Letham Shank Glossary

Common terms used in Agriculture and the Countryside.

Oat

It is thought that oats are native to Britain and can be grown on sites of low fertility. Used as horse fodder and of course for Scottish porridge and oat cakes.

Oilseed rape

The name used in the UK for Canola. primarily grown to produce oil for foodstuffs. GM and hybrid varieties produce specialist oils used in pharmaceuticals and industry.

Organic

Low output farming using rotations, clover, and very few artificial fertilisers, pesticides and antibiotics.

Organophospates

A class of insecticide that was originally synthesized during World War II as a nerve warfare agent. Compulsory sheep dipping in the UK exposed many people sensitive to these compounds. Examples of OPs include chlorpyrifos and sarin.