Letham Shank Glossary

Common terms used in Agriculture and the Countryside.

Bale

A compacted and bound bundle of straw, hay silage etc. May be square or round varying in size from 30 kg to 100kg.

Baler

Implement which picks up swaths of straw or hay and compresses it into a compact rectangular or cylidrical bale. When the desired size is reached it is automatically secured with twine or net wrapping.

bar

SI measure of pressure composed of 1000 millibar. Equal to around 14.2 lbs/sq.inch.

Barley

A cereal crop still popular in the UK although the acreage has reduced recently. It is identified by it's 'awns' which are covered in tiny barbs and cling to clothing. Barley is used as animal feed or by the brewing industry.

Batch drier

A machine which dries grains by passing air (possibly heated by gas or oil) through a 'batch' and when dry will empty and refill itself with the next batch.

Bean

Field beans are normally grown as a high protein animal feed but some are for human consumption. They are generally allowed to ripen and dry which permits them to be harvested by combine. (Picture)

Beetle

An insect with two pairs of wings, the front pair are hardened to cover the rear pair when folded. Most are beneficial and vary in size from under 1mm to over 60 mm. There are almost 4000 species in the UK.

Big Bags

Large generally polypropolene bags used for grain feed or fertiliser. Normally 500kg but some fertiliser is now in 600kg bags. Stockfeed may be supplied in 1000kg bags.(Picture)

Bindweed

A common weed with a conspicuous white flower which can have severe effects on crop yields if unchecked. It is generally seen growing through hedges and on roadsides.

Bio-diesel

Automotive fuel manufactured primarily from oil seed rape (Canola) blended with diesel to reduce build up of atmospheric CO₂.

Blackface

A particularly stupid variety of sheep with a rough long fleece and relatively light body weight but very hardy.

Blackthorn

(Prunus spinosa) Small spiny shrub commonly used in hedging. The fruit are known as sloes and have several uses.

Boar

An entire male pig.

Border Leicester

Ususally used as a sire crossed with other breeds to produce lambs for meat.

Bramble

A sprawling, prickly shrub well known for it's black berries which can be made into jams and desserts. Known as the blackberry in southern England.

Broiler

A chicken raised for meat production, generally in large intensive buildings.

Brome (Barren)

(Bromus Sterilis) A grass weed which is commonly found in hedge bottoms but can be difficult to control if it invades a crop. Recognisable by it's green/purple drooping flowers and seed heads.(Picture)

Bullock

A castrated bull.

Burn

A term used in northern England and Scotland for a stream.

Bushel

An old volume measure of cereals. One bushel of wheat weighed approximately 63 lbs, barley 56lbs, .and oats 42lbs.

Buttercup

A common yellow flower (Ranunculus) generally found in wetter parts of the farm. It is common on undrained permanent pasture where it can become invasive.(Picture)