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| === Importance and Challenges === | | === Importance and Challenges === |
| Agriculture is a vital industry that provides food and other materials for people around the world. It also plays an important role in the economy, providing jobs and income for millions of people. | | Agriculture is a vital industry that provides food and other materials for people around the world. It also plays an important role in the economy, providing jobs and income for millions of people. |
| == Glossary of terms == | | == Glossary of Agricultural Terms == |
| * '''[[agrarian system]]''' The dynamic set of economic and technological factors that affect [[agricultural]] practices in a particular region. | | * '''[[Agrarian system]]''' – A dynamic set of economic and technological factors that shape [[agricultural]] practices within a given region. |
| * '''[[agrarianism]]''' 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. | | * '''[[Agrarianism]]''' – A social and political philosophy that values rural society and the independent farmer over urban life and wage labor, emphasizing farming as a source of moral virtue and societal strength. |
| * '''[[agribusiness]]''' 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. | | * '''[[Agribusiness]]''' – The business of agricultural production, including all activities and disciplines within modern food and fiber supply chains. |
| * '''[[agricultural cooperative]]''' Also called a farmers' co-op or simply a co-op. 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]]. | | * '''[[Agricultural cooperative]]''' – Also called a ''farmers' co-op'' or simply a ''co-op''. An association where farmers pool resources to meet shared goals through a jointly owned enterprise. Divided into "service" and "production" types. |
| * '''[[agricultural economics]]''' The branch of [[economics]] concerned with the application of economic theory in optimizing the production and distribution of food, fiber, and other products of agriculture. | | * '''[[Agricultural economics]]''' – A branch of [[economics]] that applies economic principles to optimize the production and distribution of agricultural products. |
| * '''[[agricultural land]]''' 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. | | * '''[[Agricultural land]]''' – Land used for [[agriculture]], including [[cropland]], [[pasture]], and [[arable land]]. |
| * '''[[agricultural productivity]]''' A measure of the economic [[productivity]] of a given quantity of [[agricultural land]] (or any other agricultural input), typically expressed as the ratio of agricultural outputs to agricultural 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). | | * '''[[Agricultural productivity]]''' – A measurement of output (usually market value) relative to input (such as land, labor, or capital). |
| * '''[[agriculture]]''' The science and art of [[cultivating]] [[plants]], [[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. | | * '''[[Agriculture]]''' – The science and art of cultivating [[plants]], [[animals]], or other organisms for human use, especially for food, fiber, and fuel. |
| * '''[[agrobiology]]''' The study of [[plant nutrition]] and growth, especially as a means of increasing [[crop yield]]. | | * '''[[Agrobiology]]''' – The study of [[plant nutrition]] and growth, often aimed at increasing [[crop yield]]. |
| * '''[[agrology]]''' The branch of [[soil science]] concerning the production of [[crop]] plants. The term is often used interchangeably with [[agronomy]], [[agricultural science]], and [[agricultural soil science]]. | | * '''[[Agrology]]''' – A branch of [[soil science]] focusing on crop production. |
| * '''[[agronomy]]''' The science and technology of producing and using [[plants]] for food, fuel, fiber, and land restoration. | | * '''[[Agronomy]]''' – The science and technology of using [[plants]] for food, fuel, and land restoration. |
| * '''[[algaculture]]''' 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. | | * '''[[Algaculture]]''' – The [[aquaculture]] of [[algae]] for human uses, such as [[fertilizers]], dyes, or [[biofuels]]. |
| * '''[[apiculture]]''' Also called beekeeping. The maintenance of colonies of [[bees]], commonly in man-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. | | * '''[[Apiculture]]''' – Also known as [[beekeeping]], involving the management of [[bees]] for products like [[honey]] and pollination services. |
| * '''[[aquaculture]]''' Also called aquafarming. The [[cultivation]] of aquatic organisms, either freshwater or saltwater, including [[fish]], [[crustaceans]], [[molluscs]], [[aquatic plants]], and others, with the goal of producing any of a variety of products that can be used by humans. Branches of aquaculture include [[pisciculture]], [[algaculture]], and [[mariculture]]. | | * '''[[Aquaculture]]''' – The cultivation of aquatic organisms for human use, including [[pisciculture]], [[mariculture]], and [[algaculture]]. |
| * '''[[artificial selection]]''' Also called selective breeding. 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.[[biodynamic agriculture]] 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]]. | | * '''[[Artificial selection]]''' – The intentional breeding of organisms to promote desired traits, widely used in both [[plant breeding]] and [[animal husbandry]]. |
| * '''[[biofuel]]''' 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]]. | | * '''[[Biodynamic agriculture]]''' – An esoteric form of [[organic farming]] incorporating spiritual and holistic practices, regarded as a [[pseudoscience]]. |
| * '''[[bioturbation]]''' The mixing and turning of soil caused by organisms moving through the soil.[[[1]]] | | * '''[[Biofuel]]''' – Fuel produced from recently living [[biomass]], such as [[bioethanol]] or [[biodiesel]]. |
| * '''[[broadacre]]''' An expansive parcel of land suitable for [[farms]] practicing large-scale crop production. The term is used primarily in Australia. | | * '''[[Bioturbation]]''' – The mixing of soil caused by organisms moving through it. |
| * '''[[broadcast seeding]]''' 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]] methods and [[hydroseeding]]. Broadcast seeding is easier and faster than seeding in [[rows]] but it usually requires more seed and may result in overcrowding 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. | | * '''[[Broadacre]]''' – Large-scale farmland, especially in Australian agriculture. |
| * '''[[browsing]]''' 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. | | * '''[[Broadcast seeding]]''' – Scattering seed over a wide area by hand or machine, as opposed to [[row planting]]. |
| * '''[[bumper crop]]''' Any [[crop]] that yields an unusually large or productive [[harvest]]. | | * '''[[Browsing]]''' – A form of herbivory involving feeding on woody plants, in contrast to [[grazing]]. |
| * '''[[cash crop]]''' Also called a profit crop. 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 producer'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. | | * '''[[Bumper crop]]''' – An unusually abundant [[harvest]]. |
| * '''[[catch crop]]''' 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]]. | | * '''[[Cash crop]]''' – A [[crop]] grown primarily for sale and profit rather than for personal use. |
| * '''[[cereal]]''' 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]]. | | * '''[[Catch crop]]''' – A fast-growing [[crop]] planted between regular planting seasons to maintain soil health. |
| * '''[[chemigation]]''' Often used interchangeably with fertigation. The practice of delivering any natural or synthetic chemical compound or mixture of compounds (such as [[fertilizers]], [[pesticides]], [[soil amendments]], etc.) to [[crop]] plants via the water supply used for [[irrigation]].[[[2]]] | | * '''[[Cereal]]''' – A grain-bearing [[grass]], such as [[wheat]] or [[rice]]. |
| * '''[[chillcuring]]''' citriculture The cultivation of [[citrus fruit]] trees. | | * '''[[Chemigation]]''' – The application of chemicals through an [[irrigation]] system. |
| * '''[[co-op]]''' See [[agricultural cooperative]]. | | * '''[[Citriculture]]''' – The cultivation of [[citrus fruits]]. |
| * '''[[collective farming]]''' Also called communal farming. 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. | | * '''[[Collective farming]]''' – Joint agricultural production on shared land, practiced in [[cooperatives]] or [[state farms]]. |
| * '''[[companion planting]]''' The practice of planting different [[crops]] in proximity for any of a number of different reasons, including as a means of [[controlling pests]], aiding [[pollination]], providing habitat for [[beneficial insects]], maximizing the use of space, or otherwise increasing [[agricultural productivity]]. It is a type of [[polyculture]]. | | * '''[[Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)]]''' – A direct-to-consumer system where members receive regular shares of [[farm]] goods. |
| * '''[[contract farming]]''' [[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 that is 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. | | * '''[[Companion planting]]''' – Planting different [[crops]] together for mutual benefits such as [[pest control]] or improved [[pollination]]. |
| * '''[[cover crop]]''' 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. | | * '''[[Contract farming]]''' – A system where production and marketing are governed by a contract between producers and buyers. |
| * '''[[crop residue]]''' 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]]. | | * '''[[Cover crop]]''' – Crops planted primarily to protect and enrich the soil between harvests. |
| * '''[[crop rotation]]''' 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. | | * '''[[Crop residue]]''' – Leftover organic material after harvesting, such as stalks and leaves. |
| * '''[[crop weed]]''' Any [[weed]] or undesirable plant that grows among [[crop]] plants. See also [[weed of cultivation]].
| | * '''[[Crop rotation]]''' – The practice of alternating [[crops]] seasonally to improve soil fertility and reduce [[pest]] buildup. |
| * '''[[crop wild relative]]''' (CWR) 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. | | * '''[[Crop weed]]''' – A [[weed]] that grows among [[crop]] plants. |
| * '''[[crop-lien system]]''' 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.[[[3]]] | | * '''[[Crop wild relative]]''' – A wild relative of a [[domesticated]] plant, useful in breeding programs. |
| * '''[[crop]]''' 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. | | * '''[[Crop-lien system]]''' – A credit system where a [[crop]] serves as collateral for loans during the [[growing season]]. |
| * '''[[cultivation]]''' 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. | | * '''[[Crop]]''' – Any cultivated plant, animal, or other organism harvested for profit or sustenance. |
| * '''[[custom harvesting]]''' deblossoming | | * '''[[Cultivation]]''' – The act of preparing land and growing [[crops]]. |
| * '''[[dessert crop]]''' 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]]. | | * '''[[Dessert crop]]''' – A [[crop]] considered a luxury, such as [[coffee]], [[tea]], or [[cocoa]]. |
| * '''[[dryland farming]]''' Also called arid-zone agriculture. | | * '''[[Drip irrigation]]''' – A water-conserving system applying water at the plant root zone. |
| * '''[[ecology]]''' The scientific analysis and study of interactions between [[organisms]] and their [[environment]]. It is an interdisciplinary field that includes biology, [[geography]], and [[Earth science]]. | | * '''[[Dryland farming]]''' – [[Farming]] in areas with little rainfall, using techniques to conserve moisture. |
| * '''[[energy crop]]''' 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. | | * '''[[Ecology]]''' – The study of interactions between organisms and their [[environment]]. |
| * '''[[extensive agriculture]]''' Also called extensive farming. 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]]. | | * '''[[Energy crop]]''' – Crops grown specifically for [[biofuel]] production. |
| * '''[[factory farming]]''' See [[intensive animal farming]]. | | * '''[[Extensive agriculture]]''' – Agricultural systems with low input relative to land area, in contrast to [[intensive agriculture]]. |
| * '''[[fallow]]''' Any [[arable land]] which is deliberately not planted or left [[unsown]] for one or more production cycles or [[growing seasons]] with the intent of allowing the soil to recover and 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 often an important technique in [[crop rotation]]. | | * '''[[Factory farming]]''' – See [[Intensive animal farming]]. |
| * '''[[farm crisis]]''' A period of economic [[recession]] for an agricultural industry, characterized chiefly by low [[crop]] prices and/or low incomes for [[farming]] operations. | | * '''[[Fallow]]''' – [[Arable land]] left unplanted to restore fertility. |
| * '''[[farm]]''' An area of land devoted primarily to agricultural processes with the primary objective of producing [[food]] or other [[crops]]. In the broadest sense, the term may include [[ranches]], [[feedlots]], [[orchards]], [[plantations]], smallholdings and hobby farms, [[fish farms]], and even industrial operations such as [[wind farms]]. | | * '''[[Farm crisis]]''' – An economic downturn affecting [[agriculture]], marked by low prices or income. |
| * '''[[farmers' co-op]]''' See [[agricultural cooperative]]. | | * '''[[Farm]]''' – Land used for producing [[crops]], [[livestock]], or other [[agricultural]] goods. |
| * '''[[farmland]]''' See [[agricultural land]]. | | * '''[[Farmers' co-op]]''' – See [[Agricultural cooperative]]. |
| * '''[[feed grain]]''' 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.[[[2]]] | | * '''[[Farmers' market]]''' – A venue for direct sale of [[agricultural]] goods from producers to consumers. |
| * '''[[feedlot]]''' Also called a feed yard. A type of animal feeding operation, typically consisting of a densely concentrated area of enclosures or "pens" containing individual animals, used for the efficient raising, fattening, and finishing of numerous [[livestock]] prior to slaughter, especially beef cattle, but also swine, horses, sheep, and poultry. | | * '''[[Farmland]]''' – See [[Agricultural land]]. |
| * '''[[fertilizer]]''' Also spelled fertiliser. Any natural or synthetic material that is applied to soil or to plant tissues to supply one or more [[nutrients]] essential to the growth of plants. | | * '''[[Feed grain]]''' – [[Cereal grains]] grown for [[livestock]] feed. |
| * '''[[field]]''' Any area of land, enclosed or otherwise, used for agricultural purposes, such as for the cultivation of [[crops]] or as a [[paddock]] for [[livestock]]. | | * '''[[Feedlot]]''' – A confined area for raising and fattening [[livestock]] prior to slaughter. |
| * '''[[fish farming]]''' See [[pisciculture]]. | | * '''[[Fertilizer]]''' – A material added to soil to enhance plant growth. |
| * '''[[floriculture]]''' Also called flower farming. A branch of [[horticulture]] involving the [[cultivation]] of [[flowering]] plants and [[ornamental plants]] for gardens and landscaping as well as for commercial [[floristry]]. | | * '''[[Field]]''' – A plot of land used for [[cropping]] or [[grazing]]. |
| * '''[[fodder]]''' Also called animal feed or provender. 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. | | * '''[[Fish farming]]''' – See [[Pisciculture]]. |
| * '''[[food-feed system]]''' 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. | | * '''[[Flood irrigation]]''' – A traditional method where fields are inundated with water. |
| * '''[[forage]]''' Any plant material, especially leaves and stems, eaten by [[grazing]] [[livestock]], 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). | | * '''[[Floriculture]]''' – The cultivation of [[flowers]] and [[ornamental plants]]. |
| * '''[[forest farming]]''' 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 [[yield]]. Most crops produced by such methods are [[non-timber forest products]] or niche crops such as [[ginseng]] and certain varieties of [[mushroom]]. | | * '''[[Fodder]]''' – Food provided to [[livestock]], as opposed to that which they [[forage]]. |
| * '''[[free range]]''' 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]]. | | * '''[[Food miles]]''' – The distance food travels from production to consumption. |
| * '''[[fungiculture]]''' 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.
| | * '''[[Food-feed system]]''' – A system in which crop byproducts are used to feed [[livestock]]. |
| * '''[[furrow irrigation]]''' 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 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]]. | | * '''[[Foodshed]]''' – A geographic region from which a population derives its food. |
| * '''[[gleaning]]''' 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.[[[4]]] | | * '''[[Forage]]''' – Plant material consumed by [[grazing]] animals. |
| * '''[[good agricultural practice]]''' (GAP) 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. | | * '''[[Forest farming]]''' – The production of specialty crops under a managed [[forest canopy]]. |
| * '''[[grain]]''' 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]]). | | * '''[[Free range]]''' – [[Animal husbandry]] where animals roam outdoors freely. |
| * '''[[green manure]]''' 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.
| | * '''[[Free-range]]''' – See [[Free range]]. |
| * '''[[growing season]]''' 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).
| | * '''[[Fungiculture]]''' – The [[cultivation]] of [[fungi]] for food or medicine. |
| * '''[[harrow]]''' 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 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]].[[[4]]]
| | * '''[[Furrow irrigation]]''' – An irrigation method using trenches between crop rows. |
| * '''[[harvesting]]''' 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.
| | * '''[[Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)]]''' – Organisms whose genetic material has been altered for desired traits. |
| * '''[[hay]]''' Grasses, legumes, or other herbaceous plants that have been cut, dried, and stored as [[fodder]] for animals, especially [[livestock]].
| | * '''[[Gleaning]]''' – Collecting leftover crops from fields or unused goods from food systems. |
| * '''[[haylage]]''' [[Silage]] with a high dry-matter content, typically made from [[hay]], though the term is also used to refer to silage made from [[alfalfa]].
| | * '''[[Good agricultural practice]] (GAP)''' – Principles that ensure safe, sustainable, and quality food production. |
| * '''[[hill farming]]''' A type of [[extensive agriculture]] practiced in hilly, upland areas unsuitable for intensive management, typically involving the [[grazing]] of [[livestock]] and especially sheep.
| | * '''[[Grain]]''' – Small, hard seeds harvested for food or feed, including [[cereals]] and [[pseudocereals]]. |
| * '''[[honey wagon]]''' See [[manure spreader]].
| | * '''[[Grass-fed]]''' – [[Livestock]] raised on pasture rather than grain. |
| * '''[[intensive agriculture]]''' Also called intensive farming. 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.
| | * '''[[Green manure]]''' – [[Crop residue]] left in the field to enrich the soil. |
| * '''[[intercropping]]''' 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.
| | * '''[[Growing season]]''' – The period during which weather conditions support plant growth. |
| * '''[[irrigation]]''' 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.
| | * '''[[Harrow]]''' – A tool used to smooth and break up soil. |
| * '''[[livestock]]''' Any [[domesticated]] animals raised in an agricultural setting in order to produce labor and/or agricultural commodities such as meat, eggs, milk, 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.
| | * '''[[Harvesting]]''' – The process of collecting ripe [[crops]]. |
| * '''[[mariculture]]''' 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]], [[mollusks]] such as [[clams]] and [[oysters]], and [[seaweed]], among many other organisms.
| | * '''[[Hay]]''' – Dried [[grasses]] or [[legumes]] used as [[fodder]]. |
| * '''[[mechanized agriculture]]''' Also spelled mechanised agriculture. 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.
| | * '''[[Haylage]]''' – [[Silage]] made from high-moisture [[hay]]. |
| * '''[[mill]]''' Any structure or device used to break solid materials into smaller pieces by grinding, crushing, or cutting.
| | * '''[[Hill farming]]''' – Extensive [[livestock]] farming in hilly terrain. |
| * '''[[minimum tillage]]''' 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.
| | * '''[[Honey wagon]]''' – See [[Manure spreader]]. |
| * '''[[monoculture]]''' The practice of growing or raising a single crop or livestock species, variety, or breed on a particular area of land at a time. Contrast [[polyculture]].
| | * '''[[Intensive agriculture]]''' – High-input, high-yield farming systems. |
| * '''[[multiple cropping]]''' 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]]. [[open range]]
| | * '''[[Intercropping]]''' – Growing multiple [[crops]] together to optimize space and yield. |
| * '''[[orchard]]''' 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.
| | * '''[[Irrigation]]''' – Controlled water application to [[crops]]. |
| * '''[[pasture]]''' 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.
| | * '''[[Livestock]]''' – Domesticated animals raised for food, fiber, or labor. |
| * '''[[permanent crop]]''' Any [[crop]] produced from a [[perennial plant]] which produces crops repeatedly over multiple seasons, rather than having to be replanted after each [[harvest]].
| | * '''[[Locavore]]''' – A person who prefers locally sourced food. |
| * '''[[pharming]]''' 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.
| | * '''[[Mariculture]]''' – A form of [[aquaculture]] focused on marine species. |
| * '''[[pisciculture]]''' Also called fish farming. 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. It is a type of [[aquaculture]].
| | * '''[[Mechanized agriculture]]''' – Agriculture using [[machinery]] to increase efficiency. |
| * '''[[polyculture]]''' 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]].
| | * '''[[Mill]]''' – A device for grinding or processing agricultural products. |
| * '''[[postharvest]]''' 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.[[[4]]]
| | * '''[[Minimum tillage]]''' – A [[conservation tillage]] practice minimizing soil disturbance. |
| * '''[[precision agriculture]]''' (PA) 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.
| | * '''[[Monoculture]]''' – Growing a single crop or [[livestock]] type in an area. |
| * '''[[produce]]''' 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]]. provender See [[fodder]].
| | * '''[[Multiple cropping]]''' – Planting more than one [[crop]] in the same area in a season. |
| * '''[[pruning]]''' 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.
| | * '''[[Natural]]''' – A term for products that are minimally processed and free of artificial ingredients. |
| * '''[[rangeland]]''' Any [[grassland]], [[shrubland]], [[woodland]], [[wetland]], or [[desert]] area that is [[grazed]] by domestic [[livestock]] or wild animals. 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]].
| | * '''[[No-till farming]]''' – Farming without turning the soil to reduce erosion. |
| * '''[[ratooning]]''' 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]].
| | * '''[[Orchard]]''' – A planned area of [[fruit]] or [[nut]] trees. |
| * '''[[row crop]]''' 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]].
| | * '''[[Organic]]''' – Agricultural products grown without synthetic chemicals or [[GMOs]]. |
| * '''[[seedbed]]''' Also seedling bed. seeding See [[sowing]].
| | * '''[[Pasture]]''' – Grazing land for [[livestock]]. |
| * '''[[sericulture]]''' The [[cultivation]] of [[silkworms]] with the goal of producing [[silk]].
| | * '''[[Permanent crop]]''' – A [[crop]] from a [[perennial]] plant, producing over several years. |
| * '''[[sharecropping]]''' 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.
| | * '''[[Pharming]]''' – Genetic modification of plants or animals to produce pharmaceuticals. |
| * '''[[shifting cultivation]]''' 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.
| | * '''[[Pisciculture]]''' – See [[Fish farming]]. |
| * '''[[site-specific crop management]]''' (SSCM) See [[precision agriculture]].
| | * '''[[Polyculture]]''' – Growing multiple species together, mimicking [[biodiversity]]. |
| * '''[[soil amendment]]''' 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.
| | * '''[[Postharvest]]''' – Activities after [[harvest]], such as [[sorting]], [[cooling]], and [[packing]]. |
| * '''[[sowing]]''' 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.
| | * '''[[Precision agriculture]]''' – The use of technology to manage variability in [[crop]] production. |
| * '''[[staple food]]''' Also simply staple. 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, supplying a large fraction of energy needs and generally providing 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 are suitable for storage over long periods of time without decaying; examples include [[cereals]], starchy [[tubers]] or [[root vegetables]], [[meat]], [[fish]], [[eggs]], and [[dairy products]].
| | * '''[[Produce]]''' – Fresh [[fruits]], [[vegetables]], and [[crops]] sold in a raw, unprocessed state. |
| * '''[[stubble-mulching]]''' The practice of leaving the stubble or [[crop residue]] essentially in place on a plot of cropland as a surface cover during a [[fallow]] period. Stubble-mulching can prevent soil erosion and conserve soil moisture.[[[4]]]
| | * '''[[Pruning]]''' – Cutting back plant parts to enhance health, yield, or appearance. |
| * '''[[threshing]]''' 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]].
| | * '''[[Rangeland]]''' – Natural grazing land, typically unfertilized or unirrigated. |
| * '''[[tillage]]''' 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. 2. The land that is tilled.
| | * '''[[Ratooning]]''' – Cutting a plant to ground level to encourage regrowth. |
| * '''[[trap crop]]''' 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]].
| | * '''[[Row crop]]''' – A [[crop]] planted in spaced rows, often for mechanical cultivation. |
| * '''[[viticulture]]''' Also winegrowing. The cultivation of [[grapes]], especially for use in [[winemaking]].
| | * '''[[Seedbed]]''' – Prepared soil where [[seeds]] are sown. |
| * '''[[volunteer]]''' 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]].
| | * '''[[Sericulture]]''' – The production of [[silk]] from [[silkworms]]. |
| * '''[[weed of cultivation]]''' Any plant that is well-adapted to environments in which the land is [[cultivated]] for growing some other plant. See also [[crop weed]]. wildculture
| | * '''[[Sharecropping]]''' – A system where a [[tenant]] shares a portion of the [[harvest]] with the landowner. |
| * '''[[xeriscaping]]''' 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 run-off.
| | * '''[[Shifting cultivation]]''' – Temporary use of land for farming before moving to a new plot. |
| * '''[[yield]]''' Also called agricultural output.
| | * '''[[Site-specific crop management]]''' – See [[Precision agriculture]]. |
| * '''[[Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)]]''' A system of involving the local food conscious consumers in a direct to consumer style marketings where the consumers "invest" in a farm for the growing season, and in return receive a weekly or monthly payout of fresh [[fruits]] and or [[vegetables]]. Many CSAs also include [[meats]], [[cheeses]], or other value added products in addition to fresh [[produce]].
| | * '''[[Soil amendment]]''' – A product added to [[soil]] to improve its properties. |
| * '''[[Drip irrigation]]''' A system of water irrigation that uses pipes and drip lines to irrigate crops, either directly at the soil surface or sub-surface at the root zone. This system can provide a number of benefits including weed reduction and water conservation.
| | * '''[[Sowing]]''' – Planting [[seeds]] by hand or machine. |
| * '''[[Farmers' market]]''' A direct to consumer marketing approach where consumers purchase goods from growers and producers in a market setting.
| | * '''[[Staple food]]''' – A food eaten regularly and in large amounts, forming the basis of a diet. |
| * '''[[Flood irrigation]]''' A style of traditional irrigation where fields are irrigated with surface water from acequia systems.
| | * '''[[Stubble-mulching]]''' – Leaving [[crop residue]] in the field to protect soil. |
| * '''[[Food miles]]''' The distance food travels from the farm to your plate. On average food travels 1,500 miles, but by eating locally this number can be greatly reduced.
| | * '''[[Threshing]]''' – Separating [[grain]] from [[chaff]]. |
| * '''[[Foodshed]]''' A defined area from which food is grown, processed, purchased, and consumed. We currently have a global foodshed, with products coming from a variety of places around the world. The local food movement aims to bring the foodshed closer to home, with foodsheds ranging from 100 miles to a larger multi-state region.
| | * '''[[Tillage]]''' – Mechanical soil preparation for [[planting]]. |
| * '''[[Free-range]]''' A method of farming/ranching in which livestock are allowed to "roam freely," instead of being confined to a feeding stall or cage. The term is most commonly associated with but not limited to poultry. Similar terms include "cage free," "humanely raised," and "pastured livestock."
| | * '''[[Trap crop]]''' – A plant used to attract pests away from the main [[crop]]. |
| * '''[[Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)]]''' An organism that has had its genetic material altered through genetic engineering. In relation to food and agriculture, this would include, plants, seeds, and livestock that have been genetically engineered in a lab to increase yields, pest resistance, or enhance desired traits. GMOs are a major concern to communities trying to preserve native seeds and/or traditional practices.
| | * '''[[Value-added product]]''' – Raw agricultural goods processed for greater value, like jams or salsa. |
| * '''[[Grass-fed]]''' A term to describe livestock that forage freely on grass and legume pastures, rather than being fed corn and grains in confined feedlots.
| | * '''[[Viticulture]]''' – The cultivation of [[grapes]] for [[wine]]. |
| * '''[[Locavore]]''' Someone who seeks out locally grown and produced foods. The word locavore was the New Oxford American Dictionary word of the year for 2007.
| | * '''[[Volunteer]]''' – An unplanted but desirable plant growing on its own. |
| * '''[[Natural]]''' This term is most often used to describe meats and other goods that are minimally processed and contain no artificial ingredients or colors.
| | * '''[[Weed of cultivation]]''' – A plant adapted to grow among [[cultivated crops]]. |
| * '''[[No-till farming]]''' A method of farming where the soil is not plowed or turned before planted. This method reduces erosion of both soil and nutrients, while increasing organic matter in the soil.
| | * '''[[Xeriscaping]]''' – Landscaping designed to reduce the need for [[irrigation]]. |
| * '''[[Organic]]''' Organic generally means a product that is certified to be grown and/or produced without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, hormones or antibiotics, and is GMO free. Someone can grow with organic methods but choose to not be certified.
| | * '''[[Yield]]''' – The total [[agricultural output]] per unit area. |
| * '''[[Value-added product]]''' A raw agricultural product that has been modified or enhanced to be a product with a higher market value and / or a longer shelf life. Some examples include fruits made into pies or jams, meats made into jerky, and tomatoes and peppers made into salsa.
| | |
| == Also see == | | == Also see == |
| * '''[[Glossary of agriculture]] | | * '''[[Glossary of agriculture]] |
Pivot With Drops
Vavilov Centers Updated
Centres of Origin and Spread of Agriculture
Tomb of Nakht
Crescenzi Calendar
Reindeer Herding
Unload Wheat by the Combine Claas Lexion 584
Manuring a Vegetable Garden
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