This glossary aims to provide a better understanding of certain words related to agriculture.
Cattle breeder
Noun
A person who breeds and raises cattle.
Example: A cattle breeder lost one of his cows.
fr: Un éleveur de bétail
Crop
Noun
A cultivated plant that is grown on a large scale commercially, especially a cereal, fruit, or vegetable.
Example: The main crops were oats and barley.
fr: 1. Une culture 2. Une récolte
Drip irrigation
Noun
Drip irrigation or trickle irrigation is a type of micro-irrigation system that has the potential to save water and nutrients by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants, either from above the soil surface or buried below the surface.
Example: Drip irrigation has been proven to provide 95-100% water use efficiency.
fr: Irrigation goutte à goutte
Environmental footprint
Noun
An environmental footprint (also known as ecological footprint) is the effect that a person, company, activity, etc. has on the environment, for example the amount of natural resources that they use and the amount of harmful gases that they produce.
Example: I have stopped eating meat to reduce my environmental footprint.
fr: Empreinte écologique
Farmer
Noun
A person who owns or manages a farm.
Example: The farmer grows wheat.
fr: Un agriculteur
Fertilizer
Noun
A chemical or natural substance added to soil or land to increase its fertility.
Example: Sewage sludge could be a valuable fertilizer for use in British forests.
fr: Engrais
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)
Noun
A GMO is a plant, animal, microorganism or other organism whose genetic makeup has been modified in a laboratory using genetic engineering or transgenic technology.
Example: GMO research in Africa is strongly promoted.
fr: Organismes Génétiquement Modifiés (OGM)
Harvester
Noun
A person or machine that gathers crops as a harvest.
Example: Back-breaking labour as hired sugar beet harvesters.
fr: Une moissonneuse
Hay
Noun
Grass that has been mown and dried for use as fodder.
Example: I bought some hay for the horses.
fr: Le foin
Heighten (sth.)
Verb
To increase or make something increase, especially an emotion or effect.
Example: The marketing campaign aims to heighten the brand's visibility.
fr: Accroître qqch/ rehausser qqch
Nursery
Noun
A nursery is a field or plot of land set aside for the propagation of mainly woody plants (trees, shrubs) but also perennials, and their cultivation until they reach the stage where they can be transplanted or marketed.
Example: I bought a few tomato plants at the nursery.
fr: Pépinière
Pesticide
Noun
A substance that kills animal and insect pests.
Example: Pesticides are very hazardous to health, I agree.
fr: Pesticide
Responsible farming
Noun
Responsible farming is part of sustainable development. Responsible farming aims to preserve as much of our land and water as possible. They avoid soil pollution and promote biodiversity.
Example: Some farmers use reasonable and responsible farming practices that respect the environment and the landscape.
fr: Agriculture responsable
Scarecrow
Noun
An object made to resemble a human figure, set up to scare birds away from a field where crops are growing.
Example: I have a scarecrow, and it is a big one, very scary, too.
fr: Un épouvantail
Shelf life
Noun
The length of time for which an item remains usable, fit for consumption, or saleable.
Example: The shelf life of a can is approximately 5 years.
fr: Durée de conservation
To drain (land)
Verb
Cause the water or other liquid in (something) to run out, leaving it empty or dry.
Example: We drained the swimming pool
fr: Assécher = drainer (le sol)
To graze
Verb
(Of cattle, sheep, etc.) eat grass in a field.
Example: The cows are grazing in the field.
fr: Pâturer
To harvest
Verb
To pick and collect crops, or to collect plants, animals, or fish to eat.
Example: After harvesting, most of the crop is stored in large buildings.
fr: Récolter
To mow
Verb
Cut down (grass or a cereal crop) with a scythe.
Example: They mowed green corn, to give the blades to horses.
fr: Faucher
Wasteland
Noun
An unused area of land that has become barren or overgrown.
Example: A wasteland has replaced the demolished factory.