F

Flail: A wooden hand tool used for beating grain to separate the seeds from the waste parts. Proper use of flails supports traditional farming practices and efficient grain processing.

Feedmill: A mill for preparing animal feed. Proper operation of a feedmill ensures consistent quality and supply of feed for livestock.

Feedstuff: Food for farm animals. Also called feedingstuff. Providing high-quality feedstuff is essential for livestock health and productivity.

Flatten: To become flat or make something flat. To make plants lie flat on the ground. Flattened stems by a roller-crusher. Properly managing flattened crops ensures easier harvesting and reduces crop loss.

Finish: To feed cattle or sheep at a rate of growth that increases the ratio of muscle to bone and the proportion of fatty tissue in the carcass to a level fit for slaughter. Proper finishing practices ensure high-quality meat and marketability.

Foldland: An area of land allotted to each manor for the purpose of grazing the manor’s sheep. Understanding historical land use practices supports the management of grazing systems.

Foliage: The leaves on plants. Properly managing foliage supports plant health, photosynthesis, and crop yields.

Foodstuff: Something that can be used as food, such as cereals, vegetables, and other foodstuffs. Properly managing foodstuffs ensures high-quality food production and marketability.

Fertilise: 1. (of a sperm) to join with an ovum. 2. (of a male) to make a female pregnant. 3. To put fertiliser on crops or soil. Proper fertilisation practices enhance crop growth and soil health.

Farmer’s Lung: A type of asthma caused by an allergy to rotting hay. Awareness and prevention of farmer’s lung help protect the respiratory health of farm workers.