P

proud: Referring to excessive growth or development in crops or livestock. Helpful content: Managing excessive growth through proper nutrition and environmental controls ensures optimal plant and animal health. Farmers can achieve better yields and quality by preventing overgrowth issues.

polyphagous: Referring to an organism that eats more than one type of food. Compare monophagous. Helpful content: Understanding polyphagous pests is important for developing effective management strategies. Farmers can implement integrated pest management practices to control these pests and protect a wide range of crops.

plant genetic resources: The gene pool of plants, especially of plants regarded as of value to humans for food or pharmaceuticals. Helpful content: Conserving plant genetic resources is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and ensuring the availability of beneficial traits for future breeding. Farmers can benefit from a diverse gene pool by having access to a wide range of crops that can adapt to various conditions.

protoplasm: A substance like a jelly which makes up the largest part of each cell. Helpful content: Understanding protoplasm and cell biology is fundamental for plant and animal health. Farmers can improve crop and livestock management by applying this knowledge to enhance growth and development.

potato blight: A fungus disease (Phytophthora infestans) which kills potato foliage and rots the tubers. Helpful content: Early detection and management of potato blight are crucial for preventing significant crop losses. Farmers should implement integrated pest management strategies to control this disease and maintain healthy potato crops.

pollution: The presence of unusually high concentrations of harmful substances or radioactivity in the environment, as a result of human activity or a natural process such as a volcanic eruption. Helpful content: Managing pollution on farms is crucial for protecting ecosystems and ensuring sustainable production. Farmers can implement practices like buffer strips, cover cropping, and proper waste management to reduce environmental impact.

perennial agriculture: A system of agriculture in regions where there is no winter and several crops can be grown on the same land each year. Using perennial agriculture systems improves land use efficiency and provides continuous crop production.

proven sire: A bull, boar, or ram which has been shown to sire progeny that produce milk, meat, or wool of high quality. Helpful content: Using proven sires in breeding programs enhances genetic quality and productivity. Farmers can achieve better offspring performance and overall herd improvement through careful sire selection.

part-time farming: A type of farming where the farmer has a regular occupation other than farming, which is common throughout much of central and Eastern Europe. In the UK, part-time farmers are mainly wealthy people who farm as a hobby or as a second form of business. Part-time farming can provide additional income and sustainable land use.

porcine stress syndrome: A group of conditions associated with the halothane gene that cause rapid respiration, twitching, and sudden death in affected pigs. The condition is usually triggered by stress and can be screened for by exposing the animals to the anesthetic halothane. Abbr PSS. Helpful content: Managing porcine stress syndrome involves selecting animals without the halothane gene and reducing stress factors. Proper handling and management practices can improve animal welfare and productivity.