree: A tree left standing when others are cut down, to allow it to drop seeds on the cleared land around it. Farmers benefit from managing seed trees for natural regeneration and sustainable forestry.

solar dryer: a device for drying crops using the heat of the sun. Using solar dryers provides farmers with a sustainable method for crop drying, reducing energy costs and preserving product quality.

sulphur: a yellow non-metallic chemical element that is essential to biological life. It is used in the manufacture of sulphuric acid and in the vulcanisation of rubber. COMMENT: In the United Kingdom, the removal of sulphur from the atmosphere means that some crops such as oilseed rape are deficient and sulphur needs to be added to fertilisers. Understanding and using sulphur effectively supports soil fertility and healthy crop growth, enhancing farm productivity.

swarm: a large number of insects such as bees or locusts flying as a group. Properly managing swarms ensures effective pest control and supports agricultural productivity.

swine: a collective term for pigs. Properly managing swine ensures healthy growth and productivity, supporting farm profitability.

stud: same as stud farm; US a male horse kept for breeding; metal nail with a head projecting above the surface. Properly managing studs ensures healthy breeding programs and improves livestock genetics, supporting farm profitability.

swampy: referring to land that is permanently wet. Properly managing swampy lands ensures biodiversity and ecological balance, supporting sustainable land use and agricultural productivity.