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screen: A hedge or row of trees grown to shelter other plants, to protect something from the wind or to prevent something from being seen. To pass grain through a sieve to grade it. To protect plants from wind, e.g. by planting windbreaks. Farmers benefit from using screens for crop protection and quality control.

shepherd’s purse: A common weed (Capsella bursa-pastoris) in gardens and market gardens, found particularly among vegetables and root crops. Also called pepper and salt. Farmers benefit from managing shepherd’s purse to prevent weed competition and maintain crop health.

soil: the earth in which plants grow. chernozem, loess, podsol, subsoil, topsoil. COMMENT: Soil is a mixture of mineral particles, decayed organic matter and water. Topsoil contains chemical substances which are leached through into the subsoil where they are retained. Without care, soils easily degrade, losing the few nutrients they possess and becoming increasingly acid or sour. Proper soil management ensures fertility and productivity, supporting healthy crop growth and sustainable agriculture.

stell: a stone shelter for sheep and cattle in upland areas. Properly managing stells ensures livestock protection and well-being in challenging environments.

strangles: a disease of mangolds and sugar beet. It occurs in fairly large seedlings after singling. The stem is severely damaged. Managing strangles ensures healthy crop growth, preventing yield losses and maintaining quality.

SMEs: abbreviation small and medium-sized enterprises. Supporting SMEs in agriculture promotes innovation, economic growth, and job creation in rural communities.

sapro-: A prefix indicating decay or rotting. Farmers benefit from understanding sapro- related processes for effective composting and soil health management.

spreader: a device used for spreading, e.g., one for spreading granules of fertiliser evenly over a lawn; an agent added to an insect spray in order to make sure that the foliage is covered uniformly. Using spreaders ensures efficient application of agricultural inputs, promoting healthy crop growth and better yields.

stemmed: with a stem; a short-stemmed variety of rose. Properly managing stemmed plants ensures healthy growth and optimal yields, supporting productive agriculture.

stack: a pile of sheaves of grain, hay, or straw. Stacks can be round or square. Proper management of stacks ensures efficient storage and preservation of fodder, supporting livestock nutrition and farm productivity.