1

2

Farming word guide

On the audio guide for On the Farm we use words and names that you might be familiar with and some that might be new to you.

To help expand your farming knowledge use this glossary when you are borrowing and enjoying the On the Farm Touch to See book.

To give you ideas and inspiration we’ve also included links to websites where you can find out more about the words, names and terms in action. For example, for ‘John Deere’ we have included the company’s website where you can find out more about the famous yellow and green, heavy farm vehicles that they manufacture.

Biofuels These fuels are made from plant material and can power engines. For example, Biodiesel is made from rapeseed oil and other plant oils. It can be used in diesel-powered vehicles without needing any modifications to the engine. Bioethanol is made by fermenting sugars from sugar cane, wheat and other plants. It’s a liquid fuel that burns well and most petrol sold in the UK contains a percentage of ethanol.

To find out more about Biofuels visit the BBC Bitesize website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa/crudeoil/hydrocarbonsrev3.shtml

British Wool Marketing Board An organisation working on behalf of wool producers - it buys wool from farmers, grades it and sells it on.

For more information and curriculum linked resources about wool visit: http://britishwoollearning.com/

Chemical Pesticides Toxic substances used to control and kill living things that might affect crop growth, such as insects, fungus and weeds. However, they are expensive and can cause environmental damage. Also, the pests they are designed to kill may become resistant to them. The chemicals may also kill beneficial plants and animals that help crops to grow.

Chemical Fertiliser Man-made and manufactured using chemicals. They provides plants with the essential chemical elements needed for growth including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Chemical fertilisers make crops grow faster and bigger and result in a greater crop yield. They are usually sprayed in liquid form over the field, draining into the soil so that plants and crops absorb them through their roots.

Both chemical fertilisers and chemical pesticides use fossil fuel in their manufacture, creating harmful greenhouses gasses (water vapour, methane and carbon dioxide) which pollute the atmosphere, stop heat escaping from the Earth into space and contribute to global warming and climate change.

Find out more about Global Warming on the BBC Biteszie website:

3

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/ocr_gateway/energy_resources/global_warmingrev1.shtml

Compost A natural fertilizer used by organic farmers (and gardeners too).

Composting The term used to describe the decomposition, or breaking down, of natural waste such as vegetable matter into the crumbly, brown-black, organic fertilizer.

You can make a compost heap in your garden - we found this useful how-to guide on the Eden Project website: https://www.edenproject.com/learn/for-everyone/how-to-make-a-compost-heap-10-top-tips

Conservation Farming (or conservation agriculture)Farmland covers around 75% of the UK, so it’s important that farming is environmentally friendly, helps, supports, protects and preserves natural wild habitats. Both the RSPB and The Wildlife Trusts are working with and advising farmers across Britain who have a direct influence on how wildlife friendly their farmland is.

For more information visit their websites: http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/living-landscape/farming and https://www.rspb.org.uk/forprofessionals/farming/

Countryside Code A code of rules designed to help people respect, protect and enjoy the outdoors which applies to all parts of the countryside, rural and agricultural areas in England and Wales.

To read the Countryside Code online visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/the-countryside-code

Crop Rotation An important part of organic farming involving changing the type of crops grown in one field/area on a regular basis. Regularly alternating groups of plants in this way adds fertility to the soil and helps to prevent pests and diseases from building up. Similarly animals are part of this rotation, fertilising the land with their manure.

To find out more visit BBC Bitesize: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/rural_environments/farming_rural_areas_rev4.shtml

Fertile soil The name for nutrient rich soil, and containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which is excellent for growing healthy and strong plants and crops.

Fodder The name given to the food stuffs fed to farm livestock, such as hay or straw.

Harvest The time of year when crops are cut and collected from the fields.

Harvesting The process of gathering a ripe crop from the field.

4

Hedgelaying The process of making or maintaining a hedge by weaving partly cut branches through the upright stems of a row of shrubs.

To learn more visit the Hedgelaying Society website: http://www.hedgelaying.org.uk/

John Deere Famous British manufacturer of farm vehicles, including tractors and combine harvesters - just like the one depicted on the Farm to Fork tactile picture.

To find out more about John Deere heavy farm vehicles visit their website: https://www.deere.co.uk/en_GB/regional_home.page

Lambing The birth of lambs on a farm, usually beginning in January. About 16 million lambs are born in the UK every year, making lambing the biggest and busiest event in the farming calendar.

To find out more, look up Lambing Live, a BBC TV series which follows the drama of lambing season as it happens: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wpvyx

Manure Animal manure is made up of farm animal (domestic livestock) faeces, urine and old bedding such as hay and straw. Green manure is made of decomposed crops and plants. Poultry manure is made up of faeces of chickens - of all animal manures, it has the highest amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Muck spreading the process of distributing manure over the fields using a tractor pulling a muck spreading machine. Manure contributes to the fertility of the soil by adding organic matter which contains nutrients such as nitrogen.

Sheepdrove Organic Farm An organic farm in Berkshire, in the South of England. Two of the audio guides (tracks 8 and 9) explore this farm and describes the benefits of organic farming. To find out more visit their website: http://www.sheepdrove.com/education

Organic fertiliser Made from natural sources like plants (weeds) animals (manure) and widely used on organic farms.

For more on fertiliser check out the BBC Bitesize website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/ocr_gateway/chemical_resources/fertilisers_cropsrev1.shtml

Pasteurisation The process where milk is heated to 71.7 degrees centigrade for at least 15 seconds and then cooled to less than 3 degrees. This process kills of any harmful bacteria and helps milk stay fresher for longer. It was invented by scientist Louis Pasteur in the 19th century.

For more information about dairy produce visit the Dairy Council website: http://www.milk.co.uk/consumers/default.aspx

Pollination The transfer of pollen from the male part of a flower to the female part of the same or a different flower. Farmers depend upon pollination by insects, including

5

the honey bee. Without them the farming of crops, plants and fruit trees would be threatened.

Find out more about pollination and plant reproduction on the BBC Bitesize website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zs7thyc/revision/2

Root vegetables Plant roots commonly consumed as vegetables. In the UK they are in season in the colder months, in autumn and winter. Root vegetables have an earthy flavour and are tasty in warming dishes such as soups, stews, and roasted in the oven with herbs such as rosemary and thyme. Common root vegetables include parsnips, carrots, beetroot, swede and celeriac.

Try this easy, tasty, roast root vegetable recipe: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/roastrootvegetables_8820

In Season (or seasonality of food, referring to fruit, vegetables, meat and fish) This is when the food is at its peak in terms of harvest. It is therefore plentiful, flavoursome, fresh and often cheaper to buy in markets and supermarkets.

To find out more about what’s in season when visit:http://www.lovebritishfood.co.uk/british-food-and-drinks/whats-in-season-when

Sowing The activity of planting of seeds in the ground so that crops will grow.

6