A unit of area traditionally defined as the area of one
chain (66
feet) by one
furlong (660 feet), equivalent to 43,560
square feet (0.001563
sq mi; 4,047
m2), or about 0.40
hectare.
acreage
A quantity of land; a number of
acres considered collectively, united by their ownership, management, usage, geographical location, or some other unifying feature.[1]
A customary unit of volume defined as the volume of one
acre of surface area to a depth of one
foot, commonly used in the United States in reference to large-scale water or soil resources. One acre-foot is equal to 43,560
cubic feet (1,233
m3).
A type of
broadcast seeding in which large quantities of seed are dropped from
aircraft flying over crop fields. Aircraft can be useful for quickly seeding extremely large expanses of land, or wherever the terrain makes conventional ground-based seeding methods difficult or impractical, e.g. in marshy or flooded areas, where they are commonly used to sow
rice paddies.
The
cultivation of plants with the roots suspended in an air or mist environment rather than in soil or a solid
aggregate medium, usually inside a closed or partially closed chamber where the properties of the air can be easily controlled. Plants are typically supported by the chamber itself or with foam supports or
trellises. Sometimes only the roots are inside the growth chamber; stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits may or may not be. The primary benefits of aeroponics are increased gas exchange in the
root zone and reduced access by pests and pathogens borne by solid or liquid growth media. It is often practiced in research contexts. Aeroponics is sometimes considered a subclass of
hydroponics, since water is still delivered to the plant via atomized droplets from a mist sprayer, though unlike conventional hydroponics the roots are not continuously suspended in flowing water.
A social or political philosophy which values rural society as superior to urban society and the independent farmer as superior to the paid worker. Agrarianism argues in favor of
farming as a way of life that can shape ideal social values.
The business of agricultural production, including the entire range of activities and disciplines encompassed by modern food and fiber production chains and those agents and institutions which influence them.
Any association of farmers or agricultural businesses who voluntarily pool their resources in order to meet their common agricultural needs and goals by cooperating in a jointly owned enterprise. Agricultural cooperatives may be distinguished between "service" cooperatives, which provide inputs for agricultural production (seeds, fertilizers, fuels, etc.) or transportation and marketing services to members who run their farms individually, and "production" cooperatives, in which members run their farms jointly using shared land, machinery, or other resources; an example of the latter is
collective farming.
The annual or seasonal cycle of activities related to the production of a particular agricultural product, especially the growth and harvest of plant
crops, inclusive of all steps normally involved in the complete process from initial preparations (e.g.
tilling,
sowing,
fertilizing, and
irrigating) through sale and distribution of the finished product (e.g.
harvesting, storage, packing, and marketing).
A branch of
economics concerned with the application of economic theory in optimizing the production and distribution of food, fiber, and other products of agriculture.
The application of new knowledge and techniques obtained through scientific research to agricultural practices by educating farmers and agricultural communities, with the goals of improving the efficiency and
productivity of agriculture, improving living standards in rural areas, and raising awareness of environmental issues. The term encompasses a variety of educational and outreach activities organized by professional educators from a wide range of disciplines, often with emphasis on
agricultural marketing, land management,
sustainability, food safety, and public health.
Any land devoted solely to
agriculture, i.e. the deliberate and systematic reproduction of living organisms in order to produce commodities that can be used by humans. In the broadest sense, agricultural land may also include certain types of land which are used only partially or seasonally for agricultural purposes, such as
pastures and wild forests. Colloquially, the term is often used interchangeably with
farmland,
cropland, and
arable land, though these terms may also be considered technically distinct.
The mechanical or electrical tools, devices, and structures used in
farming or any other type of agriculture. The broadest definition includes handheld power tools, but in general usage the term implies very large motorized machines, particularly
tractors and the many types of
farm implements which they tow and/or supply power to. The
mechanization of agricultural tasks is a defining element of
industrial agriculture.
A measure of the economic
productivity of a given quantity of
agricultural land (or any other
agricultural input), typically expressed as the ratio of
outputs to inputs. In modern agricultural industries, "output" is often quantified as the
market value of the agricultural product at the end of the production chain (i.e. immediately prior to its purchase by a consumer).
The science and art of
cultivatingplants,
animals, or other organisms in order to produce any of a variety of products that can be used by humans, most commonly food, fibers, fuels, and raw materials.
Any primarily agricultural operation or activity that brings visitors to a
farm or
ranch, either for direct-to-consumer sales (e.g.
farm stands and "
You-Pick" operations), education, hospitality, recreation, or entertainment.
The simultaneous use of land area for both solar energy production and agriculture, by installing
solar panels in the same spaces where crops are grown or animals are raised.
The study of
ecology as it pertains to agriculture, particularly the application of knowledge about ecological processes to agricultural production systems.
An
ecosystem that supports an agricultural production system, such as in a farm or garden; the network of
ecological interactions that influences and is influenced by the human practice of
agriculture. Agroecosystems are the basic unit of study in
agroecology.
The combination of knowledge and practices of agriculture and
forestry, resulting in a system of land use in which forest trees or shrubs are grown around or among agricultural
crops or
pastureland, with the goal of enhancing the functionality and
sustainability of a
farming system. Agroforestry shares principles with
intercropping but may involve complex ecological interactions between hundreds of species.
A specialized branch of
aquaculture involving the cultivation of
algae, with the goal of producing any of a variety of products that can be used by humans, including food ingredients,
fertilizers, colorants and dyes, pharmaceuticals, and chemical feedstock.
Any machine powered by an animal. Domestic animals, especially horses, mules, donkeys, oxen, and dogs, have frequently been trained by humans to provide power for various
agricultural machinery and operations such as
ploughing and
milling.
A standard measure, based on feed requirements, used to combine various classes of
livestock according to size, weight, age, and intended use. On federal lands in the United States, one animal unit represents one mature
cow,
bull,
steer,
heifer, horse, or
mule, or five
sheep or
goats, all over six months of age.[2]
Any agricultural practice or farming method that does not make use of animals or animal products, such as farmed animal
manures. Animal-free agriculture may use
organic or non-organic techniques.
The maintenance of colonies of
bees, commonly in human-made
beehives, by humans for any of a variety of purposes, including collecting
honey or other products created by bees,
pollinating crops, and breeding bees for sale. A location where bees are kept is called an apiary and a person who practices apiculture is called an apiarist or beekeeper.
Any land which is capable of producing viable agricultural
crops in its present state, and which does not require substantial clearing or other
improvements apart from routine
tillage operations.[3] This may include both natural, unaltered landscapes that are fertile enough to immediately support agriculture, as well as land that has been made arable by previous modification and cultivation. Colloquially, the term is often used interchangeably with
farmland,
cropland, and
agricultural land, though these terms may also be considered technically distinct.
The process by which humans use
animal breeding and
plant breeding to
selectively control the development of particular
phenotypic traits in organisms by choosing which individual organisms will reproduce and create offspring. Artificial selection involves the deliberate exploitation of knowledge about
genetics and
reproductive biology in the hope of producing desirable characteristics in descendant organisms. It is widely practiced in
agriculture, but it may also be unintentional and may produce unintended results.
1. A large, cylindrical or rectangular bundle of compressed
hay,
straw, cotton,
wool, or other plant or animal fibers which have been compacted and bound together by twine, wire, netting, or plastic wrap for easy movement and handling. Bales are usually made by machines known as
balers.[5]
2. A unit of measurement of hay, equal to 10
flakes or approximately 70–90 pounds (32–41 kilograms).
A type of
agricultural fencing consisting of two to five metal rungs or strands, each made from paired steel wires twisted together, with sharp, pointed, nail-like barbs attached at regular intervals. The barbs are intended to poke or scratch
livestock and wild animals, discouraging them from climbing or destroying the fence.[1] Barbed wire is widely popular on rangeland and in many other contexts because it is much cheaper and easier to erect than alternative types of fencing.
A large agricultural building serving any of a wide variety of purposes, especially as storage space for
hay,
grain, harvested
crops,
animal feed, or farm equipment or
machinery, or as a shelter to house
livestock.[6]
A fenced-in lot or pen adjacent to a
barn, used especially to enclose livestock.[1]
barrow
A young male domestic
pig that has been castrated.[4]: 27
bearing acres
Agricultural land or
acreage on which plants are being cultivated and are of sufficient maturity to produce a commercially viable
crop (even if they are not yet producing at their full capacity).[1]
Cattle bred or raised specifically for their meat, known as
beef, in contrast to cattle raised for other purposes, such as for
their milk or so that they can be employed as
working animals.
A fine-grained, porous charcoal produced from organic matter via pyrolysis (i.e. in low-temperature, anoxic conditions) rather than standard combustion. It is often used as a soil amendment to increase soil fertility and sequester carbon.[6]
A type of alternative agriculture which incorporates holistic ecological approaches and aspects of
organic and
integrated farming but also emphasizes various esoteric perspectives, including spiritual and mystical beliefs about nature. The efficacy of biodynamic agricultural techniques lacks scientific evidence, and the practice has been labeled a
pseudoscience.
Any
fuel that is produced from recently living biomass, as opposed to fuels produced by slow geological processes such as
fossil fuels. Biofuels such as
bioethanol and
biodiesel are commonly produced from agricultural
energy crops.
A byproduct made from the fresh blood of slaughtered animals,[6] commonly used as an
organic fertilizer for cultivated plants. It is rich in crude protein and amino acids.
Also rendered board-foot and abbreviated as BDFT or BF.
A unit of volume of
lumber, defined as the volume of a board or plank of wood that is one
foot long, one foot wide, and one
inch thick, i.e. 12
in × 12 in × 1 in (305
mm × 305 mm × 25.4 mm), which is equivalent to 1⁄12 of a
cubic foot (ft3), 144
in3, or 2,360
cm3. The board foot is used to measure rough lumber (before drying and
planing) as well as planed lumber.
A byproduct made from animal bones which have been steamed under high pressure and ground into a powder. A rich source of nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium,[6] bone meal is commonly used as an
organic fertilizer for cultivated plants.
A technique for marking and identifying
livestock in which a permanent scar, known as a brand, is made in the animal's
hide, traditionally by applying an extremely hot or cold
branding iron which has been shaped or placed in such a way as to create a unique, specific symbol or series of numbers, usually for the purpose of indicating ownership.[1] Branding may be used in conjunction with other forms of animal identification, including
earmarking, ear tagging, and
radio-frequency identification (RFID).
A handheld metal tool with one end shaped into a letter, number, or other symbol, intended as a unique identifier, which is heated, chilled, or electrified and then pressed against the skin of an animal in a process known as
branding.
A method of
seeding that involves scattering seed over a relatively large and imprecise area, either by hand or mechanically, as opposed to
precision seeding and
hydroseeding. Broadcast seeding is easier and faster than seeding in
rows but usually requires more seed and may result in overcrowded and uneven distributions of plant cover. It is generally reserved for plants that do not have strict spacing or depth requirements or that are easily thinned after germination.
A type of herbivory in which the herbivore feeds on leaves, soft shoots, or fruits of relatively tall, woody plants such as shrubs and trees, as opposed to
grazing, which involves feeding on grasses and other low-lying vegetation. Browsing may also refer to feeding on any non-grasses, including both woody and herbaceous dicots.
A young domestic
bovine animal of either sex (i.e. a
cow or
bull), generally weighing less than 500 pounds.[1] The term is usually applied from birth to
weaning (which typically occurs around nine months of age), though it is also sometimes used until the animal is a
yearling. Calves may be raised to become adult cattle, but are also commonly
slaughtered for their meat, called
veal, or their
hides. The young of many other species, including bison, water buffalo, camels, and deer, are also called calves.
calving
The process of giving birth in
cattle, by which a pregnant
cow gives birth to a
calf.[1]
In the
poultry egg industry, the process of examining eggs for quality and defects by holding them in front of a bright light source, illuminating the internal contents of the egg through the translucent shell without having to break it open.[4]: 34
The practice of
farming (or of agricultural activities in general) for the purpose of providing or promoting mental or physical health or well-being, especially as a form of therapy or to aid convalescence or for social or educational services.
carryover
The supply of a farm commodity that is not yet used at the end of a marketing season and subsequently stored and made available for sale in the next marketing season. An excessively large carryover may be considered a
surplus, and may cause prices to fall.[2]
2. A unit of mass or volume representing a standardized size of these containers, equal to 425
pounds (193
kilograms) or 4⁄5US bushel (6.4
US dry gallons), respectively.[1]
Any
crop that is grown so that it can be marketed and sold for profit, as opposed to a
subsistence crop, which is grown for the grower's own use. While historically cash crops have often been only a small part of a farm's total
yield, almost all modern crops in developed nations are grown primarily for revenue.
Any fast-growing
crop that is grown between successive plantings of a primary crop on the same land. Its practice, known as catch cropping, is a type of
succession planting.
A group of large,
domesticated,
bovid mammals of the genus Bos and especially the species Bos taurus, which are commonly raised as
livestock for their meat (known as
beef), their
milk, their
hides, their
dung (used as
manure or as fuel), or as
draft animals or riding animals. Mature female cattle are known as
cows, mature male cattle as
bulls, and young cattle of either sex as
calves, though colloquially "cow" is often used to refer to all bovine animals, irrespective of age or sex.
The cyclical fluctuation of supply and prices observed in
cattle markets, analogous to the
pork cycle. In the United States, the cattle cycle refers to the approximately 10-year period during which the industry-wide population of
beef cattle is alternately expanded and reduced over several consecutive years in response to perceived changes in profitability by beef producers. Low prices occur when cattle numbers or beef supplies are high, precipitating several years of herd liquidation; as cattle numbers decline and supplies diminish, prices gradually begin to rise along with renewed demand, causing cattle producers to begin breeding cattle and expanding their herds again.[2]
The
cultivation and production of agricultural products from
cell cultures grown in a laboratory, such as
cultured meat, by using techniques of molecular biology and biochemistry to directly synthesize the complex mixture of proteins, fats, and other substances which are found naturally in living tissues. Most of the industry is focused on cultivating animal products such as meat, milk, and eggs by growing animal tissues from stem cells in vitro and then simulating the same series of biochemical processes that occurs naturally in actual animal bodies, as opposed to raising and
slaughtering farmed
livestock as in conventional
animal husbandry, which has long been criticized for its negative impacts on the environment, human health,
food security, and animal welfare. Cellular agriculture has therefore been championed as a
sustainable and ethical alternative, though the necessary procedures and infrastructure are usually highly specific and technical.
The periodic collection, processing, and dissemination of statistical data regarding agricultural activities within a country, state, county, or other polity. Agricultural censuses attempt to accurately measure and classify metrics such as number and size of farms or other holdings, types of land tenure and land use, crop
acreage, livestock numbers, agricultural
inputs and expenses,
productivity and profits, types and uses of facilities and
machinery, demographics of owners and workers, product quality, and sustainability, among others. In the United States and many other places, censuses are conducted at the holding level every five years.[1]
Also called circle irrigation or water-wheel irrigation.
A method of
crop irrigation in which a long line of
sprinklers mounted upon or dangling from a metal frame with multiple sets of wheels rotates slowly around a pivot at the center of a field, watering a very large circular area centered on this point. Water is usually supplied by a well or an underground pipeline near the pivot, and the wheeled frame is propelled by hydraulic pressure or electric motors. A typical center-pivot line is 400 metres (1,300 feet) long and capable of irrigating a 125-acre (51 ha) circle within a 160-acre (65 ha) square, covering about 78% of the surface area; some systems can also irrigate the corners of the square by means of an
end gun at the end of the line or a trailing segment of frame that swings out into the corner areas.[8] Modern center-pivot systems are often fully automated and programmable for specific rates of rotation, variable water distribution patterns, and other
precision controls.
Any
grass cultivated for the edible components of its
grain, composed of the
endosperm,
germ, and
bran. The term may also refer to the resulting grain itself (the "cereal grain"). Compare pseudocereal.
Plant seeds that have been approved by a certifying agency or agricultural retailer as meeting established standards of quality and productivity, e.g. of
germination, varietal purity, sustainable sourcing, and/or freedom from contamination with disease-causing pathogens,
weed seeds, and synthetic chemicals.[8] See also registered seed.
The dry, scaly, protective casing around the seeds of
cerealgrains, or any other similar plant material. Chaff is generally inedible by humans but is often used as
fodder for
livestock or is ploughed into the soil as a type of
green manure.
chemical fallow
The use of chemical
herbicides to prevent the growth of vegetation on
fallow land.[8]
A type of
plough consisting of a long row of multiple shanks which break and loosen soil to depths of 46 centimetres (18 in) without inverting or turning it,[6] leaving accumulated
crop residues on the soil surface instead of burying them. Chisel plows are used to plow very deeply (such as to break up
hardpan) without disturbing the organic matter present on the surface, in a process sometimes called chiseling, often as part of
low-till or
no-till practices.
A bell-shaped glass or plastic covering placed over an individual plant to protect it from cold temperatures, used especially in
gardening. In modern large-scale agriculture cloches have mostly been replaced by
row cover. See also cold frame.
An enclosure with a transparent roof, built low to the ground, that is designed to protect juvenile plants and small gardens from excessively cold or wet weather. Cold frames are used to
extend the
growing season by acting as miniature
greenhouses.
Any type of agricultural production in which multiple farmers or producers run their holdings as a joint enterprise using shared land, water resources, machinery, equipment, or other agricultural inputs in order to meet common needs and goals. Communal farms may be either voluntary
agricultural cooperatives or mandatory state farms owned and operated directly by a central government.
A large
agricultural machine designed to efficiently
harvest a variety of different
graincrops by combining three traditionally separate harvesting operations –
reaping,
threshing, and
winnowing – into a single mechanical process. The harvested grain is stored either in an on-board compartment or offloaded into a separate storage bin, while the remaining
straw and other undesirable
residue is typically discarded on to the field.
Any mixture of ingredients, commonly decomposing plant and food waste and/or other recycled organic materials, that is used to
fertilize and improve soils. Such mixtures are rich in plant nutrients and
beneficial organisms which can increase soil fertility and aid plant growth by acting as a natural
soil conditioner, increasing the
humic content of the soil, and suppressing pathogens. Often compost is made simply by allowing gathered
green and
brown waste to decompose naturally in open-air piles for many months, though it can also be made with more precise measurements and controls.
Any
tillage practice which aims to reduce soil erosion and preserve natural soil conditions, generally by leaving significant amounts of
crop residue to cover previously harvested agricultural land; such practices can also enhance
biological pest control and reduce fuel consumption and
soil compaction. Conservation tillage includes
no-till,
strip-till, and
mulch-till systems.
The practice of cultivating plants, including crop plants, by growing them in containers or pots rather than planting them in the ground. Containers are generally small, portable, plastic or ceramic pots or trays which limit the soil space available to the plant's roots but have the advantage of allowing the gardener to easily move the plant to avoid inclement weather or other suboptimal conditions.
A method of cultivation whereby crops are
harvested more or less continuously throughout an extended or indefinite
growing season, without any significant pause or interruption such as for replanting. For most conventionally grown plant and animal crops, production is limited to specific times of year by the need for suitable weather or for periods of inactivity during which soils can recover fertility and producers can resupply
inputs and otherwise prepare for the start of the next
production cycle, meaning the harvested products are only available to consumers for a few weeks or months at the end of each growing season. In some places, however, where the climate is largely consistent throughout the year, or wherever labor and inputs are consistently available, certain crops may be grown, harvested, and sold during unusually long seasons or even year-round. Some seasonal crops can also have their harvest windows
extended by growing them in highly
controlled environments or by deliberately staggering planting times so that different groups of plants are of different ages and thus one or more groups are ready for harvest at any given time of year.
The practice of
ploughing and/or
planting a sloping field by following its natural contour lines, such that the resulting
furrows and
crop rows curve around the slope perpendicular to the direction of the force of gravity, with each remaining at approximately the same elevation for its entire length. This orientation helps prevent
surface runoff and
soil erosion by reducing the velocity with which water and soil moves down the slope, minimizing the formation of rills and gullies during heavy precipitation and allowing more time for the water to settle into the soil. Contour farming also reduces the runoff of
agrichemicals, power consumption, and wear on machines, thereby increasing production efficiency.
Farming or other agricultural production carried out on the basis of an agreement between the buyer or consumer and the farmer or producer. Contracts typically involve the producer agreeing to supply certain quantities of a crop or other product according to quality standards and delivery requirements specified by the buyer, and the buyer agreeing to buy the product, often at
a price established in advance; the buyer often also agrees to support the producer in various ways, e.g. by supplying inputs, assisting with land preparation, providing production advice, and helping to transport the finished product.
A farming practice which attempts to manage and reduce the damage done to cultivated soils by repeated passes of heavy agricultural machinery (e.g.
tractors) over the same area of land, particularly
soil compaction, which often has negative consequences for numerous aspects of crop production.
Any agricultural production that occurs in a specialized, enclosed space, typically indoors, where all variables affecting production (e.g. temperature and light intensity) can be carefully managed throughout the production cycle so as to provide an optimal environment that maximizes
yield or efficiency or some other production target. Indoor growing spaces such as
greenhouses are common examples, and the practice is central to
urban agriculture and agricultural research.
A building or shelter designed to house
poultry birds such as chickens and especially to provide
hens with a warm, dry place to nest and incubate their eggs.
A method of
forest management by which the trunks and stems of young trees are regularly cut down to near ground level, exploiting the ability of many tree species to regenerate new growth from
living stumps. After a number of years of growth, the intended products of the coppiced tree are harvested and the cycle begins anew.
Pollarding is a similar process carried out at higher levels on the tree; both practices are important techniques in
silviculture.
The practice of large-scale agriculture on
farms owned or greatly influenced by corporations or large private businesses. The concept includes not only corporate ownership of farmland and the means of production, but also the roles such companies play in influencing agricultural education, research, and public policy through lobbying and funding initiatives.
Any plant that is planted as soil cover rather than for the purpose of being harvested. Cover crops may be used to manage soil erosion,
soil fertility, water content,
weeds, pests, agricultural diseases, and biodiversity on land that is repeatedly farmed. They are commonly off-season crops planted after harvesting a
cash crop in order to help conserve the integrity of the land through a
fallow period.
A bell worn around the neck of
free-roaminglivestock, including but not limited to
cattle, so that ranchers and herders can keep track of the animal's movements via the sound of the bell, which can be useful in hilly landscapes or vast plains when the animal is grazing out of view.
A
dairy operation or facility which processes raw milk and/or cream into finished dairy products, such as fluid milk, butter, cheese, and ice cream, and prepares them for market.
The practice of supplementing the diet of young livestock which are still nursing, usually
beef calves and
swine, with
prepared feed. This may be done in order to introduce the animals to feed before
weaning or to facilitate quicker
fattening, but is only cost-effective when the price of animal feed is very low.
Any
plant,
animal, or other product of a living organism that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or subsistence. The term may refer to the organism or species itself, the
harvested parts, or the harvest in a more refined state. Most crops are
cultivated in
agriculture and its sub-disciplines, most commonly (but not exclusively) as food for humans or
fodder for
livestock; other crops are gathered from the wild.
Insurance purchased by agricultural producers, often subsidized by a government agency, to protect against the loss of potential revenue from crop sales due to extraneous circumstances, such as reductions in crop
yield caused by natural disasters (drought, floods, hail, etc.) or declines in the prices of agricultural commodities.
Any organic material left in an agricultural
field or
orchard after a
crop has been
harvested, such as stalks and stems, leaves, seed pods, etc., or after a crop is processed for consumer use, such as seeds,
husks, roots,
bagasse, or other byproducts of processing. Field residues may be maintained as soil cover, burned, or
ploughed into the soil as
green manure; process residues are often used as animal
fodder or
soil amendments.
The practice of cultivating a series of different
crops in the same space over the course of multiple
growing seasons, often in a specific sequence that repeats in a cycle every few seasons. The alternative to crop rotation,
monocropping, may gradually deplete the soil of certain nutrients and select for highly competitive communities of pests and weeds, decreasing productivity in the absence of high volumes of external inputs such as
fertilizers and
herbicides. Crop rotation can reduce reliance upon these inputs by making better use of natural
ecosystem services from a diverse set of crops, often improving soil quality and reducing the probability of pests and weeds developing resistances to control measures.
A wild plant taxon that is closely related to a
domesticated plant taxon (e.g. a wild ancestor of the domesticated plant) and which therefore may be indirectly useful to plant breeders by presenting the possibility of introducing genetic material from the wild plant into the domestic relative by crossbreeding.
The use of an
agricultural aircraft to apply protective chemicals or other amendments, especially
pesticides and
fertilizers, to
crops from above. Such aircraft may include either fixed-wing airplanes or helicopters, but are typically highly specialized and purpose-built to distribute very large amounts of liquid product over very large land areas in a relatively efficient manner.
A farm financing scheme whereby money is loaned at the beginning of a
growing season to pay for farming operations, with the subsequent harvest used as collateral for the loan.[11]
1. The act of improving an area of land for or by
agriculture, especially through the deliberate growing of
plants (but not necessarily excluding other types of agriculture). Land upon which plants are sown, nurtured, or harvested, or more broadly any land dedicated to agricultural purposes, is said to be cultivated.
The contracting of independent operators of farm equipment to
harvest crops, especially
grains, on a particular farm. Custom harvesters provide their own
combines or other machinery and often charge for their work by the
acre, with additional charges for high
yields.[12]
Cattle bred or raised specifically for
milk production, from which any of a variety of
dairy products can be made. This is in contrast to cattle raised for other purposes, such as for
their meat or so that they can be employed as
working animals.
dam
The female parent of an animal. The term is used alongside
sire, especially for domestic mammals such as
cattle and horses.
damping off
A disease of newly germinated
seedlings caused by any of a variety of fungi (e.g. Rhizoctonia or Aphanomyces) which spread in warm, damp conditions and parasitize roots and lower stems. Damping off is a common cause of seedling loss in
greenhouses.[13]
The practice of
removing dead or spent flowers from a live plant in order to encourage further flowering, to prevent seed development, or to improve the plant's appearance.[6] See also deblossoming.
The practice of
removing flowers, spent or unspent, from live plants for any reason, especially to encourage or improve the subsequent growth, reproduction, health, or appearance of the plant's non-flower parts. Deblossoming is often done in order to divert the plant's limited resources away from sexual reproduction and towards
vegetative propagation, e.g. by roots and runners; early in a
perennial plant's life in order to allow it to establish and grow to maturity before dedicating resources to reproduction; or near the end of the
growing season in order to maximize the size and quality of existing fruits, seeds, or other useful crop parts by diverting energy and nutrients away from new buds that will likely not have time to develop into useful crops anyway.
Any
herbicidal chemical which causes leaves or other foliage to detach and drop from a plant. Defoliants are sometimes used on very leafy trees and shrubs to make finding and
harvesting the non-leaf crop parts easier.[6]
deintensified farming
Any agricultural operation which was formerly
intensive but has since become deliberately
extensive.[13]
Any
crop that is (or historically was) grown or used only for special occasions, as an elite or luxury item, or for pleasure rather than sustenance. Examples of crops historically considered dessert crops include
coffee,
tea,
sugar,
cocoa, and
tobacco.
In
maize farming, the process of removing the
pollen-producing flowers, known as tassels, from the tops of maize plants in order to prevent
self-pollination. It is used as a
crossbreeding strategy to ensure that the detasseled plants are receptive to pollen from non-self sources, e.g. from different
cultivars when creating
hybrid varieties.
The removal of water from a
crop plant by pressing and compacting layers of plant material for long periods of time. Dewatering can be significantly cheaper than other artificial drying techniques.[13]
A naturally occurring siliceous sedimentary rock consisting of the fossilized shells of microscopic single-celled algae known as
diatoms, generally in the form of a crumbly, abrasive powder composed of silica, alumina, and iron oxides. It has many applications in agriculture, including as an anti-
caking additive in
animal feed and stored grain, as an organic
insecticide, and as a
soil conditioner or
growing medium, where its low density and high porosity allow it to retain water and nutrients, circulate oxygen, and drain quickly.
The use of electronic sensors, computers, and information technology to digitally collect, store, analyze, and share agricultural data.
dipping
The process of immersing a live animal into a bath containing a liquid formulation of
insecticide (and sometimes also
fungicide), usually a dilute solution of
organophosphorus compounds, as a means of removing lice, ticks, or other ectoparasites which may otherwise cause disease.
Sheep are commonly treated in a
sheep dip, and
cattle in a
plunge dip.[13]
The intentional removal of all or part of an animal's tail by any of a variety of methods, usually by cutting with a knife or scalpel, applying a hot iron, or constricting blood circulation with a rubber ring to cause the tail to fall off. Docking of
swine is performed in order to reduce potentially harmful
tail biting behaviors between cohabitating pigs; in
sheep and
cattle, it is often practiced with the rationale that shorter tails are less likely to trap dirt and feces and transfer them to other body parts (e.g. the
udder in
dairy cattle), thereby reducing pathogen infestation and improving the animal's cleanliness and well-being and consequently the quality of any products harvested from the animal, though the efficacy of docking for these purposes has not been conclusively demonstrated.[14]
A man-made structure intended to house
domestic pigeons or
doves, usually consisting of a sheltered space with one or more holes allowing the birds to nest inside, either free-standing or built into the side or roof of a building.
draff
Refuse obtained as a byproduct of the distillation of
grain and used as an
animal feed, especially
malt left over from the
brewing process.[8]
A type of
micro-irrigation system that supplies water and/or liquid
fertilizer solution to crops by allowing it to leak slowly from perforated plastic or rubber tubes into the soil surrounding the plants' roots, with the primary goal of delivering water directly to the
root zone and thereby minimizing wasting due to evaporation and
runoff (which are often significant problems in
surface irrigation and
sprinkler irrigation). Drip systems distribute water through a network of valves, pipes, emitters, and flexible, lightweight tubing called drip line or drip tape, which can be positioned above or buried below the soil surface. Drip irrigation is most commonly used in small-scale outdoor operations,
high tunnels, and
greenhouses, where it is often much more efficient than alternative irrigation methods and has the advantage of allowing water and fertilizers to be applied gradually, uniformly, and in precise quantities to each individual plant.
A
milk cow which has ceased to produce
milk from a particular
lactation, especially because it is within 60 days of
calving and beginning a new lactation.[1]
A cut or notch made in, or a tag attached to, one or both ears of a
livestock animal (most commonly
cattle,
pigs,
goats, and
sheep) as an easily visible mark of identification, usually to indicate age, sex, medical status, or ownership. Compare brand.
The scientific study of interactions between biological organisms and their biotic and abiotic environments. It is an interdisciplinary field that includes biology,
geography, and
Earth science.
economic maturity
The optimum time at which to harvest a tree or stand of trees (or any other perennial plants), as determined by the age at which the growth rate slows enough to cause the average annual profit over the life of the stand to begin to decrease.[18]
The scientific study of the influence of soils on living organisms, particularly plants, and of how soils are used and modified by humans for agriculture.
Changes in ecological characteristics (e.g. population or community structure) associated with the boundary between two dissimilar habitat types, ecosystems, or agricultural land uses, potentially affecting the biological and ecological traits of the resident plant or animal communities.[6]
effective precipitation
The portion of the cumulative or mean total precipitation received within a specified area, on a particular
farm or
field, or by an individual plant during a given time period that is or becomes available for plant growth because it is stored in the soil within the
rooting depth of the plants or persists on the surface long enough to eventually drain into and occupy that rooting depth before it is lost by evaporating or
running off.[19]
Any
crop grown exclusively as a source of
fuel for the purpose of
energy production. Such crops are processed into solid, liquid, or gaseous
biofuels (as with
bioethanol and
biogas) which are then burned to generate power or heat for human purposes.
An area of land from which grazing or browsing animals, often domestic
livestock but sometimes wild animals such as deer, are excluded by
fencing or other means. Fenced exclosures are common in
open range areas, where it is the landowner's responsibility to keep unwanted animals off their land.
Any system of agricultural production that uses small inputs of labor, fertilizer, and/or
capital relative to the land area used for production, in contrast to
intensive agriculture.
1. (adj.) The condition of any
arable land which is deliberately not planted or which is left
unsown for one or more production cycles or
growing seasons, usually with the intent of allowing the soil to restore depleted nutrients and other organic matter that is critical for ecological function, while retaining moisture and disrupting the life cycles of agricultural pests by temporarily removing their hosts. Fallowing is an important technique in
crop rotation.
2. (n.) Any period of time during which arable land is not used for cultivation.
fallow crop
A
crop that is grown in widely spaced rows so that it is possible to
hoe and cultivate between the rows.
A
farm which on average produces a harvest sufficient to support one family, or a farm which is owned and/or operated by a single family, as opposed to farms operated as
collectives,
non-family corporations, or in other institutionalized forms.
A type of agricultural product certification that emphasizes the principles of
quality assurance and signals to consumers that the certified producer has adhered to a particular set of standards and principles during production, such as in
good agricultural practice.
The
market value of an agricultural product minus the subsequent costs of transporting, storing, marketing, and selling the product to a consumer; the net value of the product as it is at the "farm gate", i.e. upon leaving the agricultural operation, before such costs are added to the market price. The market or retail price paid by the consumer is often far higher than the amount the farmer actually receives for the product, particularly if the farmer sells
wholesale to a retailer rather than directly to the end consumer as in
farm gate marketing.[20]
A type of retail outlet which sells fresh
produce directly from a particular
farm or group of farms. Direct sales to consumers allow farmers to retain a larger portion of the resulting profit than they can usually obtain by selling to a wholesaler. See also farmers' market.
Water that is committed for use in agriculture of any type. Farm water may include water used in the
irrigation of crops as well as in the watering of
livestock.
A person who owns or works on a
farm; more broadly, anyone who participates in agricultural production, especially the raising of
field crops,
poultry, or
livestock.
The practice of intentionally performing an agricultural activity, such as growing
crops or raising
livestock, on land dedicated to the purpose, known as a
farm. The term is often used very loosely to refer to many different agricultural processes of different scales and with different goals, or, in the broadest sense, as a synonym for
agriculture in general.
The set of buildings and service areas associated with a
farm or other agricultural holding, traditionally including residential accommodations such as a
farmhouse for the operator's family as well as any of various buildings dedicated to the particularities of agricultural production, including pens, yards,
stables, and
corrals for housing
draft animals or
livestock;
barns,
silos, and
mangers for storing
crops,
grains, or
animal fodder; garages and sheds for storing farm vehicles and equipment; and other structures involved in the processing of raw materials into commercial products. The farmstead as a whole typically consists of a core complex of such buildings as well as clusters of
outlying buildings.
A social movement which promotes the consumption of locally produced foods, and particularly the serving of such foods at public establishments such as restaurants and school cafeterias. This is usually accomplished by purchasing food directly from the farmers or producers (rather than an intermediate retailer), or by the restaurant or school cultivating its own food. Farm-to-table often emphasizes food traceability, sustainability, freshness, and environmental awareness. The idea is central to the practice of
locavorism.
A protein supplement included in some formulated
animal feed and
organic fertilizers as a nitrogen source, made by grinding and drying
poultry feathers under elevated heat and pressure.[6]
Any
cereal grain grown so that it can be used as
fodder to feed animals, especially
livestock. Corn, barley, and sorghum are commonly grown for this purpose.[9]
A type of animal feeding operation consisting of a densely concentrated area of enclosures or pens containing individual animals which is used for the efficient raising, fattening, and
finishing of numerous
livestock prior to
slaughter, especially
beef cattle, but also
swine, horses,
sheep, and
poultry.
fencerow
The area of ground immediately adjacent to a
fence that is left unmowed or untilled because it is difficult or inconvenient to maneuver large
agricultural machinery in this space without removing or damaging the fence. Grasses and weeds are therefore able to grow unrestricted in this area, often providing shelter for birds and wild animals, unless more precise tools are employed.[18]
A large public
trade show for the agricultural industry at which agricultural equipment, techniques, and business ideas are exhibited and demonstrated.
Also called a conservation buffer or buffer strip.
A strip of grass or other dense, permanent vegetation lining the edge of an agricultural field and acting as a buffer zone between the field and its surrounding environment, usually designed with the primary goal of controlling non-point source pollution by filtering agricultural
surface runoff before it drains into an adjacent body of water, e.g. a pond, lake, stream, diversion terrace, or irrigation canal. The roots of the vegetation trap and remove
agrichemicals including fertilizers and pesticides from the runoff and may also help reduce sediment erosion, thereby preventing the contamination and
eutrophication of natural ecosystems.
A nutrient-rich
emulsion used as a
fertilizer for plant crops, produced from the liquid remains of fish which have been industrially processed for
fish oil or
fish meal.
Any method of
surface irrigation that covers the entire cultivated soil surface with water, usually to a specific depth and for a specific duration. Flood irrigation may be carefully controlled, as with
basin irrigation and
border irrigation, or may simply rely on natural flooding in adjacent rivers and streams.[18]
A young
equine animal (a horse or donkey) of either sex, usually less than one year old. A male foal may be called a
colt and a female foal may be called a
filly, though these terms may also be used for juvenile animals that are older than one year of age.
Any agricultural foodstuff used to feed domesticated
livestock, and more specifically food given to the animals directly (such as
hay,
straw,
silage, and
compound feeds), as opposed to that which they
forage for themselves.
The availability of edible food within a country or other geographic area and the ability of humans within that area to access, afford, and attain sufficient, safe, and nutritious foodstuffs, either by gathering, producing, or importing them, in order to meet their dietary needs for active and healthy lifestyles.
The practice of integrating edible plants into ornamental landscapes, cultivating them not only for the food they produce but also for their aesthetic qualities.
The geographic region which produces most or all of the food consumed in a particular place or by a particular population, by analogy with a
watershed.
An integrated
livestock-
crop production system in which crops are harvested for human consumption and then the
crop residues or byproducts are used as
feed for livestock, often on the same or nearby agricultural land.
The practice of providing supplemental nutrition to plants by applying liquid
fertilizer directly to their leaves, stems, or bark, as opposed to their roots, which are the usual target for conventional fertilizing methods. Most plants are perfectly capable of absorbing nutrients through these aboveground parts, and there may be good reasons to prefer that the nutrients travel by these routes rather than through the soil surrounding the roots.
Any plant material, especially leaves and stems, eaten by
grazinglivestock, especially that which is grazed by animals in
pastures. In a looser sense it may also include
fodder (plant material deliberately cut and given to animals as food).
The practice of intentionally breaking the dormancy of a cultivated plant and encouraging germination, active growth, and/or flowering and fruiting outside of its natural
growing season (e.g. in the winter). This involves exposing a seed or other propagule, or a mature
perennial plant, to a specific sequence of carefully controlled environmental conditions (e.g.
cold stratification) intended to simulate the environmental cues the plant normally receives at the beginning of its seasonal growth cycle (e.g. in the springtime), which trigger the internal chemical reactions that cause it to grow and develop. The term is used particularly in the indoor
horticulture of plants that grow from
bulbs,
corms, or
rhizomes, but can also refer more broadly to the off-season cultivation of any plant or propagule.
A practice in
agroforestry involving the cultivation of high-value specialty
crops under a
forest canopy that is deliberately modified or maintained to provide habitat and shade levels which enhance crop
yields. Most crops produced by such methods are
non-timber forest products or niche crops such as
ginseng and certain varieties of
mushroom.
A method of animal farming and
animal husbandry in which the animals are permitted to roam freely outdoors, rather than being confined in enclosures, for at least part of each day. Though in practice the outdoor ranging area is usually fenced-in and therefore technically also an enclosure, free-range systems offer the opportunity for extensive locomotion, fresh air, and sunlight that is otherwise reduced or entirely prevented by indoor housing systems. The term may apply to farming for meat, eggs, or dairy products; in
ranching, it is sometimes used interchangeably with
open range.
An infertile female
bovine animal (a
cow) that shows masculinized behavior, in particular one that is born as a twin to a male animal and, despite being phenotypically female, is actually a
genetic chimera, having acquired some XY cells by exchange of cellular material with the male twin in utero, causing various hormonal alterations to normal female reproductive development.
frost control
Any of a variety of measures taken to reduce or prevent damage to agricultural crops caused by extremely cold temperatures, especially plants on farms, in gardens, and in orchards. Common frost control methods include covering crop plants with
cold frames, keeping soils wet with continuous
irrigation, and providing supplementary heat sources such as
smudge pots.[8]
A chicken of either sex between 8 and 12 weeks of age and weighing 3 to 4 pounds (1.4 to 1.8 kg), especially one raised specifically for meat production. The term is often used interchangeably with
broiler.[4]
Any wood used or intended for use in cooking, heating, or power generation, valuable for its
combustibility (i.e. its ability to produce large amounts of energy when burned). It may come from trees cultivated specifically for this purpose, or from wild trees and shrubs, either as trimmings from the woody trunks and branches of live plants or from dead logs, brush, or other woody debris.[8]
The
cultivation of
fungi with the goal of producing any of a variety of products that can be used by humans, such as foods, medicines, or scientific research materials.
A type of
irrigation which relies on long, shallow, parallel channels, known as furrows, dug into the soil along the length of an agricultural field to deliver water to crops planted on the ridges between the furrows. Water is applied to one end of the furrows, which are often aligned in the direction of the field's predominant natural slope, and flows down the furrows by gravity. Furrow irrigation is particularly suited to broadacre
row crops such as
cotton,
maize, and
sugarcane.
The
horticultural practice of growing and cultivating plants in a
garden, indoors or outdoors, whether for consumption of the produce or for aesthetic reasons, and often as a hobby or to make use of available space on residential, commercial, or civic land. Gardening involves active participation in the entire process of cultivation and tends to be labor-intensive, which distinguishes it from the much larger-scale mechanized or automated operations often encountered in
farming and
forestry.
1. A castrated male horse, or more generally any animal deliberately made sterile,[1] especially one that was castrated before reaching reproductive maturity.[4]
2. The process of castrating or neutering an animal for any reason, commonly for mitigating aggressive behavior and/or preventing unwanted intercourse in very large domestic livestock such as cattle and horses.
An enclosure in which a domestic
sow used for breeding is confined during pregnancy. Often these cages are not much larger than the sow herself, being designed to maximize breeding efficiency for industrial-scale production, and hence are banned in some jurisdictions for being detrimental to animal welfare. See also maternity pen.
gilt
A young female
hog, usually less than one year old.[4]: 27
The practice of collecting unharvested crops from fields or obtaining unused agricultural products from farmers, processors, or retailers, often for distribution to food banks or charitable organizations.[21]
An organophosphorus compound widely used as a
post-emergent broad-spectrum systemic
herbicide and crop desiccant, especially to kill annual broadleaf weeds and grasses that compete with crop plants. It is the primary ingredient in the herbicide
Roundup.
Any collection of specific principles or methods applied by agricultural producers in order to create food or non-food products that are safe, healthy, and wholesome for consumers while also taking into account economic, social, and environmental
sustainability. GAPs may be applied to a wide range of production systems and at different scales, and often vary with geographical context.
Any small, hard, dry
seed (with or without the outer shell or other parts of the fruit) that is harvested for human or animal consumption, or the plant from which these seeds are harvested. Crops considered grains include all
cereals (such as
maize,
wheat, and
rice) as well as
pseudocereals (
amaranth,
buckwheat,
quinoa), certain
legumes (
soybeans and
lentils), and certain
oilseed plants (
rapeseed and
flax).
The process of removing or reducing the moisture content of harvested
grain to prevent spoilage during storage. Drying may occur by natural means, e.g. exposing the grain to air and sunshine, or by artificial fuel- or electric-powered processes, or both.
1. A tower containing a
bucket elevator or
pneumatic conveyor designed to carry harvested
grain upwards from a lower level (often from some type of transport) and deposit it into a
silo or other storage facility.
2. A complex of agricultural buildings containing such a tower, as well as offices, weighbridges, and storage facilities, or an organization that operates or controls multiple elevators in different locations.
1. A type of herbivory in which the herbivore feeds on
grasses and other non-woody vegetation, as opposed to
browsing, which involves feeding on taller trees and shrubs.
2. A method of animal
husbandry which relies on this type of herbivory, whereby domestic
livestock such as cattle are allowed to roam freely, often on wild
pasture that is unsuitable for farming, in order to graze wild grasses and other
forage.
Forage that is cut or harvested in the field while still green and succulent and then fed directly to
livestock as fresh
fodder (in contrast to
hay and other types of feed which have been dried and stored). If wrapped and allowed to ferment, it can be made into
silage.[1]
A type of
manure created by leaving uprooted or dehisced
crop residues to wither and decay in an agricultural
field so that they can serve as a
mulch or natural
fertilizer. Plants used for green manure are often
cover crops grown specifically for this purpose; the mature plant tissues may be
ploughed and mixed into the soil while green or shortly after flowering.
The dramatic increase in agricultural production that occurred worldwide during the second half of the 20th century, primarily due to the adoption of modern scientific methods of
farming and large-scale management techniques; the development of
high-yielding varieties of many crop plants (especially
cereal grains); the expansion of
irrigation infrastructures; the mechanization of many agricultural tasks with modern
agricultural machinery; and the increase in the availability and use of
chemicalinputs such as
fertilizers and
pesticides, all of which led to a marked increase in production rates, farm
yields, food quality and consistency, and crop prices in most parts of the world. The Green Revolution also accordingly led to an increase in land conversion and consolidation and the emergence of mass-market
industrial agriculture, as well as to concerns about
sustainability and the impact of agricultural practices on public health and the environment.
Grain that has been separated from its
chaff in preparation for grinding in a
mill; less commonly, the term is also used to describe grain after the process of grinding, i.e. grain that has already been ground.
The part of the year during which local weather conditions (i.e. temperature and precipitation) permit the normal growth of
plants in a given location. Though the timing of plant growth and reproduction can vary widely by species, many local plant species show considerable
phenological overlap, and so the term is commonly used to refer to a single generic season that encompasses a majority of the plants or crops growing in a given location. In many places, the local "growing season" is defined as the period of time between the average date of the last
frost (typically in the spring or early summer) and the average date of the first frost (typically in the autumn).
Any dense, resistant layer of soil, usually found below the uppermost
topsoil, that is difficult to dig or till and largely impervious to water and root growth. Hardpans can vary in thickness and depth below the surface; some form naturally from deposits such as
silica that fuse and bind the soil particles, while others are human-made such as those caused by chronic
soil compaction as a result of repeated
ploughing, heavy traffic, or pollution.
A farm implement used to break up and smooth out the surface of a plot of soil. Harrowing often follows coarser
ploughing, generally with the purpose of breaking up large lumps of soil so as to provide a better
tilth that is suitable for use as a
seedbed, and sometimes also to remove weeds or to cover seed after
sowing.
harvest index
The weight of the
harvestedgrain portion of a grain crop as a percentage of the total above-ground dry weight of the crop plants at maturity.[6]
harvested acres
For a particular
crop, the number of acres of cropland that are actually
harvested, as opposed to
planted but not harvested. At the national level, this statistic is usually lower than the total number of planted acres due to abandonment caused by weather damage or low market prices at some point during the
growing season, or because the crop is repurposed for livestock
grazing.[21]
The process of gathering a ripe
crop from an agricultural
field. Harvesting is often the most labor-intensive activity of a growing season or utilizes the most expensive and sophisticated farm machinery. In general usage, the term may include immediate
postharvest practices such as cleaning, sorting, packing, and cooling of the gathered crops.
Another name for
allergic rhinitis, a type of inflammation predominantly in the nose and eyes resulting from an immune reaction to any of a wide variety of airborne allergens, including but not limited to pollen grains from grasses and other plants. The term is often used to describe the sudden onset of symptoms following inhalation of the dry particulate dust associated with manufacturing and handling
hay, though it is now also used colloquially to refer to allergic reactions of any cause.
A handheld agricultural tool consisting of a long-bladed knife, sometimes with a serrated edge, that is used for cutting or sawing through compact bundles,
sheaves, or
bales of
hay or
silage.
A type of
rake used to collect cut
hay or
straw into
windrows for later collection (e.g. by a
baler) and/or to "fluff up" the hay so that it dries more quickly.
Silage with a high dry-matter content, made from the same
grasses or
legumes from which
hay is made (such as
alfalfa,
timothy, and others) but not dried as much as hay nor as little as direct-chop/green-chop silage (before being ensiled).
The
seed of grasses and legumes that are used for producing
hay, especially when shaken from mown hay, and therefore sometimes inclusive of
weed seed.[18]
A wide strip of land at each end of a planted
field used for turning or maneuvering large farm machinery such as
ploughs. The headland runs perpendicular to the lay of the field and may itself be planted at the beginning of the season; in such cases it is usually the first area to be
harvested in order to minimize crop damage.[23]
A metric unit of area defined as the area of a square with sides of 100 by 100
metres (330 by 330
feet), equivalent to 10,000
square metres (0.003861
sq mi), or about 2.47
acres.
The cultivation of
land snails with the goal of producing any of a variety of products that can be used by humans, usually food or cosmetics, or as a form of
biological pest control.
The distribution by humans, intentionally or unintentionally, of cultivated plants or their seeds, cuttings, or propagules into habitats they have been unable to colonize through their natural mechanisms of spread but in which they are nonetheless able to survive and propagate without additional support from human activities.
The skin of an animal, especially when removed from the animal and
tanned or treated for human use, after which it is also known as
leather. Domestic animals, particularly cattle, horses, sheep, and goats,[1] are sometimes raised specifically for their hides.
A type of
extensive agriculture practiced in hilly, upland areas unsuitable for intensive management, typically involving the
grazing of
livestock and especially sheep.
The piling of soil around the base of a plant, creating a small mound or ridge of earth, so as to aid plant growth in any of a variety of ways, often to improve retention of water or
soil amendments.
A small
farm or
smallholding that is operated without the expectation of it being a primary source of food or income. Hobby farms may provide a secondary income or may be maintained for other reasons, e.g. in order to provide recreational land for people or animals, or simply for the pleasure of doing so, i.e. as a hobby or passion project.
Another name for a
pig or domesticated
swine, especially one weighing at least 120 pounds (54 kg) and being prepared for market.[18]
hog off
To harvest a
grain crop by allowing domestic pigs to eat it when the grain is nearly ripe, often because it is a poor crop that is not worth harvesting for market.[18]
Cultivated or produced locally, as with crops or livestock raised on one's own property (especially on land that also serves as the grower's place of residence, e.g. in a household garden), on a nearby farm, or in the same state or nation where they are offered for sale and consumption.[18]
Any plant used by bees as a source of nectar for making honey, especially one that imparts a distinctive flavor to the honey made from it; examples include alfalfa, buckwheat, clover, goldenrod, mesquite, and sumac.
The
cultivation of plants for any purpose, including for food, materials, and decoration. Horticulturists apply a variety of knowledge, skills, and technologies relevant to plant growth and propagation, typically in
intensively managed
gardens, in order to grow plants for
subsistence purposes, for profit, for scientific research, or for personal or social needs.
An area of decaying organic matter (e.g.
manure) that is warmer than its surroundings as a result of the
decomposition of organic substances by microorganisms. Hotbeds enclosed by a small glass cover are often used as a kind of natural
hothouse.
An offspring resulting from sexual reproduction between parent organisms belonging to different breeds, strains, varieties, species, or genera, thereby combining different biological characteristics in a single organism. The traits of hybrids are often mixtures of their parents' traits or are intermediate between them, though they may also differ substantially from either parent, as with
hybrid vigor.
Improved or increased size, strength, durability,
yield, or any other biological function or quality in a
hybrid offspring, relative to the same characteristics as observed in its parents.
Land that is
arable,
tillable, or generally in a condition suitable for the
cultivation of agricultural crops without first requiring major modifications such as clearing of vegetation or rocks or drainage of water, but which nonetheless is not being cultivated,
fallowed, or used as
pasture.[1]
In the
poultry industry, a heated space in which newly laid eggs are placed in order to keep them warm and sheltered prior to hatching, simulating natural avian incubation in a controlled environment at optimal temperature and humidity and sometimes featuring an automated mechanism capable of periodically turning the eggs as well.
Any species whose natural (i.e. uncultivated) presence or status can reveal the qualitative health or condition of its local environment, often by suggesting the existence of one or more specific environmental characteristics, e.g. wetness, salinity, acidity, etc.[18]
Any
crop that is specifically grown in order to yield a useful product for human industrial processes, such as fuels, fibers, oils, rubber, chemicals, resins, waxes, or dyes; the term generally also includes
energy crops.[6]
Any system of agricultural production that uses relatively large inputs of labor, fertilizer, and/or
capital per unit land area and is, accordingly, characterized by high production
outputs, in contrast to
extensive agriculture. In the developed world, most commercial agriculture is intensive in one or more ways.
A type of
multiple cropping involving the cultivation of two or more crops in proximity, usually with the goal of producing a greater
yield within a given area of land by making use of resources or ecological processes that would otherwise not be utilized by a single crop.
The application of controlled amounts of water to plants at needed intervals, especially for the purposes of growing agricultural
crops, maintaining landscapes, or
revegetating disturbed or drought-affected soils. Irrigation systems may also be used as a means of protecting crops from frost, suppressing the growth of weeds, preventing soil consolidation, cooling
livestock, and controlling airborne dust.
A traditional
domesticated variety of a
crop species that has become locally adapted over time to its specific natural and agricultural environment and has remained isolated from other wild and domesticated populations of the species. Landraces are often distinguished from
cultivars and
breeds in the standardized sense, although the term landrace breed is sometimes used when referring to cattle. Compare heirloom variety.
The application of calcium- and magnesium-rich minerals (collectively known as
lime) to soil, in any of a variety of forms, including
marl,
chalk,
limestone,
burnt lime, or
hydrated lime, usually as a means of increasing
soil pH. By acting as bases, these materials can help to neutralize very acidic soils, improving plant growth and increasing the activity of soil microbes. Structure liming can also improve aggregate stability in clay soils.
A mixture of animal faeces and various other organic matter such as
crop residues, commonly aged in a
slurry pit and then diluted with water, which is used as an agricultural
fertilizer.
Any
domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting in order to produce labor and/or agricultural commodities such as meat, milk, eggs, fur, leather, and wool. In certain contexts the term may be used more narrowly to refer exclusively to animals that are bred for consumption, or only to farmed
ruminants such as
cattle and
goats;
sheep,
pigs, and
horses are also often considered livestock, while
poultry and
fish are usually excluded.
The tendency of the normally erect stems of certain crop plants, especially
cerealgrains such as wheat, rye, and barley, to bend over and break near ground level and become flattened against the ground, which makes them very difficult to harvest and can dramatically reduce
yield. Lodging is most commonly caused by adverse weather conditions such as heavy rainfall, hail, and strong winds, but may also occur due to trampling by animals.
A type of agricultural
terrace made from earth, or a strip of green, unploughed land left between two areas of
ploughed land, often used to mark a temporary boundary between
fields.[13]
Any organic matter that is used as an
organic fertilizer in agriculture, typically consisting of animal
excreta,
compost, and/or
plant material. Manures contribute to
soil fertility by adding organic compounds and nutrients such as nitrogen which are essential for plant growth and for the development of ecological networks with soil microorganisms.
A machine used to distribute
manure over an agricultural field as
fertilizer. Modern manure spreaders typically consist of a trailer towed behind a
tractor with a conveyor and/or rotating mechanism driven by the tractor's
power take-off.
The solid
residue that results from processing fruits, sugarcane, or sugar beets, and in particular from trampling and squeezing grapes or olives to extract juice. Marc residues have found many uses, including as livestock feed.[18]
A specialized branch of
aquaculture involving the cultivation of
marine organisms in the
open ocean, enclosed sections of the ocean, or
saltwater tanks or
raceways, with the goal of producing any of a variety of products that can be used by humans, most commonly foods but also non-food products such as jewellery and cosmetics. Mariculture includes the farming of marine fish,
shellfish,
molluscs such as
clams and
oysters, and
seaweed, among many other organisms.
mash
A
poultryfeed consisting of a complete ration of ground
grain,
soybean meal, alfalfa meal, byproducts from meat processing,
skimmed milk, limestone, salt, and/or
fish oil, often fortified with vitamins and minerals.[1]
The fruit of forest trees and shrubs, e.g. acorns and nuts, especially when accumulated on the ground.
maternity pen
A warm, well-bedded enclosure in which pregnant animals about to give birth are kept isolated, preventing other animals from disturbing the mother or otherwise interfering with the birthing process.[1]
matron
An adult female horse (a
mare) that has given birth to a
foal.[1]
An open field vegetated primarily by native grasses, herbs, and other plants, with few or no trees and shrubs. Meadows may occur naturally but may also be maintained or artificially created by humans for the production of
hay or
fodder or to serve as
pasture for
livestock.
The use of
agricultural machinery to mechanize the work of agriculture, thereby substantially increasing the productivity of an agricultural operation. Modern mechanized agriculture may make use of tractors,
combine harvesters,
aircraft, computers, and satellite imagery, among other technologies.
merchantable volume
In
silviculture, the amount of wood in a tree or stand of trees (typically expressed in units of volume, e.g.
board-feet) that is of a quality suitable for harvesting and marketing as
lumber. The term is most commonly used to describe an estimated
yield with respect to a particular economic context, which may vary as market conditions and consumer preferences change.[10]
A
cow kept primarily for the purpose of producing
milk for home use or limited commercial sale,[1] especially when belonging to a herd of cattle being raised for other purposes.
The process of extracting
milk, either manually or by
automated machine, from the
mammary glands of
lactating mammals, especially
cattle,
goats,
sheep, and water buffalo, or more rarely camels, horses, or donkeys. Lactation occurs naturally in all sexually mature female mammals, though in usable quantities only during or immediately after pregnancy. Milking is the fundamental activity underlying the
dairy industry.
A type of
conservation tillage designed to
conserve soil quality by minimizing the amount of soil manipulation necessary for successful crop production, typically by completely avoiding primary tillage and practicing only minimal secondary tillage.
minor crop
A crop plant that is high in value but is not widely grown. Many fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts may be considered minor crops.[2]
The practice of growing a single crop repeatedly on the same land for many consecutive growing seasons. Monocropping allows farmers to optimize their time and labor by applying the same
inputs, growing methods, machinery, pest controls, etc. to the same crop in the same spaces year after year, but also forgoes the potential benefits of natural diversity and may eventually prove unsustainable by exhausting soil nutrients and requiring increasingly large inputs to compensate.
Any layer of material applied to the surface of soil for the purpose of conserving soil moisture, improving soil health and fertility, reducing
weed growth, and/or enhancing the soil's aesthetic appeal. Mulches are usually organic in nature (e.g.
bark chips,
manure, and
compost) though
plasticsheeting and other types of artificial mulch are also common.
Any type of seed product sold as a cluster of seeds fused together and which produces more than one plant when it germinates, after which the multiple plants are typically reduced to individual plants by a process called singling.[13]
The practice of growing two or more
crops on the same area of land in the same
growing season (as opposed to growing
only one crop); the crops may be harvested at the same time or at different times. It is a form of
polyculture. See also companion planting.
Large, tangled masses of
cotton fibers present in
ginned cotton, often a consequence of ginning cotton which has not dried sufficiently.[1] Compare neps.
Very small, snarled or knotted clusters of
cotton fibers present in
ginned cotton which are difficult to detect, looking like dots or specks in the
lint, and equally difficult to remove. Neps are generally a more serious concern than naps because if not detected they will appear as defects in the finished yarn or fabric.[1]
The return, both monetary and non-monetary, to farm operators for their labor, management, and capital, after all production expenses have been paid; i.e.
gross farm income minus production expenses. It includes net income from sales of the farm's agricultural products as well as net income attributed to the rental value of farm dwellings, the value of any commodities consumed on the farm, depreciation, and inventory changes. The term is used primarily in United States agricultural policy.[2]
non-program crop
Any agricultural crop or commodity not covered by a federally funded commodity program.[2] Contrast program crop.
The phenomenon by which certain varieties of plants adapted to high-latitude climates produce hardier, better-tasting, or higher-yield crops when grown in lower-latitude climates. The effect has been observed in many types of produce grown in the northern United States and Canada, including potatoes, strawberries, and garlic.
Any method of growing
crops or maintaining
pasture without disturbing the soil through
tillage, and typically involving minimal or no
seedbed preparation. Though soil tillage is widely practiced in modern agriculture, proponents assert that in certain contexts no-till or low-till techniques can increase the soil's retention of water and organic matter and reduce soil erosion.
A
weed or other undesirable plant that is harmful to cultivated crops or other useful plants (by acting as a parasitic plant, strongly outcompeting other plants, or releasing allelopathic chemicals into the soil) or to
livestock (by poisoning or causing other injury). Many places specify which weeds are noxious and require land users to take steps to control these species.[1]
Any
annualcrop plant used to assist in the establishment of a
perennial crop. Nurse crops may help to reduce the incidence of weeds, prevent soil erosion, and shade the perennial crop's seedlings from excessive sunlight; often the nurse crop itself is harvested for a particular product.
The contamination, particularly of surface water sources, by excessive inputs of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Sources of nutrient pollution include
surface runoff from agricultural fields and pastures (where large quantities of nutrient-rich
fertilizers are commonly applied), discharges from septic tanks and
feedlots, and emissions from combustion.[2]
A building designed for kilning or drying harvested
hops for use in the
brewing of beer.
off-farm stocks
Harvested
whole grains or
oilseeds produced by a particular farm or agricultural operation which have been removed from the farm where they were produced and stored off-site in temporary or permanent storage, e.g. at
grain elevators,
mills, or other processing facilities, regardless of their ownership or intended use.[1] This includes supplies of grain which have been sold or distributed to consumers or retailers as well as supplies which have not yet been sold but for which there is no available storage space on the farmer's property. Compare on-farm stocks.
The
cultivation of vegetables (i.e. non-woody herbaceous plants) for food, or the science that studies the growing of these plants as edible
produce.
once grown seed
Seed obtained from plants that have been grown from a
certified seed intended for use only by the farmer on his own farm, and not for resale.[13]
once-over tillage
An operation in which a field is tilled and planted
simultaneously or in quick succession.[19]
on-farm stocks
Harvested
whole grains or
oilseeds which are stored on-site in temporary or permanent storage at or near the same farm where they were grown, regardless of their ownership or intended use.[1] This includes supplies of grain which have already been sold but not yet distributed to consumers or retailers as well as supplies kept for the farmer's own use, and in the broadest sense may also include grain which is still growing in the field and has not yet been harvested. Compare off-farm stocks.
A type of
rangeland on which
livestock, particularly
cattle, roam freely regardless of land ownership and without being enclosed by
fences. Where open range is prescribed by law, the land owner (and not the animal owner) is responsible for erecting
exclosure fences to keep animals off of private or public property.
Any intentional planting of
trees or
shrubs that is maintained for food production. Most orchards are planted with a single variety of fruit- or nut-producing tree, and are often laid out in a regular grid with wide spacing and grazed or mown grass or bare soil between individual trees to make maintenance and harvesting easy.
Any building that is part of an agricultural or residential complex but is detached or distant from other structures, especially one dedicated to some practical purpose and isolated by necessity or convenience on a remote part of a large property. Common agricultural outbuildings include
barns,
stables,
cellars,
silos,
granaries,
sheds, and housing for farm laborers.
A
bovine animal of either sex which is trained and used as a
draft animal, especially for
plowing,
threshing,
milling, pulling carts or wagons, or hauling loads. Oxen are most commonly castrated adult male cattle, though
cows and
intact males may also be employed as oxen.
A building in which
harvested agricultural
produce (e.g. fruits and vegetables) is packaged for sale prior to distribution to market. Other forms of
postharvest processing such as cleaning may also take place in the same facility.
The practice of applying moderate heat to
milk and other heat-sensitive liquids in order to reduce the native microbial load. Pasteurization uses temperatures which are much lower than in conventional sterilization techniques but still high enough to deactivate or denature the
proteins and other molecules used by
bacteria and other microorganisms, usually not killing them outright but significantly slowing their growth and reproduction, thereby delaying the inevitable onset of
spoilage and extending the product's
shelf-life.[24]
A sedentary form of
pastoralism in which
livestock are raised on the same
pastureland for most or all of their lives, rather than continuously being moved as in traditional nomadic pastoralism. Pastoral farmers typically have some form of ownership of the land they use, giving them an economic incentive to
improve the land to meet the needs of their animals (e.g. by
irrigation).
A type of animal
husbandry in which
herds of domestic animals are released onto large areas of vegetated outdoor land, known as
pastures, for
grazing, traditionally by fully or partially nomadic peoples who move around with their herds, and generally in places where environmental conditions such as aridity, poor soils, and extreme temperatures make growing crops difficult or impossible.
Any land used for
grazing, especially enclosed tracts of
farmland grazed by domesticated
livestock such as horses, cattle, sheep, or swine. Pasture vegetation mainly consists of
grasses and
forbs and is typically grazed throughout the summer. Pasture is often distinguished from, but may in the broadest sense include, other agricultural land types such as
meadows,
rangelands, or other unenclosed pastoral areas.
A type of
mill or machine press used to compress and mold bulk quantities of powdered or fine-grained material into compact, high-density, homogeneous units called pellets, which are often much easier to store, transport, and distribute than in their original form. Many agricultural materials are commonly pelletized, including fertilizers and pesticides.
Compound animal feed is usually milled from a feed mixture into small pellets the size of a kernel of corn so as to ensure a uniform ration for each fed animal.[18]
An amorphous glass mineral of volcanic origin with a relatively high water content and the unusual property of expanding to many times its original volume when heated sufficiently. Expanded perlite is commonly used as a
soil amendment in
horticulture, where its low density and high permeability help to improve drainage and prevent
soil compaction. It is also sometimes used alone as a
growth medium for starting
cuttings or in
hydroponics.
An approach to land management that adopts arrangements observed in healthy natural ecosystems, with particular emphasis on utilizing creative design principles derived from whole systems thinking. Permaculture principles are often employed in
regenerative agriculture,
rewilding, and
sustainable agriculture, but the concept has a wide range of applications, including in
ecological engineering, water resource management, and
architecture.
Any chemical or biological agent used to deter, incapacitate, kill, or otherwise discourage one or more target organisms considered
pests by humans, including
herbicides for
noxious plants,
insecticides,
miticides,
fungicides,
nematicides, antimicrobials for bacteria and viruses, and any other substance intended to control a
pathogen of any kind.[6] Most pesticides are used in agriculture to protect
crop plants or
domestic animals from pathogens which cause or transmit disease or destroy crop value, though they are also used for a huge variety of other purposes. Some are applied directly to the pest, while others are applied to the crop or animal itself, or to the air or soil around it. Pesticide use may also have drawbacks, including unintended or off-target effects such as toxicity to humans.
Also called molecular farming, molecular pharming, and biopharming.
The use of
genetic engineering technologies to insert one or more
genes that code for useful
pharmaceuticals into a host plant or animal that would otherwise not express those genes, thereby creating a
genetically modified organism. Crops modified in this way are sometimes called pharma crops.
A
crop grown to improve the general fertility of a parcel of land prior to
sowing another, typically more valuable crop on the same land. Farmers often permit livestock to
graze the pioneer crop in the hope that their dung will add soil nutrients.[13]
A branch of
aquaculture involving the raising of
fish in tanks, enclosures, or
hatcheries with the goal of producing any of a variety of products that can be used by humans, most commonly food.
A two-handed
agricultural tool with between two and five long, thin tines and a long handle, used to efficiently pitch or toss large clumps of loose material such as
hay,
straw, leaves, or
manure. Pitchforks are used for a wide variety of tasks such as feeding
cattle and
bucking hay.
A large-scale estate which specializes in
farmingcash crops, most commonly cotton, coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar cane, opium, fruit trees, rubber trees, and forest trees.
An artificial
mulch consisting of a thin film of plastic polymers, used in both crop production and landscaping for the same reasons as natural mulches, i.e. to suppress
weeds, conserve water, and maintain soil integrity. Crops grow through regularly spaced holes cut in the plastic film. It is most commonly used with
row crops, often in conjunction with
drip irrigation.
The practice of interweaving the living and dead branches of a hedgerow so that they become tangled, either for the purpose of strengthening the hedge by forming a natural fence or wall which continues to thicken as it grows, or for ornamental reasons.
Any farm implement used to loosen or overturn soil in preparation for
sowing seed or
transplanting, a practice known as
ploughing. Ploughs typically consist of a series of blades attached to a wooden or metallic frame, often with wheels, which is then pushed or pulled either by humans, by draft animals, or, on modern farms, with a
tractor.
A hard layer in the
subsoil caused by excessive compression due to repeated
ploughing at the same depth over multiple consecutive
seasons.[13] See also hardpan.
The use of a
plough in the cultivation of agricultural land. Ploughing is an ancient and fundamental agricultural technique, the primary purpose of which is to evenly distribute fresh nutrients, moisture, and air through the uppermost layers of the soil while also burying
weeds and
crop residues to decay. Modern ploughed fields are typically left to dry and then
harrowed prior to planting. The use of a plough usually leaves the soil with a rough, unfinished look and parallel trenches called
furrows; conventional, intensive ploughing practices may contribute to
soil erosion and the formation of
hardpan.
The large metal blade that is the leading edge of the
mouldboard of a
plough, used to cut through large amounts of soil to the bottom of the
furrow. Certain ploughs have a
coulter immediately preceding the ploughshare.[13]
Born
without horns, used when describing
livestock of a species that is normally horned, e.g. in cattle, goats, and sheep. The term may refer to animals that have been selectively bred to be naturally hornless or, in the broadest sense, to otherwise horned animals that have had their horn buds removed after birth by
disbudding.[4]
The practice of growing or raising more than one species, variety, or breed at the same time and place, often in imitation of the biodiversity of natural ecosystems. Contrast monoculture.
Also called a polyhouse, hoophouse, grow tunnel, or high tunnel.
A type of
greenhouse in the form of a typically semi-circular, elongated tunnel made from a steel frame covered with transparent polyethylene; temperature, humidity, and air circulation can be adjusted by the opening and closing of doors or vents. Polytunnels are used in similar ways to glass greenhouses and
row covers, e.g. for
season extension or as
nurseries. Though primarily designed to provide temperature increases ranging from 5 to 35 °C (9 to 63 °F) above the outdoor air temperature, they can also protect plants (and animals) against extreme weather and the drying effect of wind.
Occurring after the stage in a plant's life when the first leaves emerge from beneath the soil. The term is used in particular to describe a class of
herbicides intended to be applied to
weeds which are already leafy or established. Post-emergent herbicides such as
glyphosate typically work by killing the cells of mature leaves, thereby inhibiting photosynthesis and causing the whole plant to die; they are generally ineffective on very young plants and seeds. Contrast pre-emergent.
1. The stage of commercial crop production immediately following
harvest, including cooling, drying, cleaning, sorting, packing, and/or any other processing and handling activities necessary for the crop to become marketable. Postharvest treatment largely determines a crop's final quality and how and whether it can be sold.
2. Any activities that occur after agricultural products leave or are sold from the farm or ranch where they were produced.[21]
A quantitative limit on the amount of an agricultural commodity (e.g. tobacco or peanuts) that can be produced and/or marketed under the provisions of a governmental
price support program.[18]
A device, commonly found on tractors but also sometimes on farm trucks or other vehicles, that transmits electrical and/or mechanical energy from a power source (e.g. a running engine) to an attached implement or a separate machine which is either pulled behind on a trailer or mounted on the vehicle itself. Modern tractors almost always have a power take-off, which can be connected to a wide variety of equipment to supply power for virtually any automatable agricultural task, e.g.
mowing,
ploughing,
tilling, compacting, distributing agrochemicals, harvesting, etc.
Also called satellite farming and site-specific crop management.
A large-scale agricultural management strategy based on observing, measuring, and responding to inter- and intra-field variability in
crops and
crop yields with the goal of optimizing returns on inputs while preserving resources. Precision agriculture relies on advanced technologies such as
GPS,
remote sensing,
satellite imagery,
multispectral imagery, and
agricultural drones to collect data on numerous agricultural variables and to generate datasets and maps of spatial variability which can then be used by variable-rate (and often fully automated) applications to optimally distribute resources.
A method of
seeding that involves placing seed with attention to precise spacing and depth, either by hand or mechanically, as opposed to
broadcast seeding. Precision seeding usually requires less seed and avoids overcrowding and the need for thinning, but is best suited for plants with very high germination rates in order to make full use of the seeded area.
precleaning
Removing unwanted foreign material such as weeds, seeds, dirt, stems, and cobs from harvested
grain before it is dried.[18]
Occurring before
germination, or before the stage in a plant's life when the first leaves emerge from beneath the soil. The term is used in particular to describe a class of
herbicides intended to be applied to
weeds before their leaves have become established. Pre-emergent herbicides such as
paraquat work by inhibiting one or more enzymes that are active in cell division only in new
seedlings; they do not inhibit germination from seed itself, nor are they effective on established, mature plants. Contrast post-emergent.
An economic index used to monitor and indicate changes in the prices paid by farmers for goods and services used in crop and livestock production as well as those needed for farm family living. In addition to the prices of common farm
inputs such as
fertilizer, the index also includes interest on debt, taxes payable on farm real estate, and wage rates paid to hired labor. It is used to calculate the price of many fees and fines required by agricultural law, e.g. fees for grazing livestock on federal land.
An economic index used to monitor and indicate changes in the prices received by farmers for their products at the point of first sale, usually the farm itself or a local market. Together with the
prices paid index, it is used to calculate the
parity ratio.
Any general-purpose
tillage that is relatively deep and thorough and which leaves the soil surface with a rough, unfinished texture, such as
ploughing, as opposed to subsequent, shallower, and more selective
secondary tillage. Primary tillage is usually performed immediately after the last
harvest, with the objectives of loosening, softening, and aerating the soil to a particular depth, incorporating
crop residues and/or
fertilizers, and killing
weeds.
A generalized term used to refer to a variety of
farm-produced food
crops, usually including
fruits and
vegetables and sometimes also
grains and other products, especially implying that such foods are fresh and generally in the same state as when and where they were
harvested.
A crop for which
deficiency payments are paid by a government agency to participating producers, e.g. wheat, corn, barley, grain sorghum, oats, upland cotton, and rice.[18] Contrast non-program crop.
Any
crop plant whose harvested products naturally contain high concentrations of
proteins or
amino acids and are therefore important as
staple foods or in helping to meet the nutritional requirements of humans or domestic animals. Many
oilseeds and
grains are considered protein crops.
The selective removal of certain unwanted plant parts or tissues, such as branches, buds, or roots, from crops or landscape plants during cultivation for any of a variety of reasons, including controlling or redirecting growth, improving or sustaining the plant's health or appearance, reducing risk from falling branches, preparing juvenile plants for
transplanting, and increasing the
yield or quality of harvestable flowers and fruits. See also topping, pollarding, and coppicing.
An agricultural pest control strategy that utilizes the
intercropping of repellent "push" plants and attractive "pull" plants to divert pests, typically insects, away from vulnerable
cash crops. For example, noxious plants (e.g.
catnip and Desmodium) may be planted between rows of a valuable
cereal crop to repel or "push" certain herbivorous insects away from the cereal, while a more preferable
trap crop (e.g. some Brachiaria grasses) is simultaneously planted around the perimeter of the field to attract or "pull" in the insects and keep them there.
A type of
horticulture in which the soil surface is raised above the surrounding ground level and usually enclosed in some way within a structure known as a raised bed. Such elevated
seedbeds allow gardeners to separate their gardens from the surrounding environment and therefore easily maintain the condition and properties of the soil by optimizing density, nutrient levels, and water infiltration and drainage, and adding a barrier to the movement of pests and pathogens from adjacent natural soils; they may also be desirable because they do not require digging into the ground, which may be difficult or impractical in some places due to the presence of rocks or tree roots or the risk of damaging buried utility lines.
Any
grassland,
shrubland, woodland, wetland, or desert area that is
grazed by domestic
livestock or wild animals and is generally not suitable for cultivating crops.[1] Rangelands are generally less intensively managed than
pasture lands in that they are dominated primarily by native vegetation rather than by plants established by humans, and typically are not subjected to agricultural practices such as
irrigation and the use of
fertilizers.
The practice of harvesting a crop plant (particularly a
monocot species) by cutting most of the above-ground portion of the plant but leaving the roots and the shoot apices intact so as to allow the plant to recover and produce a fresh crop in a subsequent growing season. This procedure usually can be sustained only for a few seasons, as
yield tends to decline with each season. Ratoon crops include
sugarcane,
pineapples, and
bananas.
Seeds that cannot survive the effects of drying or freezing (generally, temperatures less than 10 °C (50 °F)) and which therefore cannot be stored for long periods of time because they tend to rapidly lose viability. Recalcitrant seeds do not acquire desiccation tolerance during development and often shed from their parent plants with a relatively high moisture content, making them especially vulnerable to moisture loss.[6] Contrast orthodox seed.
A large chicken raised for its meat and suitable for roasting, generally at least 12 weeks old and weighing at least 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms).[10] Compare broiler.
The practice of identifying and removing plants with undesirable characteristics (e.g. plants that are diseased or of an unwanted shape, color, or variety) from agricultural fields, often by hand. The plants, known as rogues, are removed to preserve the quality of the desirable
crop plants, often by way of preventing undesirable characteristics from propagating into subsequent generations.[13]
An agricultural implement, typically
tractor-drawn, used for flattening an area of land by breaking up large clumps of soil, pushing stones into the soil, and generally creating a smooth, firm
seedbed, especially following
ploughing or
disc harrowing.[13]
The mechanical severing or trimming of plant roots, either intentionally or unintentionally, often by the passage of an agricultural implement through soil. When deliberate, it is often done so as to make a plant easier to
transplant or to slow its growth.[8]
The practice of periodically moving herds of
grazinglivestock between enclosed sections of
pasture known as paddocks, allowing the animals to graze the new paddock while the unoccupied paddocks recover and regrow vegetation, as opposed to allowing continuous grazing of the same land indefinitely or feeding the animals in a
feedlot. See also crop rotation.
roughage
Any animal feedstuff with high fiber content, such as
hay or
straw.[13]
Any flexible, transparent or semi-transparent material, such as fabric or plastic sheeting, that is used as a protective covering to shield plants from extreme temperatures and wind, as well as from insect damage and large herbivores. Row cover can also provide a limited amount of warming in the same way as
greenhouses, by creating a microclimate for the covered plants.
Any
crop that can be planted in rows wide enough to allow it to be
tilled or otherwise cultivated by agricultural machinery specifically designed for that purpose. Such crops are generally
sown by
drilling rather than by
broadcast seeding.
1. To stir a soil surface with an implement possessing tines, e.g. a wire rake, but without turning the soil over completely, often to remove shallow-rooted weeds.
2. To use a sharp tool to create a nick or slit in the hard outer coat of a seed in order to aid the penetration of moisture to the
endosperm and thereby speed up
germination.
A handheld agricultural tool designed with one or more curved blades, sharp on the inside edge, used for mowing grass or harvesting crops, especially
reapinggrain crops prior to
threshing. The action of the scythe has largely been automated in modern agricultural machinery such as
reapers and
combine harvesters. The scythe is similar to a
sickle, but has a longer handle intended to be used with two hands instead of one.
Any method that allows a
crop to be grown and/or
harvested beyond its natural outdoor
growing season or harvest season. Season extension practices most commonly aim to overcome low temperatures or inadequate sunlight in climates where cold weather and shorter days limit the growing season in the spring and fall, but can also include techniques designed to address other seasonally varying conditions such as precipitation and consumer demand, or simply to keep mature crops alive until immediately before the harvest (as opposed to applying
postharvestfood preservation technologies to prevent
spoilage during storage).
second
To
hoe between rows of
rootcrops that have previously been thinned out.[13]
secondary tillage
seed cotton
Raw cotton which has been harvested but not yet
ginned or processed in any other way, containing
lint, seeds, and possibly foreign matter.[1]
seed crop
A
crop grown specifically so that
seeds can be harvested from the mature plants, as opposed to crops grown for their edible or usable non-seed parts, without regard for the quality or quantity of any seeds they may produce. A secondary seed crop may be maintained alongside a primary
cash crop in order to ensure an adequate supply of seeds for future plantings and/or to manage crop phenotypes by the
artificial selection of seeds from parents with desirable characteristics.
The process of coating
seeds with clay, biofertilizers, pesticides, or inert materials to give them a uniform shape and to increase their size and weight in order to improve visibility, ease of planting, germination rates, and resistance to disease.[6]
A mounted or tractor-drawn machine that automates the action of
sowing crop seeds, usually by permitting a specified quantity of seed to pass through a
hopper with each rotation of a drive wheel and then through tubes that extend to the soil surface, where the seeds are deposited and covered with soil to a precise depth. The result is a series of evenly spaced rows with seeds distributed uniformly between them.
The local soil environment in which seeds are
sown, often including not only the soil but also a specially built
cold frame,
hotbed, or
raised bed used to
germinate the seeds in a controlled environment before
transplanting the resulting
seedlings into more natural soils in a garden or field. The use of seedbeds can substantially increase germination rates.
The young plant that
germinates from a plant embryo contained within a
seed.
seedlot
A quantity of seeds, cones, or any other plant propagule of the same species, source, or quality, especially a quantity representing a single collection collected on the same date and at the same location, or even from the same individual plant.[10]
In
orchardry, the total amount of blossoms or fruits growing on one or more cultivated trees at a particular time, or the total amount produced by or harvested from one or more trees during a
growing season or production cycle; an approximate quantification of a tree or orchard's total
productivity.[4]
Any structure with a roof or covering that partially obstructs light from reaching the space beneath it (e.g. a mesh fabric or wood slats), providing partial shade to plants or animals living inside. Shade houses are commonly used in
horticulture to provide optimal conditions for the growth of shade-loving plants, attenuating direct sunlight and keeping temperatures cool while still permitting air circulation and enough light for
photosynthesis to occur.
A type of
agriculture in which a landowner allows a
tenant to cultivate a portion of his or her land in return for a share of the
crops produced on that land.
The natural detachment and dispersal of a plant's fruit or seeds upon reaching maturity, i.e. when the fruit is ripe. For agricultural crops where the harvested seed is valuable, such as cereal
grains, shattering is usually undesirable because natural dispersal mechanisms often scatter the small seeds haphazardly over the ground, making it difficult or impossible to collect, while seed that remains attached to the plant is much easier to harvest. Hence farmers try to time the harvest to occur immediately before their crops begin to shatter. Heavy rain and strong winds may cause premature shattering, which can result in significant yield losses.
A bundle of cut stems from a
cereal crop (especially wheat) which have been bound together after
reaping, traditionally by
sickle or
scythe but on some modern farms by machines such as a
reaper-binder. Multiple sheaves are then "shocked" or arranged into conical
stooks to allow the grain to dry before
threshing.
2. The
skin from a recently shorn sheep or
lamb that has been tanned or dressed with the wool left on, having a suede surface on one side and clipped fur on the other.
A type of agriculture in which specific plots of land are cleared and
cultivated temporarily, often by
slash-and-burn methods and for just a few
growing seasons, then abandoned and allowed to lie
fallow, reverting to their natural vegetation over many more seasons, while the cultivator migrates to a new plot.
shoat
A young domestic
pig of either sex, usually from the age of
weaning up to five months old and weighing 50 to 160 pounds (23 to 73 kg).[4]
A handheld agricultural tool designed with one or more curved blades, sharp on the inside edge, and typically used for
reapinggrain crops or cutting succulent
forage for feeding livestock. The sickle is similar to a
scythe, but used with one hand instead of two.
A type of animal
fodder made from the green foliage of crop plants preserved by a process of
fermentation and storage called ensilage, ensiling, or silaging, which typically involves piling and compressing large amounts of cut green vegetation in an oxygen-poor environment, such as a pit or
silo or a bale wrapped tightly with plastic film. Silage is usually made from
maize,
sorghum, or other
cereals, using the entire green plant (not just the grain).
The practice of
managing or directly controlling the establishment, growth, composition, and quality of natural or deliberately planted
forests for any of a number of reasons, especially
timber production but also for the
cultivation of other forest
crops.
sire
The male parent of an animal. The term is used alongside
dam, especially for domestic mammals such as
cattle and horses.
The killing,
dressing, and
butchering of domestic
livestock, usually for food but also for other reasons, including harvesting
pelts or
culling animals that are diseased or otherwise unsuitable for consumption.
An unplanted
skip row left between planted rows in a tobacco field to allow people and machinery to access the plants in the middle of the field. Usually, two sled rows are left for every four rows of tobacco plants.[1]
slip
A cutting, shoot, or leaf capable of vegetative propagation when rooted.[4]
Liquid waste from animals that is stored in tanks or
open-air lagoons, treated, and then distributed as a
fertilizer, often by a tractor-hauled machine such as a
slurry spreader.[13]
Also called a slurry tank, slurry lagoon, or slurry store.
A hole, tank, reservoir, or other holding area, often lined with concrete but open to the air, into which liquid
animal waste and other unusable organic byproducts of agricultural operations, known as
slurry, is dumped and then allowed to decompose naturally over a long period of time into a nutrient-rich solution that can with further treatment be reused as a
fertilizer. The decomposition process often releases toxic gases, necessitating the use of personal protective equipment when working near slurry pits.
A dense, fast-growing plant species capable and often cultivated specifically for the purpose of suppressing the growth of
weeds by competing strongly with the weeds for access to light, water, and nutrients.[8] An ideal smother crop competes with the weeds but not with other crops. Once it has served its purpose, it may be ploughed into the soil as
green manure along with any weeds that may have survived. Smother crops are an example of
biological pest control.
Any heat-producing device placed between the trees of an
orchard to keep the trees warm and prevent the accumulation of frost on fruits and flowers, which are often highly vulnerable to damage from cold temperatures. Historically, smudge pots burned petroleum to produce an open flame at the top of a long chimney, though colloquially the term now encompasses modern
frost control methods, which usually rely on propane or electric
space heaters instead.
Also called a soil improvement or soil conditioner.
Any product which is added to soil to improve the soil's
quality, especially its
fertility and
mechanics, either to make poor soils more usable or to maintain soils that are already in good condition. In the broadest sense, the term includes all organic and synthetic
fertilizers and all other soil additives.
The degradation of
soil structure, generally by an increase in bulk density and/or decrease in
porosity, due to externally or internally applied loads.[25] Conventional agricultural methods, especially the repeated use of heavy machinery, often lead to the compaction of
subsoil, creating impermeable underground layers that severely restrict water and nutrient cycles and thereby adversely affect crop growth, yield, and quality, not to mention numerous off-site ecological processes.
The scientific study of
soil as a natural resource, including its formation, classification, and mapping; the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils; and how these properties relate to the use and management of soils for agricultural purposes.
Often used interchangeably with seeding and planting.
The process of distributing
seeds (or any other type of propagule) of
crop plants in or upon an area of fertile soil, either by hand or by mechanical methods. Sowing is one of the first steps in any seasonal agricultural operation.
The process by which an agricultural product (typically food) becomes unsuitable for use or ingestion by the consumer. Natural
decomposition of agricultural crops by bacteria and fungi is the most common cause of food spoilage. Depending on the type of product,
shelf life may be significantly increased with proper packaging and storage and by the application of various
food preservation techniques.
The undesirable
germination of
wheat kernels that often occurs on unharvested wheat when wet field conditions persist in the final stage of crop maturation, just prior to and during the
harvest. Recently cut wheat that has been left lying in the field prior to
threshing is particularly vulnerable;
windrowing and drying the cut stalks as quickly as possible is therefore often a high priority for wheat farmers. Sprouted kernels contain extremely high concentrations of the enzyme
alpha-amylase, which can negatively impact the wheat's baking quality; the presence of this enzyme can be determined by the
Falling Number test.
A male
bovine animal (a
bull) that has been castrated relatively late in life, e.g. after reaching maturity, as opposed to the normal practice of castrating males while they are still
calves.[4] Compare steer.
A food that is eaten routinely and in such quantities that it constitutes a dominant portion of a standard diet for a given population or demographic, generally supplying a significant proportion of the basic nutrients needed for survival or health. Specific staple foods vary by location and culture, but typically are inexpensive or readily available foods that can be stored over long periods of time without decaying; examples include
cereals, starchy
tubers or
root vegetables,
meat,
fish,
eggs, and
dairy products.
An upright conical or tent-like arrangement of
sheaves of the cut stalks of a
grain crop, placed so as to keep the grain-heads off the ground prior to collection for
threshing. Stooked grains typically include wheat, barley, oats, and maize.
The leaves, stalks, and other
field residues of certain crops, especially maize, sorghum, and soybean, that are left in a field after harvesting. It may be used as a
mulch or
green manure, directly grazed by livestock, or dried and collected as
fodder.
An agricultural byproduct consisting of the dry stalks of
cereal plants after the
grain and
chaff have been removed. Straw has numerous different uses, including as
mulch,
biofuel, bedding and
fodder for livestock, and construction material.
The practice of leaving the stubble or
crop residue essentially in place on a plot of cropland as a
mulch or surface cover during a
fallow period. Stubble-mulching can prevent soil erosion and conserve soil moisture.[21]
Also called subsurface irrigation or seepage irrigation.
The practice of delivering
irrigation water through ditches or pipelines directly into porous underground spaces within a
crop's
rooting depth; more broadly, any method of supplying water to plants from underneath the soil surface, including those grown in pots and containers, as opposed to supplying it at the surface or from above.[8]
Agricultural production that is practiced in order to meet the needs of the farmer or producer, as opposed to that practiced in order to generate profit by selling the agricultural products to consumers. Subsistence agriculture usually refers to farmers growing
various food crops strictly for use by themselves and their families, typically on
smallholdings, with the output of the farm targeted principally at fulfilling basic survival needs and local requirements, and generally implies small amounts of
inputs, use of crude or traditional farming tools, reliance on unskilled labor (often family members), low
yields, and little or no
surplus. It primarily occurs in the developing world, though most modern subsistence farmers also participate in trade to some degree.
A
tractor-mounted farm implement used for
tilling soil at depths much below the levels normally worked by
mouldboardploughs,
disc harrows, or
rototillers. While most such tools break up and turn over surface soil to a depth of 15–20 centimetres (6–8 in), subsoilers can often extend the action to as deep as 75 centimetres (30 in). They typically consist of three or more heavy, curved shanks fitted with replaceable points and sometimes with horizontal wings, which are used to lift and shatter the
hardpan that builds up in deeper layers due to
soil compaction.
To supply or take milk from the breast or udder of an animal,[8] used especially to describe the nourishment of newborn mammals including
swine and
cattle.
suckling
An infant or young animal that
suckles milk for most or all of its nourishment; one that has not yet been
weaned.[8]
(of a food) Having been dried by a process in which the freshly harvested food (e.g. tomatoes) is exposed to direct sunlight in open air, often for multiple days, causing most of the water of the
fresh weight to be lost by evaporation.[18]
A legislated minimum price for a particular commodity, maintained through a variety of mechanisms, such as minimum import prices,
nonrecourse loans, and purchase programs.[18]
The drainage of a natural swamp or wetland in order to make the land
arable for the cultivation of agricultural crops, or to render it usable for any other purpose.[1]
A type of agricultural machinery that cuts
hay or small
grain crops and forms them into a
windrow, with the goal of decreasing the time required for
drying the crop to a moisture content suitable for harvesting and storage. A
sickle bar or
mower cuts the stems of the crop, and a reel helps the cut stems fall neatly onto a conveyor, which then deposits them into a windrow with all stems oriented in the same direction. The mown strip left behind is called the
swathe.
sweetening
The
sowing of additional seed of the same crop into a previously sown field without disrupting the original planting, in order to supplement thinly planted areas which did not or are not expected to
germinate at the same density as the rest of the field. Even when the original seed is uniformly sown, it may fail to establish at the expected density due to low viability or adverse weather conditions such as a late frost.[1]
Any member of several species of omnivorous mammals of the family
Suidae, having cloven hooves, flat snouts, and thick hides covered with sparse, coarse hair; the term may be applied to such animals both collectively and individually. Adult males are called
boars and adult females are called
sows. Domestic swine are commonly raised for their meat, known as
pork, and wild swine are often hunted.[8]
1. In
furrow and
border irrigation, water that drains from the lower end of the furrows, having
run off instead of penetrating the soil. It is sometimes subsequently usable for the irrigation of lower-lying land.[8]
2. The water immediately downstream of a dam, spillway, bridge, culvert, or any other hydraulic structure, or the water that passes through a
tailrace.[8]
Fat
rendered from the tissue of slaughtered
cattle,
sheep, or other
livestock to be used in the manufacture of candles, soap, or any of a variety of other products.[1]
tame hay
Hay cut from domesticated, cultivated
crop plants such as
clover,
timothy, or
alfalfa, as opposed to
wild hay, which is cut from wild or native grasses.[1]
tankage
A highly nutritive animal
feed concentrate made of processed meat byproducts.[1]
teart
Plants or soils that contain high concentrations of
molybdenum, or the poisoning of livestock that graze on vegetation grown in these soils.[10]
A
tractor-drawn machine that uses rapidly moving
pitchfork-like tines to aerate or "wuffle" freshly cut
hay during the process of haymaking, typically prior to
windrowing. Use of a tedder allows the hay to dry more quickly, which can result in improved aroma and color.[26]
One of several steps in the
dry milling and fractionation of certain
cereal crops such as wheat and maize, in which moisture is added to the
grain in order to aid the removal of
bran from the endosperm.[18]
A person who operates and resides on
farmland owned by a landlord. Tenant farming involves a contract between the landowner and the tenant farmer in which the landowner contributes his land and often a measure of operating
capital and management in exchange for the tenant farmer's labor. The tenant farmer may also pay rent to the landowner, though the form and measures of payment and the rights the tenant has to the land vary widely with local custom.
An instrument used in
irrigation management to measure the amount of moisture in cultivated soil and thereby provide an indicator of how much and how frequently to irrigate.[18]
A sloped plane such as a hillside that has been landscaped into a series of flat surfaces or platforms resembling steps, i.e. successively receding as one travels uphill, and following the lateral contours of the topography. Graduated terraces are commonly built to create level spaces for agriculture in hilly or mountainous terrain. The shaping of a natural landscape into terraces is known as terracing.
The process of loosening the edible part of a
grain or other crop from the
chaff to which it is attached, without removing the
bran. In grain cultivation, threshing immediately follows
reaping and precedes
winnowing.
1. The preparation of agricultural soil by any of various types of mechanical agitation, whether human-powered, animal-powered, or mechanised, such as digging,
hoeing,
raking,
ploughing, and
harrowing. In this sense, it is also referred to as tilling.
1. A stem or shoot which arises from the base or crown of a
grass plant, especially any shoot that emerges after the initial parent shoot germinates from a seed.[27] Many grass species, including
cereals such as barley, produce multiple tillers which grow laterally from the same dense tuft in moist soils, a form of vegetative propagation known as tillering.
The physical texture, structure, and general condition of
soil with respect to its suitability for planting or growing a
crop, as indicated by parameters such as moisture content, aeration,
soil aggregate stability, rate of water infiltration, and drainage. Soil with good tilth has large pore spaces allowing air and water movement, yet is also capable of holding water and plant nutrients for substantial periods of time. The primary objective of
tillage is to improve tilth by mechanical manipulation of the soil, with the goal of increasing crop
yield;
fertilization,
irrigation, and
soil amendments can also positively impact tilth. When applied excessively, however, these practices may have the opposite effect, causing the soil to lose its structure and become
compacted.
A young male
turkey, usually less than one year old.[1]
topographical tetrazolium test
Also called a TTC assay or tetrazolium test.
A test of
seed viability in which ungerminated seeds are nicked and then soaked in an aqueous solution containing
triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC), a chemical indicator which is
reduced by the activity of
dehydrogenase enzymes in living tissues, changing their color from white to red, but remains unreacted in metabolically inactive or necrotic tissues. A seed embryo that stains red is assumed to be metabolically active and therefore likely to germinate. The TTC assay is used in agriculture for quick estimations of viability without having to wait for actual germination, which can often take days or weeks, but may also yield misleading or unreliable results in certain plant species.
The removal by mowing or cutting of the aerial parts of a plant, i.e. the uppermost parts of the
canopy, including the highest or most distal ends of shoots, stems, stalks, trunks, or branches, for any of a variety of reasons, especially in order to prevent the development of terminal reproductive structures such as flowers and fruits, with the ultimate aim of diverting the plant's resources to the growth of other structures such as roots and leaves, or of preventing unwanted dispersal of seeds.
Cover crops are commonly topped to prevent their seeds from contaminating the soil they are covering. Topping is also done for health and aesthetic reasons. See also pruning, coppicing and pollarding.
The uppermost layer of soil, widely variable in depth but typically less dense and more pliable than layers below it, making it easy to
till but also more susceptible to erosion. In many places topsoils will form naturally from a mixture of organic and inorganic material over time, but it may also be added to a ground surface or created by
ploughing.[1]
A type of heavy engineering vehicle designed specifically to deliver very high
tractive effort or
torque at slow speeds for the purpose of hauling a trailer or machinery, especially one which provides the power and traction to mechanize agricultural tasks. Modern tractors serve a wide variety of different functions, with many types of agricultural implements and machinery able to be towed behind or mounted on a tractor, such as
ploughs,
harrows, and
cultivators; the tractor may also provide a source of electrical power if the implement is mechanized.
Any plant that is cultivated in order to attract the attention of agricultural pests, usually insects, and thereby distract them away from nearby
crops. In small farms or gardens, this practice can help save the primary crop from decimation by pests without the use of
pesticides.
A wild forest that is managed for timber production, or a
plantation or
nursery where trees are deliberately planted and cultivated for commercial sale, either for timber or as ornamental plants.
A long, deep trench dug in the ground, often in a hillside, and sometimes lined with wooden or concrete retaining walls to be used as an in-ground
silo for storing
silage. They are common in arid climates where the ground is well-drained.[1]
A
farm that grows vegetables or fruits and then ships the harvested
produce, often in boxes hauled by trucks, to one or more markets for sale to consumers (as opposed to selling the produce at the farm itself, as with a
farm stand).[1]
The unintentional diffusion of vapors from an area where
pesticides are applied (generally by large-scale
fumigation methods) to adjacent areas, which can harm non-target crops or animals, as well as humans.[1]
A form of
mimicry in plants in which a
weed or unwanted plant species evolves to share one or more characteristics with a domesticated plant species, often an agricultural
crop, through many generations of unintentional selection caused by the practice of
removing weeds. The deliberate removal of weeds from crop fields
artificially selects against traits that distinguish the weed from the crop plant, because weeds that physically or chemically resemble the crop plant, or otherwise follow the same phenology or growth habit, are more likely to escape notice by the farmer, evade chemical or mechanical removal, and thereby survive to reproduce.
A
calf, especially of a
dairy breed, that is usually raised on milk only and
slaughtered at less than four months old and less than 350 pounds (160 kg), to be sold as
veal.[18]
A type of
compost produced as a result of the decomposition processes performed by certain species of earthworms as they feed on decaying organic matter. The final product, typically a mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste, bedding materials, and worm castings, is popular as a
fertilizer and
soil amendment.
Any plant, especially a feral
crop plant or crop descendant, that grows in an agricultural field or garden unintentionally, rather than by deliberate planting by a farmer or gardener. Volunteers often grow from seeds that have been dispersed by the wind or animals or inadvertently mixed into
compost. Unlike
weeds, volunteers are not necessarily unwanted, and may even be encouraged to grow, especially if they show desirable characteristics that can be selected to produce new
cultivars.
A self-propelled, two-wheeled
tractor vehicle with a single axle, designed to pull and supply power to any of a variety of
agricultural implements which are mounted upon or towed behind it, including ploughs, seeders, cultivators, harvesters, or other trailers, with the operator either walking behind it or riding the implement being towed. These tractors, usually much smaller and cheaper than four-wheeled tractors, are best suited for small fields and relatively light-duty tasks.
warm-up ration
A ration of
grain and/or
silage fed to free-range
cattle to prepare them for placement in a
feedlot, where they will be fed on similar rations consisting entirely of
processed feed.[1]
The right of a landowner to make use of the banks, bed, or waters of a water source, e.g. a river, stream, pond, spring, or underground
aquifer. The water source need not necessarily be contained within or border on the user's property, as human-made reservoirs, aqueducts, and other water distribution systems have made it possible to allocate water to places outside of the source's natural drainage basin. Water rights are of major significance for managing
irrigation, especially in arid regions, though the legal principles regulating access and usage vary widely by jurisdiction.
A flat area of grassland that is periodically flooded through the use of controlled
irrigation in order to increase
agricultural productivity. The technique is practiced primarily in Europe.
The gradual introduction of an infant mammal to what will be its adult diet while withdrawing the supply of its mother's
milk; the infant is considered to be fully weaned, and may be called a
weanling, once it is no longer nursed on any breast milk. More generally the term can also refer to the physical separation of a calf from its mother, whether by putting them in different herds or for any other reason.
An animal which has recently been
weaned, especially a young horse (a
foal), usually between six months and one year of age. The term is also sometimes used to refer to newly weaned
cattle and
swine.
Any of a variety of hand-operated, towed, or power-driven agricultural implements used to pull, cut, dig, or otherwise remove undesirable plants from an area intended for cultivation.[18]
A
milling operation in which plant material containing seeds is steeped in water, with or without
sulfur dioxide, in order to soften the seed kernels and separate the material into its various components.[10] The technique is commonly used to convert maize into products that can be used as
animal feed.
wild hay
Hay cut from wild or native grasses, as opposed to
tame hay, which is cut from cultivated crops.[1]
The human practice of
foraging for uncultivated plants or fungi from their natural or "wild" habitats, primarily for food or medicine.
wildculture
wildling
A crop
seedling which has begun growing unintentionally in nature, i.e. outside of managed agricultural lands or the area where it was intended to be cultivated.[10]
One or more rows of closely spaced trees or shrubs planted in such a way as to provide shelter to an adjacent agricultural field from the wind, thereby protecting the area from excessive cold and soil erosion. Windbreaks commonly take the form of
hedgerows planted around the edges of fields on farms, but may also be made from artificial materials such as large canvas panels. Aside from decreasing wind speeds, they may also be designed to separate farms from roads or motorways or to collect
snowdrifts that will provide water to otherwise dry farmland when the snow melts in the spring.
A row of cut or mown
hay or small
grain crop that is allowed to dry in a
field before being
baled,
combined, or rolled. Windrows may be built deliberately after cutting, or they may form automatically as a result of the method by which the crop is mown.
The process or technique, performed either manually or mechanically, by which the
grain, the economic fraction of a grain crop, is separated from the undesirable
chaff. Traditional manual winnowing involves throwing the unseparated mixture into the air so that the wind blows away the lighter chaff, while the heavier grains fall back to the ground for recovery. In modern agriculture, winnowing is often entirely mechanized. It is the final of the three major steps of grain
harvesting, following
reaping and
threshing.
The practice of gardening or landscaping so as to reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental water from
irrigation. Xeriscaping requires the selection of plants whose natural requirements are appropriate to the local climate, with a particular emphasis on
water conservation, and focuses on designing and maintaining the land in such a way as to avoid losing water to evaporation and runoff.
Y
yean
To give birth. The term is used especially of sheep and goats.[10]
A male or female horse, donkey,
bovine animal, or any other domestic mammal that is too young to breed, generally between one and two years of age.[10]
^Sutherland, Mhairi A.; Tucker, Cassandra B. (15 December 2011). "The long and short of it: A review of tail docking in farm animals". Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 135 (3): 179–191.
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10.1016/j.applanim.2011.10.015.
^"Doddie n., adj". Dictionaries of the Scots Language. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. 2004.
^"dogie". The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. HarperCollins Publishers. 2022.
^Lackie, J. M. (2013). The Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology (5th ed.). Amsterdam: Academic Press/Elsevier.
ISBN978-0-12-384931-1.
^Alakukku, Laura (2012). Soil Compaction. In: Jakobsson, Christine: Ecosystem Health and Sustainable Agriculture 1: Sustainable Agriculture. Uppsala University. URL: www.balticuniv.uu.se/index.php/component/docman/doc_download/1256-chapter-28-soil-compaction- (accessed November 14th 2014).