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septic tank: An underground tank for household sewage that is not connected to the main drainage system and in which human waste is decomposed by the action of anaerobic bacteria. Farmers benefit from using septic tanks for waste management and sanitation.

swath turner: a haymaking machine used to move individual swaths sideways and turn them over at the same time, so making the drying process faster. It is also used in wet conditions to scatter a swath to dry it more quickly. Using swath turners ensures efficient haymaking and fodder quality, supporting livestock nutrition and farm productivity.

Slaughter Premium Scheme: until 2005, a subsidy that provided direct support to all producers of domestic cattle. (NOTE: Now superseded by the Single Payment Scheme.) Understanding historical subsidy schemes helps farmers adapt to current financial support structures and manage their operations effectively.

scale: A thin membranous leaf structure. Farmers benefit from understanding scale in plants for better crop management.

streptococcus: a bacterium belonging to a genus that grows in long chains and causes diseases such as strangles and mastitis. (NOTE: The plural is streptococci.) Understanding streptococcus bacteria helps farmers manage livestock health and prevent disease outbreaks, supporting productivity and well-being.

select: To identify plants or animals with desirable characteristics such as high yield or disease resistance as part of the activity of breeding new varieties. Farmers benefit from selecting plants and animals to improve crop and livestock productivity.

shorthorn: A breed of cattle, with short horns. In the 18th century, Charles Colling used many of the breeding principles established by Robert Bakewell to develop the shorthorn breed, which became the most common in Britain and remained so for over a hundred years. It has later developed into three different strains: the Beef Shorthorn, the Dairy Shorthorn and the Lincoln Shorthorn. Farmers benefit from raising shorthorn cattle for their versatility in meat and milk production.

successional cropping: the growing of several crops one after the other during the same growing season; the process of sowing a crop such as lettuce over a long period, so that harvesting takes place over a similarly long period. Properly managing successional cropping ensures efficient land use and continuous crop production, supporting farm productivity.

surface-rooting: referring to a plant whose roots are shallow in the soil. Compare deep-rooted. Properly managing surface-rooting plants ensures healthy growth and optimal yields, supporting productive agriculture.

starchy: containing a lot of starch. Properly managing starchy crops ensures high nutritional value and market demand, supporting farm income.