Pillar two
The Dictionary: every term, in plain words.
186 entries drawn from the lessons. Each gives the plain meaning, a diagram, how to use it, a South African benchmark, notes for your market, where to read more and how to calculate it.
A 8 terms
AfCFTA
The African Continental Free Trade Area, an agreement to create a single African market
D-afcftaAflatoxin
A toxin produced by moulds in poorly dried or stored grain and nuts
D-aflatoxinAfrican swine fever
A deadly pig disease with no vaccine
D-african-swine-feverAggregator
A business that buys and combines produce from many small farmers to supply large buyers
D-aggregatorAgro-processing
Turning farm produce into processed food, fibre or other products
D-agro-processingAnti-dumping duty
An extra import tax imposed to offset dumping
D-anti-dumping-dutyAquaculture
Farming fish and other aquatic animals
D-aquacultureAuction floor
A sales floor where tobacco bales are sold to the highest bidder
D-auction-floorB 9 terms
Backgrounding
Growing weaners on grazing before they enter a feedlot
D-backgroundingBagasse
The fibre left after cane is crushed, burned for energy
D-bagasseBeneficiation
Adding value to raw material close to where it is produced, so more of the final price stays in the area
D-beneficiationBiosecurity
Measures that keep disease out of a farm or flock
D-biosecurityBoer goat
A South African meat goat breed
D-boer-goatBreak-even volume
The quantity that must be sold before income covers all costs
D-break-even-volumeBreak-even yield
The yield needed for income to cover all costs at the expected price
D-break-even-yieldBroiler
A chicken raised for meat
D-broilerBulk wine
Wine sold in large containers rather than bottles
D-bulk-wineC 36 terms
Cage farming
Raising fish in net cages in a lake or dam
D-cage-farmingCane-supply agreement
The contract setting how much cane a grower may deliver to a mill and how it is paid
D-cane-supply-agreementCannery
A plant that preserves fruit in cans or jars
D-canneryCapacity utilisation
The share of a machine's or plant's possible output that is actually used
D-capacity-utilisationCarcass weight
The weight of the dressed carcass after slaughter
D-carcass-weightCarry-over stock
Stock left unsold from a previous season, which weighs on prices
D-carry-over-stockCarrying capacity
The number of animals a piece of land can support without being degraded
D-carrying-capacityCellar-door sales
Selling wine directly to visitors at the winery
D-cellar-doorCertified seed potato
Seed tubers tested and certified free of the main diseases
D-certified-seed-potatoChill units
The measure of winter cold a fruit tree needs to flower and fruit evenly
D-chill-unitsCitrus Black Spot
A fungal disease of citrus that triggers strict export controls
D-citrus-black-spotClip
The total wool or mohair shorn from a flock in a season
D-clipCogeneration
Generating electricity from bagasse at a sugar mill
D-cogenerationCold chain
An unbroken sequence of refrigerated handling from harvest to buyer
D-cold-chainCollateral
An asset pledged to a lender as security for a loan
D-collateralCommission
The percentage of the selling price kept by an agent for selling the produce
D-commissionCommodity trap
Selling an undifferentiated product at whatever price the market sets
D-commodity-trapCommunity share scheme
An arrangement in which the community owns a share of the venture and receives part of its profit
D-community-shareholdingConservation agriculture
Farming with minimum tillage, permanent soil cover and crop rotation
D-conservation-agricultureConsignment
Sending produce to an agent who sells it and pays the grower after deductions
D-consignmentContract farming
Production under an agreement that fixes the buyer and often supplies inputs on credit
D-contract-farmingContract floor
A sales floor where contracted growers deliver to their merchant
D-contract-floorContract grower
A farmer who raises stock or crops for an integrator using the integrator's inputs
D-contract-growerContract winemaking
Paying an established cellar to make wine under the client's label
D-contract-winemakingControlled-atmosphere storage
Cold storage with adjusted gases that keeps fruit fresh for months
D-controlled-atmosphereControlled-environment farming
Growing crops in tunnels or greenhouses where water, temperature and light are managed
D-controlled-environmentCooperative
A business owned by its farmer members to buy, store, process or sell together
D-cooperativeCooperative cellar
A winery owned by its grape-growing members
D-cooperative-cellarCottonseed cake
The protein feed left after oil is pressed from cottonseed
D-cottonseed-cakeCounter-seasonal supply
Selling into a market when its own season is over
D-counter-seasonalCrop rotation
Growing different crops in sequence on the same land to protect soil and break pest cycles
D-crop-rotationCrusher
A plant that presses oilseeds into oil and meal
D-crusherCultivar licence
The paid right to grow and sell a protected plant variety
D-cultivar-licenceCuring
Preserving raw hides with salt or drying before tanning
D-curingCuring barn
A building where tobacco leaf is dried
D-curing-barnCustomary tenure
Land held under traditional authority rather than registered title
D-customary-tenureD 12 terms
Day-old chick
A chick sold by a hatchery on its first day
D-day-old-chickDead capital
An asset that has value but cannot be sold, pledged or borrowed against because ownership cannot be proved
D-dead-capitalDeciduous fruit
Fruit from trees that drop their leaves in winter, such as apples, pears and stone fruit
D-deciduous-fruitDepreciation
The yearly loss in value of a machine or building, treated as a cost
D-depreciationDestocking
Selling or removing animals to reduce grazing pressure, often during drought
D-destockingDorper
A South African meat sheep breed suited to dry country
D-dorperDressing percentage
Carcass weight as a share of live weight
D-dressing-percentageDrought-tolerant crop
A crop such as sorghum or millet that yields under low rainfall
D-drought-tolerant-cropDry matter
The solid share of a crop's weight, important for processing quality
D-dry-matterDryland farming
Crop production that relies on rainfall without irrigation
D-drylandDual agriculture
A farm economy split between a capitalised commercial sector and an under-capitalised smallholder sector
D-dual-agricultureDumping
Exporting a product at a price below its normal value in the home market
D-dumpingE 4 terms
Employment contract
A written agreement setting out a worker's job, hours, pay and how the engagement ends
D-employment-contractEnterprise budget
A budget for one farm activity showing output, price, income, variable costs and gross margin
D-enterprise-budgetExport parity price
The price a crop fetches abroad less the cost of getting it there
D-export-parity-priceExtension services
Agronomic and technical advice delivered to farmers in the field
D-extensionF 11 terms
Falling number
A test of wheat's baking quality
D-falling-numberFarm-gate price
The price the farm actually earns after transport and selling costs
D-farm-gate-priceFarrowing
A sow giving birth
D-farrowingFeed conversion ratio
The kilograms of feed needed to produce one kilogram of live weight
D-feed-conversion-ratioFeedlot
An operation that finishes cattle on a grain-based diet
D-feedlotFibre diameter
The thickness of wool or mohair fibre, measured in microns; finer pays more
D-fibre-diameterFingerling
A young fish used to stock a pond or cage
D-fingerlingFishmeal
A protein feed made from fish, used in animal and fish feed
D-fishmealFloor price
The minimum price a buyer or board undertakes to pay
D-floor-priceFlue-cured tobacco
Tobacco dried in heated barns, Zimbabwe's main type
D-flue-cured-tobaccoFoot-and-mouth disease (FMD)
A contagious livestock disease whose presence closes premium beef markets
D-fmdG 10 terms
Genetically modified crop (GMO)
A crop variety with genes altered to add traits such as pest resistance
D-gmoGeographical indication
A protected name tying a product to its place of origin
D-geographical-indicationGinnery
A plant that separates cotton lint from seed
D-ginneryGlobalG.A.P.
An international farm certification for food safety, traceability and good practice
D-globalgapGrading
Sorting produce into quality classes that carry different prices
D-gradingGrafted tree
A tree made by joining a chosen variety onto a hardy rootstock
D-grafted-treeGreen coffee
Dried, unroasted coffee beans
D-green-coffeeGreen leaf
Freshly plucked tea leaf delivered to a factory
D-green-leafGrievance procedure
A simple, known way for a worker to raise a complaint and have it heard
D-grievance-procedureGross margin
Income from an enterprise minus its variable costs
D-gross-marginH 3 terms
I 6 terms
Import parity price
The cost of bringing a product into the country, which sets a ceiling on local prices
D-import-parity-priceImport restriction
A ban or permit limit on bringing a product into a country
D-import-restrictionIndex insurance
Insurance that pays on a measured trigger such as rainfall rather than on assessed farm loss
D-index-insuranceIndustrial hemp
Cannabis varieties with very low THC grown for fibre, seed and oil
D-industrial-hempInoculant
A bacterial treatment that helps legumes fix nitrogen from the air
D-inoculantIntegrated pest management
Controlling pests by combining monitoring, rotation, biology and targeted spraying
D-ipmK 2 terms
L 8 terms
Land audit
An official count of who owns land and how it is held
D-land-auditLate blight
A destructive fungal disease of potatoes and tomatoes
D-late-blightLayer
A hen kept to lay eggs
D-layerLeasehold
The right to use land for a fixed term under a registered lease
D-leaseholdLint
The cotton fibre after ginning
D-lintLive weight
The weight of a live animal
D-live-weightLocal procurement
Buying goods and services for the venture from businesses in the surrounding community
D-local-procurementLocal-content requirement
A rule that buyers source a share of supply locally
D-local-contentM 11 terms
Made tea
Tea after processing in the factory
D-made-teaMahangu
The Namibian name for pearl millet
D-mahanguMalting barley
Barley grown to brewers' specifications for making malt
D-malting-barleyMarket agent
A licensed seller who sells a farmer's produce on a fresh-produce market for a commission
D-market-agentMarket glut
A period when supply floods a market and prices collapse
D-market-glutMaximum residue limit (MRL)
The highest level of a pesticide allowed on food in a given market
D-mrlMechanisation as a service
Hiring machinery by the hour or hectare instead of owning it
D-mechanisation-as-a-serviceMohair
Fibre from Angora goats
D-mohairMortality rate
The share of birds or animals that die during a production cycle
D-mortality-rateMovement permit
Official permission to move livestock between areas
D-movement-permitMulesing
A surgical practice on sheep that premium buyers increasingly reject
D-mulesingN 2 terms
O 6 terms
Off-taker
A buyer who agrees in advance to take a farmer's output
D-off-takerOilcake or meal
The protein-rich residue left after oil is pressed from seed, used in animal feed
D-oilcakeOilseed
A crop grown for the oil in its seed, such as soya, sunflower or groundnut
D-oilseedOpportunity cost
The return you give up by using an asset one way instead of the next best way
D-opportunity-costOrchard establishment
The cost and years of planting and growing trees before they bear
D-orchard-establishmentOutgrower
A farmer who grows a crop on their own land for a nearby processor under contract
D-outgrowerP 13 terms
Pack-house
A facility where produce is graded, washed, cooled and packed
D-pack-housePayback period
How long an investment takes to return its cost
D-payback-periodPeri-urban farming
Farming on land at the edge of a town or city
D-peri-urban-farmingPhytosanitary
Relating to plant health; phytosanitary rules keep pests and diseases out of a country
D-phytosanitaryPiece rate
Pay calculated per unit of work done, such as per crate picked or per kilogram graded
D-piece-ratePigs per sow per year
The number of pigs a sow produces for sale each year
D-pigs-per-sow-per-yearPlanting window
The period in which planting brings the harvest into the right season and market
D-planting-windowPoint-of-lay hen
A young hen ready to start laying
D-point-of-layPork ceiling price
Namibia's regulated maximum producer reference price for pork
D-pork-ceiling-pricePost-harvest loss
Produce lost or downgraded between harvest and sale
D-post-harvest-lossPre-cooling
Removing field heat from produce quickly after harvest
D-pre-coolingProducer association
An organisation representing farmers of a particular commodity
D-producer-associationProvenance
The proven origin of a product, used to earn a price premium
D-provenanceR 2 terms
S 23 terms
SAFEX
South Africa's agricultural futures market, where grain prices are discovered and hedged
D-safexSeasonal worker
A worker employed only for the busy periods of the farming year, such as planting, harvest or packing
D-seasonal-workerSeed cotton
Cotton as picked, before the lint is separated from the seed
D-seed-cottonSeed maize
Maize grown under contract to produce certified planting seed
D-seed-maizeSeedling nursery
A business that raises young plants for transplanting
D-seedling-nurseryShade-net or tunnel
A covered structure that protects crops and raises yields
D-shade-netSide-selling
Selling contracted or cooperative produce to another buyer outside the agreement
D-side-sellingSkills transfer
Teaching local people the skills a venture needs so that the skills stay in the community
D-skills-transferSkin
The skin of a small animal such as a sheep or goat
D-skinSmall grains
Wheat, barley, oats, sorghum and millet
D-small-grainsSmall stock
Sheep and goats
D-small-stockSocial compliance
Meeting buyers' standards on wages, working conditions and worker rights
D-social-complianceSocial licence to operate
The ongoing acceptance of a venture by the community around it
D-social-licenceSow
A female breeding pig
D-sowSpecialty coffee
High-quality coffee scored and sold at a premium
D-specialty-coffeeSpecification
A buyer's written requirements for size, quality, packing and certification
D-specificationStaggered planting
Planting in batches so harvests arrive in a steady flow
D-staggered-plantingStatutory levy
A compulsory charge collected on a product to fund industry services
D-statutory-levyStocking density
The number or weight of fish per unit of water
D-stocking-densityStrategic grain reserve
Grain held by the state to protect food supply in bad years
D-strategic-grain-reserveStress test
Running a business plan at a worse price or cost to see whether it survives
D-stress-testSubtropical crop
A crop suited to warm, frost-free climates, such as avocado, mango or macadamia
D-subtropicalSucrose content
The amount of sugar in cane, which decides its payment
D-sucrose-contentT 6 terms
Tannery
A plant that converts hides into leather
D-tanneryTerroir
The combination of soil, climate and place that gives a wine its character
D-terroirTitle deed
The registered document that proves ownership of land
D-title-deedTraceability
The ability to prove where a product or animal came from and every stage it passed through
D-traceabilityTrade corridor
A road, rail and port route linking producers to markets across borders
D-trade-corridorTraining of trainers
A method where a few people are trained well enough to train others in turn
D-training-of-trainersV 5 terms
Value chain
The sequence of stages a product passes through from input supply to the consumer
D-value-chainValue density
How much a unit of weight of a product is worth, which decides how far it can travel profitably
D-value-densityValue-add
Increasing the worth of a product by processing, packing or branding it
D-value-addVertical integration
One firm controlling several stages of a value chain, from inputs to retail
D-vertical-integrationVeterinary cordon fence
A fence separating disease-control zones for livestock
D-veterinary-cordon-fenceW 7 terms
Water right
The legal permission to take and use a given amount of water
D-water-rightWeaner
A calf recently separated from its mother, usually sold for growing or finishing
D-weanerWet-blue
Hides after the first stage of chrome tanning
D-wet-blueWhite maize
Maize grown mainly for human food, milled into meal
D-white-maizeWinter crop
A crop planted after the summer rains, usually under irrigation in summer-rainfall areas
D-winter-cropWool classing
Sorting a clip into lines of similar quality before sale
D-wool-classingWorking capital
The money needed to run the business between paying costs and receiving sales
D-working-capitalNo term matches that search.