Category: S

silvi-: Trees or woods. Farmers benefit from understanding silvi- related processes for sustainable forestry and crop management.

shearling: A young sheep which has been sheared for the first time. Farmers benefit from managing shearling sheep for efficient wool production and livestock growth.

spaced plant: a plant grown in a row so that its canopy does not touch or overlap that of any other plant. Properly spacing plants ensures healthy growth and reduces competition for resources, leading to better yields.

shed: 1. To separate one or more animals from a flock or herd 2. To let leaves or grain fall. Farmers benefit from managing shedding for livestock health and crop management.

shoe: To make, fit and fix horseshoes to the feet of a horse. Farmers benefit from shoeing horses for their protection and performance in farm work.

sludge composting: the decomposition of sewage for use as a fertiliser or mulch. Using sludge composting techniques provides farmers with a sustainable method for recycling waste and enhancing soil fertility.

straw chopper: a device fitted to the back of a combine which chops straw into short lengths and drops it on the stubble. Chopped straw is easier to plough in. Using straw choppers ensures efficient straw management and soil preparation, supporting productive agriculture.

swede: a vegetable (Brassica rutabaga) with a swollen root. An important forage crop, it is grown for feeding sheep and cattle, either in the field or as winter feed for housed livestock. Swedes have a slightly higher feeding value and keep better than turnips, so they are often lifted and clamped. Properly managing swede crops ensures healthy growth and high yields, supporting farm productivity and profitability.

scab: 1. A disease of which the scab is a symptom. It affects the skin of animals. 2. A fungal disease of fruit and vegetables, including potato scab and apple and pear scab. Farmers benefit from preventing and treating scab to maintain the health of their livestock and crops.

sheep: A ruminant of the genus Ovis, family Bovidae. It is one of many domesticated varieties, farmed for their wool, meat and milk. Most sheep in the UK are kept for meat, and milk production is relatively unimportant. Wool is an important byproduct of sheep farming in the UK, but is the main product of sheep in some other countries, such as Australia. In 2005 the total sheep population of the UK was approximately 40 million, accounting for 30% of all sheep in the EU member states. Sheep are kept under a wide range of environmental and management conditions, from coastal lowland areas such as Romney Marsh to the upland areas of Wales, Scotland and the North of England. Lambs from the upland areas are moved to lowland farms for fattening. In the UK, a great many breeds of sheep have survived and there are some 50 recognised breeds as well as a variety of local types and many crossbreds. More recently, the introduction of continental breeds has increased the variety. A broad classification into three main categories may be made: the long-woolled breeds which include the Romney, Lincoln and Leicester; the short-woolled breeds including the Southdown, Dorset Down and Suffolk, and the mountain, moorland and hill breeds which include the Cheviot, Radnor, Scottish Blackface, Swaledale and Welsh Mountain. Farmers benefit from raising sheep for their versatile products, including meat, wool, and milk, and their adaptability to various environmental conditions.