Materials & Energy

Pest monitoring in farming is the practice of regularly checking crops and soil for signs of insect pests and other diseases. This helps farmers identify potential problems before they become severe, allowing them to take preventative measures to protect their crops. Pest monitoring can involve checking for physical signs of pests, such as egg masses or feces, or using traps and other detection tools.Pest monitoring in farming is the practice of regularly checking crops and soil for signs of insect pests and other diseases.

Organic fertilisers are natural fertilisers that are derived from plant and animal sources. Examples of organic fertilisers include compost, manure, bone meal, and seaweed. They provide essential nutrients to plants, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. They help improve soil structure, increase microbial activity, and reduce soil erosion. Organic fertilisers can also improve soil fertility and help plants absorb water and nutrients more effectively.

Precision agriculture (PA) is a farming management concept based on observing, measuring and responding to inter- and intra-field variability in crops. PA is also sometimes referred to as precision farming. Precision agriculture uses information technology (IT) to ensure that crops and soil receive exactly what they need for optimum health and productivity.

Irrigation is used to supplement water during dry periods, increase productivity of coarse soils (sandy), improve the crop quality of water-sensitive crops and reduce risk of crop loss (e.g. drip irrigation). Improving irrigation efficiency is a way of making sure that less water is wasted when watering plants and crops. This can be achieved through better water management techniques and technology, such as the use of sprinklers, drip tubing, and other water-saving devices. This can help conserve water resources, reduce water bills, and improve crop yields.

Nutrient management plans (NMPs) are used to help farmers efficiently meet their production objectives and protect the environment. Plans provide balanced recommendations for farmers on which nutrient sources to apply and what rates they should be applied at. Use of innovative approaches to minimise nutrient release, optimal pH for nutrient uptake, circular agriculture.

Appropriate management of farming residues involves making use of the crops and animal products left over after harvest or slaughter. Strategies for managing these residues may include composting, burning, mulching or using them as animal feed. Proper management of these residues is important to ensure that the land is properly managed, soil fertility is maintained, and the environment is protected from pollution. e.g., seeding on residues.

Nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous are essential for crop production. This is an agricultural practice in which farmers reduce or eliminate the use of synthetic fertilisers on their arable crops. This practice helps to conserve natural resources and reduce pollution, as it reduces the amount of artificial chemicals and pollutants that are released into the environment. It also has the potential to increase the sustainability of agriculture, as it reduces the cost of inputs and increases the profitability of farming.

This refers to an agricultural system in which trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants are grown with grazed animals. This type of system is designed to maximize the biodiversity of an area, often by creating a synergistic relationship between the plants and animals that provide a variety of ecological services and resources. High-biodiversity silvopastoral systems aim to create a sustainable, productive, and diverse agricultural system for both humans and wildlife.

This is a plan to maintain and manage the various components of a farm's landscape. It involves determining which parts of the farm should be cut or trimmed, as well as what should be kept as it is. It also includes deciding when and how to prune, mow, and fertilize the landscape components in order to keep them healthy and looking their best. It refers to the management of hedges, vegetation strips and other landscape elements at a territory scale.

Livestock shall have permanent access to open air areas that allow the animals to exercise, preferably pasture, whenever weather and seasonal conditions and the state of the ground allow.