Glossary Entries beginning with C

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Glossary of Agricultural Production, Programs and Policy

4th Edition

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C (cover-management factor)

See Cover-management (factor) (C).
See Also:
Cover-management (factor) (C).

CARICOM

See Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM).
See Also:
Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM).

CCC commercial credit

Refers to short- and intermediate-term commercial credit guarantee programs operated by the Commodity Credit Corporation. The Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102) guarantees repayment of private, short-term credit (up to three years), while the Intermediate Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-103) covers credit extended for three to ten years.
See Also:
Commodity Credit Corporation. Intermediate Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-103).

CCC sales price (7 U.S.C. §§ 1427 et seq.)

The designated price below which the Commodity Credit Corporation may not sell, with exceptions, its stocks of wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, oilseeds, rye, or cotton. If loan repayments are permitted at lower than loan rate levels, the sales price is usually higher than the average loan payment rates for these crops.
See Also:
barley. Commodity Credit Corporation. cotton. grain sorghum. loan. oilseeds. rate. rye. stocks.

CERCLA

See Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) (Superfund).
See Also:
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) (Superfund).

Cabotage

Coastal shipping from one port to another within the waters of one country.

Cage(s)(ed)

(1) See Battery cage(s), and Caged layer operation. (2) In aquaculture, cages are used for cultured fish not easily captured for harvest. Cages are more frequently used to hold fish for limited periods before the fish are stocked into ponds or processed for the market. Cages are also being used by some producers to rear small quantities of fish that are readily available for sale or for home consumption.
See Also:
aquaculture. Battery cage(s). Caged layer operation. market. processed.

Caged layer operation

Modern egg production system using specially designed houses to accommodate large numbers of laying hens with minimal labor input. Laying hens are typically kept in tiered cages, with three to four birds per cage. Larger houses may have back-to-back tiers of cages and two to five walkways running the length of the house. These houses may be either a wide-span or high-rise design. Wide-span houses are one-story structures. The floor is usually concrete and is often recessed beneath the cages to form a shallow pit. High-rise houses (also called deep-pit houses) are two-story structures that have walkways and banks of tiered cages located on the second story. No floor exists beneath the cages. Both wide-span and high-rise houses are usually enclosed and incorporate fans for ventilation control. Caged laying hens are typically placed in houses at 18 to 20 weeks of age. When egg production starts to decline (usually in 12-14 months), the hens are either replaced or molted for a second, shorter, egg-laying period. In large facilities, egg collection and feed delivery are handled by automatic conveyer-belt systems. In all types of houses, water is provided to the laying hens through various types of automatic watering systems placed in or next to the cages.
See Also:
cage. Caged. feed.

Cairns Group

An informal group of nations formed in 1986 in Cairns, Australia, seeking removal of access barriers and substantial reductions in subsidies affecting agricultural trade. The original group included Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Hungary, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand, and Uruguay. Much of the group's attention was directed toward the food and agricultural policies of the U.S. and the European Community.

Calculated fee

See Grazing fee(s).
See Also:
Grazing fee(s).

Calf (calves)

Young male or female bovine animal under one year of age.
See Also:
bovine.

Calf crop

Calves produced by a herd of cattle in one season relative to the number of cows and heifers in the breeding herd.
See Also:
breeding herd.

California milk marketing order

Currently, California, the largest dairy-producing state, has a state milk marketing order that is separate from federal orders. The Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 allowed California to have its own federal milk marketing order if California dairy producers petitioned for and approved such an order. As amended by the Omnibus Appropriations Act for FY99, California had until October 1, 1999, to become a federal order if the state wanted to retain its quota system. Under California's quotasystem, each producer is assigned a quota for production and receives one price for production within quota and a lower price for production above quota. To date, California continues to maintain its own state marketing order and is not part of the federal order system, although pricing in California and under federal milk marketing orders have become much more similar.
See Also:
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996. federal milk marketing order. marketing. milk marketing order. Omnibus Appropriations Act for FY99. order. producer. quota.

Call price

The price level at which producers with grain in the Farmer-Owned Reserve must repay the nonrecourse loan plus any accumulated interest. See Farmer-Owned Reserve (FOR).
See Also:
Farmer-Owned Reserve. Farmer-Owned Reserve (FOR). grain. nonrecourse loan.

Call; call option(s)

In commodity options trading, an option that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to purchase (go long) the underlying futures contract at the strike price on or before the expiration date. See Expiration (of a contract); expiration date, Put; Put option(s), and Underlying futures contract.
See Also:
Expiration (of a contract); expiration date. option. strike price. underlying futures contract.

Calve(d)

Giving birth to a calf. Also Parturition.
See Also:
calf. Parturition.

Calving rate

Number of calves born divided by the number of cows exposed to a bull.

Calving season

The season(s) of the year when calves are born. Regulating calving seasons is the first step to performance-testing the whole herd, accurate records, and consolidated management practices.

Cambium

The layer of living cells between the wood and the innermost bark of a tree. Each growing season the cambium adds a new layer of cells (by cell division) on the wood already formed, as well as a layer of inner bark on the cambium's outerface.
See Also:
face. growing season.

Camelidae; camelids

Camels (dromedary – one-humped; bactrian – two-humped), llamas, alpacas, vicugnas, and guanacos.

Campylobacteriosis

A foodborne illness caused by the Campylobacter bacterium. It is rarely associated with large outbreaks but with sporadic events such as eating raw or undercooked meat and poultry. See Foodborne illness(es).
See Also:
foodborne illness. Foodborne illness(es). meat. poultry.

Canadian Wheat Board (CWB)

The monopoly marketing agency for western Canadian wheat and barley producers founded in 1935. It is one of the world's largest grain marketing organizations and allows Canada's 110,000 wheat and barley producers to sell as one; therefore, theoretically, they command a higher price for their product.
See Also:
barley. grain. marketing.

Cancellation (pesticide)

Under theFederal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, the Environmental Protection Agency may seek cancellation of a pesticide if it determines that a pesticidegenerally causes unreasonable adverse effects on the environment when used in accordance with widespread and commonly recognized practice. See Suspension (pesticide).
See Also:
Environmental Protection Agency. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. pesticide. Suspension (pesticide).

Candle(d); candling

The illumination of the interior of an egg, made possible through the translucency of the eggshell, to assure the elimination of practically all inedible eggs.
See Also:
inedible eggs.

Cane sugar

Sugar derived directly or indirectly from sugarcane produced in the U.S. (including sugar produced from sugarcane molasses).
See Also:
molasses.

Cane sugar refiner

Anyone who processes raw cane sugar into direct-consumption sugar.
See Also:
direct-consumption sugar.

Cane syrup

Concentrated cane juice from which no sucrose has been extracted.
See Also:
sucrose.

Canner(s) and cutter(s)

Unfinished beef; salvage cattle or cull beef; slaughter cows.
See Also:
beef. cull. finished. salvage cattle.

Canola

A variety of rapeseed containing an oil low in erucicacid and glucosinolates that is used in cooking.
See Also:
acid. rapeseed. variety.

Canopy

(1) The more or less continuous cover of branches, dense foliage, or leaves formed collectively by field crops or the crowns of adjacent trees. (2) Vegetative cover sufficient to reduce the destructive impact of rainfall on the soil surface.
See Also:
soil. Vegetative cover.

Cap(ped) (insurance)

The 20 percent upward adjustment limit on the actual production history from one year to the next. See Cup(ped) (insurance).
See Also:
actual production history. Cup(ped) (insurance).

Cap(s)

SeePayment cap(s),and Payment limitation(s); payment limit(s).
See Also:
Payment cap(s). Payment limitation(s); payment limit(s).

Capital stock

For cooperatives, the required purchase of stock, notes, or membership certificates that provides some help in financing the cooperative and gives the member voting rights.
See Also:
cooperative. stock.

Capitalization of arrears

See Reamortization; reamortized.
See Also:
Reamortization; reamortized.

Capon(s)

Male chickens that have had their reproductive organs surgically removed.

Capper-Volstead Act of 1922 (CVA) (7 U.S.C. §§ 291 et. seq.)

Known as the "Magna Carta" of agricultural cooperative marketing, this Act amended the Clayton Act of 1914 to exempt cooperatives composed of producers from federal antitrust laws, including both stock and nonstock organizations. The Act also gave the USDA limited oversight authority. The exemption from antitrust laws does not allow conspiracy with third persons to restrain trade.
See Also:
agricultural cooperative. Clayton Act of 1914. marketing. stock.

Capriculture

The raising of goats.

Capsicums

Peppers.

Captive bolt stun gun

A device used during the slaughter process to render animals unconscious prior to bleeding. The gun fires a bolt into the brain of the animal; the bolt is considered “captive” in that it is not a bullet that flies free of the device. Also Penetrative stunning device(s).
See Also:
Penetrative stunning device(s). process.

Captive finance

The in-house financing arm of an equipment or input supplier.
See Also:
input.

Captive supply (livestock)

Cattle that beef packersown or contract to purchase two weeks or more before slaughter. Packers may contract for future delivery of livestock through an exclusive marketing agreement with individual feedlots, in which price is based on market prices at the time of slaughter. Packers may also purchase cattle through forward contracts in which price is specified in advance or is based on thefutures price or some other formula.
See Also:
beef. contract. delivery. futures. livestock. marketing. Packers. price.

Carbamate(s)

A pesticidewhose primary toxic action involves inhibition of an important enzyme in the nervous system. This enzyme, called cholinesterase, is important in the process where nerve impulses bridge the gap between two nerve cells. When inhibited, the communication of nerve impulses is disrupted and eventually causes death. The carbamate pesticides contain carbaryl, aldicarb, or carbofuran.
See Also:
cholinesterase. pesticide.

Carbon cycle

The movement of forms of carbon, both organic and inorganic, between living things, inorganic matter, water (including glaciers and groundwater), and atmosphere. Living things extract and recycle carbon from their nonliving environment.
See Also:
groundwater. inorganic. organic.

Carcass evaluation

Techniques of measuring components of quality and quantity in carcasses.

Carcass merit

Desirability of a carcass relative to the quantity of components (muscle, fat, and bone), quality grade, and eating qualities.
See Also:
muscle. quality grade.

Carcass merit discount

Downward price adjustments in the base livestockprice based upon carcass characteristics, as determined by a packer's specific carcass measurement system, where the packer's system of discounts is known before sale and delivery, but the actual amount of any applicable discount is not known until after slaughter.
See Also:
delivery. discount. livestock.

Carcass merit premium

Upward price adjustments in the base livestockprice based upon carcass characteristics, as determined by a packer's specific carcass measurement system, where the packer'ssystem of premiums is known before sale and delivery, but the actual amount of any applicable premium is not known until after slaughter.
See Also:
delivery. livestock. premium.

Carcass traits

In cattle carcasses, the measurement of fat thickness, muscle, carcass weight, cutability, marbling, yield, and tenderness.
See Also:
carcass weight. cutability. marbling.

Carcass weight (dressed)

For cattle, the weight of the carcass after removal of the hide or skin, the head where it joins the spine, the forefeet at the knee joint, the hind feet at the hock joint, the large blood vessels of the abdomen and thorax, the genitourinary organs (other than the kidneys), the offals (edible and inedible), the tail, and the slaughter fats other than kidney fats. The dressed carcass weight for hogs is the weight of the carcass after removal of the lungs, heart, liver, intestines and ancillary organs, bladder, reproductive organs, and blood.
See Also:
dressed.

Carcass-by-carcass inspection

See Continuous inspection.
See Also:
Continuous inspection.

Carcinogen; carcinogenic

Cancer-causing substance.

Carding machine

At textile mills, machines that separate and align cotton fibersinto a thin web that is condensed into a rope-like strand.
See Also:
cotton.

Carding; carded

(1) A preliminary process in manufacturing spun yarn, after wool is scoured and dried. Wool is fed into a carding machinethat opens it into an even layer, removing as much burr and seed as possible and a certain amount of short or broken fibers, then draws the fibers parallel to each other to form a continuous strand offibers called a sliver. (2) A yarn preparation process where raw cotton is separated, opened, cleaned, and made into sliver.
See Also:
carding machine. cleaned. cotton. process. Wool. yarn.

Carey Act

Signed into law August 18, 1894. The purpose of the Act was to aid in the reclamation of desert lands by granting to each of the states containing desert lands an amount not to exceed one million acres and directing that the states cause these lands to be reclaimed, occupied, and irrigated. The Act was expected to be a major milestone in the reclamation of desert lands in the western states.
See Also:
irrigated. reclamation.

Cargo Preference Act (P.L. 83-644)

Signed into law August 26, 1954. Passage of cargo preferencelegislation was intended to support U.S. maritime interests. See Cargo preference.
See Also:
cargo preference.

Cargo preference

A law that requires a certain portion of goods or commodities financed by the U.S. government to be shipped on U.S.-flagged ships. The law has traditionally applied to P.L. 480 and other concessional sales or donation programs.
See Also:
concessional sales. P.L. 480.

Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act of 1983 (CBERA) (P.L. 98-67)

Signed into law August 5, 1983. The Act establishing the Caribbean Basin Initiative.
See Also:
Caribbean Basin Initiative.

Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Expansion Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-382)

Signed into law August 20, 1990. The Act that made permanent the Caribbean Basin Initiative.
See Also:
Caribbean Basin Initiative.

Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI)

A U.S. initiative signed in 1983 that gave 27 Caribbean states duty-free access to U.S. markets for most of their exports in return for certain changes in tax and general economic policy. Textiles, clothing, footwear, tuna, and petroleum are excluded. Sugar and beef are subject to special treatment.
See Also:
beef. duty.

Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM)

Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas (not a member of the Common Market, only of the Caribbean Community), Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname. First established as the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) in 1967 as a limited free trade agreement, it was superseded by CARICOM when Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago joined on July 4, 1973, to create the Caribbean Community. In July 1989, the Heads of Governments adopted several measures aimed at stimulating and promoting economic and political integration. One of the main objectives of CARICOM was a phased common external tariff on most goods by 1998.
See Also:
common external tariff. Common Market.

Carousel retaliation

Following a World Trade Organizationdecision on unfair trade practices, the offending country or countries, if failing to come into compliance, may be subject to the imposition of duties on exports as retaliation. Carousel retaliation is the practice of rotating commodities and countries affected by retaliation as a means of inducing compliance.
See Also:
retaliation. World Trade Organization.

Carrier

See Inert ingredient(s).
See Also:
Inert ingredient(s).

Carry-in

Stocks of commodities brought into the new marketing year.
See Also:
marketing year. Stocks.

Carrying capacity

See Grazing capacity, and Stocking rate(s).
See Also:
Grazing capacity. Stocking rate(s).

Carrying charge

A charge assessed against the buyer in case of unforeseen delays in opening a letter of credit or in providing available freight space. In that case, the shipper would have to carry the commodity longer than foreseen in the contract and should be reimbursed by the buyer for the additional cost of interest, insurance, and storage.
See Also:
commodity. contract. storage.

Carryover

(1) Existing supplies of a grain, oilseed, or other commodity at the beginning of a new harvest for that commodity (end of a designated marketing year); the remaining stock carried over into the next marketing year. (2) Unexpended annual funds provided during one fiscal year that are carried into the new fiscal year.
See Also:
commodity. fiscal year. grain. marketing year. oilseed.

Carryover crop insurance contract

A crop insurance contract that has been in force for at least one crop year term and continues in force for another crop year term after the cancellation date.
See Also:
crop insurance contract. crop year.

Cartel

An alliance or arrangement among enterprises in the same field of business aimed at securing an international monopoly. A cartel usually seeks to control production or the amount marketed to raise prices and maximize profits.
See Also:
alliance.

Case

The condition of tobacco with regard to its moisture content. Tobacco in proper keeping condition is said to be "in case." When tobacco is too wet, it is said to be in "high case."
See Also:
moisture content. tobacco.

Case ready

Beef cuts received by the retailer that do not require further processing before they are put in the retail case for selling.
See Also:
Beef. further. processing.

Casein

The major portion of milk protein. It is manufactured from skim milk and is usually marketed in dry form. Food-grade casein is used in processed foods, and industrial-grade casein is used in making glue, paint, and plastics. During the cheesemaking process, casein solidifies, curdles, or coagulates into cheese through the action of rennet or acids. See Acid casein and Rennet casein.
See Also:
Acid casein. milk protein. processed foods. rennet. Rennet casein. skim milk.

Caseinate(s)

Solubilized forms ofcasein that, unlikecasein, can be put into water solution. Caseinates are produced by dissolving casein in dilute alkali to form a free-flowing powder commonly used as an emulsifier in cured meats and as a milk and cream substitute.
See Also:
casein.

Cash (basis) method (accounting)

The accounting method used by most producers. All taxable income, whether received in cash or property, is included in income in the year actually or constructively received. Farm expenses are deductible only in the taxable year paid, and inventories are not used to determine income. See Accrual (basis) method (accounting).
See Also:
Accrual (basis) method (accounting). Farm.

Cash Export Certificate Program

See Wheat and Feed Grain Export Certificate Programs.
See Also:
Wheat and Feed Grain Export Certificate Programs.

Cash commodity(ies)

An actual physical commodity being bought or sold. Also Actuals.
See Also:
Actuals. commodity.

Cash contract(ing)

A sales agreement for either immediate or future delivery of a cash commodity.
See Also:
cash commodity. delivery.

Cash crop(s)

A crop grown solely for selling rather than for basic food and feed needs of the producer.
See Also:
feed. producer.

Cash expenses

The outflows from production agriculture. These do not include depreciation (that flowed out at some other point in time), perquisites to hired labor (not cash outflow or already covered as a cash expense), and farm household expenses (not part of the farming business).
See Also:
depreciation. farm.

Cash flow

The total funds generated internally by a firm for covering costs and investment. Farming presents unique cash-flow problems when income is generated only at the end of a production cycle.

Cash forward contract (sale)

See Forward contract(s)(ing).
See Also:
Forward contract(s)(ing).

Cash grain farm

A farm on which corn, grain sorghum, small grains, soybeans, or field beans and peas account for at least 50 percent of the value of products sold.
See Also:
farm. grain sorghum.

Cash grain(s)

(1) Grains commonly produced for sale (such as corn, oats, rice, and wheat), as opposed to hay and other grains that are grown principally as feed for animals or as seed. (2) Wheat, rice, corn, soybeans, barley, buckwheat, cowpeas, dry field and seed beans and peas, flaxseed, lentils, mustard seed, oats, popcorn,rye, safflower, grain sorghum, sunflowers, and other small grains.
See Also:
barley. buckwheat. feed. flaxseed. grain sorghum. grains. hay. lentils. mustard seed. rye. safflower. sunflowers.

Cash in lieu of commodities (CIL)

Under the Nutrition Program for the Elderly and Child and Adult Care Food Program, program providers can choose to provide all or part of their subsidies in cash rather than commodities. These programs have evolved primarily into cash subsidy programs.
See Also:
Child and Adult Care Food Program. Nutrition Program for the Elderly. program. subsidy.

Cash lease(d)

Relatively simple lease arrangement whereby the tenant pays a set sum for the use of a farm. The tenant receives all the income and often pays all of the expenses except for real property taxes, insurance, repairs directly associated with farm improvement, and depreciation on structures. The tenant has the major management responsibility. See Crop-share lease.
See Also:
Crop-share lease. depreciation. farm. tenant.

Cash market

A market where people buy and sell cash commodities such as a grain elevator.
See Also:
elevator. grain. market.

Cash price

Market price paid in full and on the spot for immediate delivery of a given commodity. See Cash market, andSpot market.
See Also:
Cash market. commodity. delivery. Market. Spot market.

Cash receipts

Receipts from the sale of crops and livestock plus the value of Commodity Credit Corporation loans in the year the loan is received, because producers will receive at least the loan rate amount for the crop.
See Also:
livestock. loan. loan rate.

Cash rent

See Cash lease(d).
See Also:
Cash lease(d).

Cash settlement

A method of settling certain futures or option contracts whereby the seller pays the buyer the cash value of the commodity traded, according to a procedure specified in the contract,rather than having the actuals delivered.
See Also:
actuals. commodity. futures.

Cash-out option for generic commodity certificates

The option provided to original holders of a generic commodity certificate to redeem the certificate at its face value for cash from the Commodity Credit Corporation instead of exchanging it for commodities. To encourage exchange of certificates for surplus commodities, generic certificates could not be redeemed for cash until five months after the issue date. Those who purchased or traded the certificates from the original holders were not permitted to cash-out the certificates. Also, certificates issued under the Export Enhancement Program could not be cashed out.
See Also:
certificate. Commodity Credit Corporation. Export Enhancement Program. generic commodity certificate. surplus.

Casing

Packaging material for sausage meat; it can be artificial or the lining or membrane of an organ from an animal that produces muscle foods.
See Also:
meat.

Castor (bean)

An ancient plant from which oil is extracted and used in high-performance lubricants, cosmetics, waxes, nylons, plastics, and coatings.
See Also:
plant.

Catastrophic coverage (CAT)

Safety-net crop insurance to replace ad hoc disaster assistance programs. Under reforms contained in the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000, producers will be compensated for losses up to 50 percent of their average yield at 55 percent of the expected market price. The premium is subsidized, but producers must pay an annual processing fee of $100 per crop per county, up to $200 per county, but not to exceed $600 for all counties. Limited-resource producers may have this fee waived. Sales and service of CAT policies are available through private insurance providers. Producers may purchase additional coverage crop insurance. See Additional coverage.
See Also:
ad hoc disaster assistance. Additional coverage. Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000. crop insurance. market price. premium.

Catch crop

(1) A crop usually planted very early in the cropping season. It matures early or earlier than the main crop to produce some food before the main crop matures. (2) A short-duration crop grown in between two croppings of a main crop. See Cover crop(s).
See Also:
Cover crop(s).

Category 1 species

Species for which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has enough information on biological vulnerability and threats to support their listing as endangered species or threatened species.
See Also:
endangered species. Species. threatened species.

Category 2 species

Species for which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has information suggesting the possible appropriateness for listing as endangered species or threatened species.
See Also:
endangered species. Species. threatened species. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Cattle Feed Assistance Program

See Cattle Feed Program.
See Also:
Cattle Feed Program.

Cattle Feed Program

A USDA emergency feed assistance program for producers with foundation beef herds in Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Eligible producers will be provided feed credits of $23 per head of eligiblecattle for use at a participating feed supplier of their choice. Participating feed suppliers will be reimbursed for feedmade available for livestock producers for manufactured feed suitable to be fed to the foundation beef herd. Nonfat dry milk from Commodity Credit Corporation stocks will be provided at a minimal cost to the feed manufacturers and is intended to supplement the protein in the feedmix and reduce the price of the feed to the producer. At least 75 percent of the available forage in these four states was rated as poor or very poor.
See Also:
Commodity Credit Corporation. eligible. feed. forage. foundation beef herd. Nonfat dry milk. producer. program. protein. stocks.

Cattle and Sheep Outlook

A quarterly Economic Research Servicereport containing detailed analysis and data covering the outlook for cattle and sheep, focusing on current production, slaughter, price, and trade statistics.
See Also:
Economic Research Service.

Cattle breeds

There are 275 recognized cattle breeds in the world. Cattle breeds (nondairy) in the U.S. include the Angus, Beefmaster, Brahman, Brahmousin, Brangus, Charbray, Charolais, Chianina, Florida Cracker, Galloway, Gelbray, Hereford, Limousin, Marchigiana, Piedmontese, Polled Hereford, Red Angus, Red Brangus, Salers, Salon, Santa Cruz, Santa Gertrudis, Senepol, Shorthorn, Simbrah, Simmental, South Devon, and Texas Longhorn. There are at least 50 breeds of beef cattle in the U.S., but fewer than 10 make up most of the cattle produced. See Dairy cattle breeds, Dual-purpose cattle breeds, and Triple-purpose cattle breeds.
See Also:
beef. Cattle breeds. Dairy cattle breeds. Dual-purpose cattle breeds. Triple-purpose cattle breeds.

Cattle type

Cattle purchased for slaughter, including fed steers, fed heifers, fed Holsteins and other fed dairy steers, and heifers, cows, and bulls.

Cede

The passing to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation of all or part of the net book premium and associated liability for ultimate net losses on eligible crop insurance contracts written by a reinsured company.
See Also:
eligible. Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. net book. premium.

Ceiling price

The highest price a buyer has agreed to pay for the volume of product involved in the transaction. Ceiling prices protect the buyer in an advancing market.
See Also:
market.

Census Advisory Committee on Agricultural Statistics

The USDA committee that makes recommendations on Census of Agriculture questionnaire content and design, publicity, publication plans, and data dissemination.
See Also:
Census of Agriculture.

Census of Agriculture

A count taken by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, every five years, of the number of farms, land in farms, cropacreage and production, livestock numbers and production, farm spending, farm facilities and equipment, farm tenure, value of farm products sold, farm size, and type of farm. Data are obtained for states and counties.
See Also:
acreage. farm. farm size. farms. livestock. tenure.

Centennial center(s)

See National Research and Training Virtual Center(s).
See Also:
National Research and Training Virtual Center(s).

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER)

The center within the Food and Drug Administrationresponsible for ensuring the safety and efficacy of blood and blood products, vaccines, allergenics, and biological therapeutics. CBER's regulation of biological products has expanded in recent years to include a wide variety of new products such as biotechnology products, somatic cell therapy and gene therapy, and banked human tissues.
See Also:
biological products. biotechnology. Food and Drug Administration. somatic cell.

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN)

One of six centers within the Food and Drug Administration. With a work force of about 800, the CFSAN promotes and protects the public health and economic interest by ensuring that (a) food is safe, nutritious, and wholesome, and cosmetics are safe; and (b) food and cosmetics are honestly, accurately, and informatively labeled. CFSAN regulates $240 billion of domestic foods, $15 billion of imported foods, and $15 billion of cosmetics sold across state lines. This regulation takes place from the products' point of U.S. entry or processing to their point of sale.
See Also:
Food and Drug Administration. processing.

Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP)

The USDA focal point for linking scientific research to the consumer. The CNPP oversees improvements in and revisions to the USDA food guide, coordinates nutrition promotion and education policy within the USDA, champions public/private collaborations to promote nutrition, and provides national nutrition policy analysis.

Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM)

One of six centers within the Food and Drug Administration, the CVM regulates the manufacture and distribution of food additives and drugs that will be given to animals. These include animals from which human foods are derived, as well as food additives and drugs for pet (or companion) animals.
See Also:
food additives. Food and Drug Administration.

Center-pivot irrigation

An irrigation system that pumps groundwater from a well in the center of a field through a long pipe, elevated on wheels, that pivots around the well and irrigates the field in a large circular pattern.
See Also:
groundwater. irrigation.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Located in Atlanta, an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services composed of 11 centers, institutes, and offices, aiming to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability.

Central American Common Market (CACM)

A customs union created by El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua in 1961, and joined by Costa Rica in 1963. It has a goal of economic integration, and provided for immediate free trade on 95 percent of all goods.
See Also:
customs union.

Cereal(s)

Generic name for certain grasses that produce edible seeds. The term is also used for certain products made from seeds. Cereals include wheat, oats,barley, rye, rice, millet, corn, and grain sorghum.
See Also:
barley. grain sorghum. millet. rye.

Certain polyhydric alcohols

Any polyhydric alcohol, except polyhydric alcohol produced by distillation or polyhydric alcohol used as a substitute for sugar as a sweetener in human food.
See Also:
polyhydric alcohol.

Certificate of inspection

A document certifying the condition of goods at a particular point of transit.

Certificate of origin

A document stating the country in which a commodity has been grown, milled, produced, manufactured, or assembled.
See Also:
commodity. milled.

Certificate of quota eligibility

A certificate issued by the USDA to a foreign country authorizing the entry into the U.S. of sugar produced in such country.

Certificate(s); cert(s)

See Generic commodity certificate(s).
See Also:
Generic commodity certificate(s).

Certified Lender Program (CLP)

A Farm Service Agency program that enables family farm owners and/or operatorsto establish or continue a credit relationship with a commercial agricultural lender in situations where the lender could not otherwise extend credit. The programis designed to (a) minimize paper transfers between the lender and the FSA, (b) minimize the time required for certified lenders to obtain responses to requests for guaranteed loans, (c) give additional flexibility and authority to those lenders with a proven ability to process and service FSA guaranteed loans, (d) permit lenders to certify compliance rather than provide verifications, and (e) permit maximum use of forms normally used by the lender. See Preferred lender program (PLP).
See Also:
family farm. Preferred lender program (PLP). program.

Certified agent(s)

See Certifying agent(s); certified agent(s).
See Also:
Certifying agent(s); certified agent(s).

Certified applicator(s)

Any individual who is certified under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Actto apply restricted-use pesticides. A certified applicator may be a private applicator or a commercial applicator.
See Also:
commercial applicator. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. private applicator. restricted-use pesticides.

Certified lender

See Certified Lender Program (CLP), and Preferred lender program (PLP).
See Also:
Certified Lender Program. Preferred lender program (PLP).

Certified mediation program

A program for the resolution of disputes through mediation, authorized or administered by a state, that meets the requirements for certification as established by the Farm Service Agency(budget, training, scope of issues, management, identification of relevant state statutes, and state certification). See State mediation grants.
See Also:
authorized. Farm Service Agency. mediation. program. State mediation grants.

Certified milk

Milk produced and distributed under conditions that conform with high standards for cleanliness and quality set forth by the American Association of Medical Milk Commissions.

Certified organic; certified

Under the National Organic Program, operations or portions of operations that produce or handle and sell $5000 or more of agricultural products that are intended to be labeled or represented as "100 percent organic," "organic," or "made with organic ingredients."
See Also:
handle. National Organic Program. organic.

Certified scale(s)

See Certified weight(s).
See Also:
Certified weight(s).

Certified seed(s)

Seeds used for commercial crop production produced from foundation seeds under the regulation of a legally constituted agency. Typically, the seed must be bagged and tagged with an official certification label. Certification requires field inspection, an inspector's sample for purity (kind, variety, weed seed, other crop seed, and inert and noxious weeds) and germination on clean seed that makes the grade for which the certification is sought, and labels printed and attached to the bagged seed.
See Also:
crop production. grade.

Certified weight(s)

Any weight that is obtained by a licensed weigher, using a certified scale. A scale shall be considered certified when it meets the requirements specified by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and has successfully passed inspection, at least annually, by the USDA or its approved agent, or a state Board of Weights and Measures or its approved agent. A scale, to remain certified, must be tested and pass inspection a minimum of once every 12 months or more frequently when required by the governing regulatory authority. See Affidavit weight(s).
See Also:
Affidavit weight(s). certified scale. inspection.

Certified wetland determination

Also Wetland determination. See Wetland delineation.
See Also:
Wetland delineation. Wetland determination.

Certifying agent(s); certified agent(s)

State, private, and foreign organizations or persons accredited by theAgricultural Marketing Serviceand empowered to make decisions regarding organic certification, oversight, and enforcement of organic operations under the National Organic Program.
See Also:
Agricultural Marketing Service. National Organic Program. organic. organic certification.

Cervidae; cervids

Cervids include deer, moose, elk, and caribou.

Chaff

The husks, other seed coverings, small stem pieces, and debris that are separated from the grain during harvesting or processing.
See Also:
grain. processing.

Champion communities

Under the Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community (EZ/EC) program, applicants that are not designated as either an Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community, but which have evidenced quality preparation and strong support for implementing their strategic plans, are eligible for designation as Champion communities. Champion communities are eligible for targeted technical assistance, information and outreach programs, and preferences for financial assistance towards implementing parts of their strategic plans.
See Also:
eligible. Empowerment Zone. Enterprise Community. technical assistance.

Channel catfish

The predominate warmwater, pond-raised food fish; channel catfish adapt readily to intensive production systems, eat a wide variety of natural and manufactured foods, convert feed to meat more efficiently than other catfish species, and are easier to propagate. In 1949, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission collected channel catfish from the Red River that were used as brood fish and subsequently became the ancestral stock of 95 percent of all channel catfish culturedin the U.S. today.
See Also:
brood fish. feed. food fish. meat. species.

Channel catfish culture

The production sequence of channel catfish: (a) brood fish spawning in late spring or early summer in the first year, (b) fry being placed in production ponds in the early spring of the second year, and (c) the harvesting of stocker fish (approximately one pound in size) in the fall of the second year or the winter of the third year. It will take an additional one to two years to produce channel catfish from two to five pounds in size.
See Also:
brood fish. channel catfish. fry. stocker.

Chapter 12

See Family Farmer Bankruptcy Act of 1986.
See Also:
Family Farmer Bankruptcy Act of 1986.

Character (cotton)

The strength, uniformity, and cohesive quality of cotton fibers.
See Also:
cotton. strength. uniformity.

Charges (CCC)

All fees, costs, and expenses incurred by Commodity Credit Corporationin insuring, carrying, handling, storing, conditioning, and marketing commodities tendered to CCC for loan. Charges also include any other expenses incurred by CCC in protecting the CCC's or producer's interest in such commodity. See Storage charges; storage costs.
See Also:
CCC. commodity. Commodity Credit Corporation. handling. loan. Storage charges; storage costs.

Charitable institutions (CI)

Nonprofit charitable institutions that serve meals to needy persons regularly that are eligible to receivecommodities from USDA surplus stocks (Section 416 and Section 32) as available. These charitable groups range from churches operating community kitchens for the homeless and destitute, to orphanages, hospitals, group homes for the mentally retarded, correctional institutions offering rehabilitative activities, and homes for the elderly.
See Also:
Section 32. Section 416.

Check(s)

(1) A row or plot of a selected variety included in an experiment for comparison with other treatments. (2) An egg that has a broken shell or crack in the shell, but has its shell membrane intact and the contents are not leaking. See Leaker(s).
See Also:
Leaker(s). variety.

Checkoff(s); checkoff programs

Generally, programs that require producers and importers to pay a given amount per unit of production (assessments) at point of sale in order to finance market development and research. These programs must be authorized by legislation or government rule-making and may require approval by producers in a referendum. See Commodity research and promotion program(s), and Research and promotion order.
See Also:
authorized. Commodity research and promotion program(s). market. referendum. Research and promotion order.

Cheese price

A weighted average, based on a weekly National Agricultural Statistics Servicesurvey of cheese manufacturing plants throughout the country, of the prices of cheese sold in 40-pound blocks and 500-pound barrels (38 percent moisture with a 3-cent addition to the barrel price). The price of cheese is used to calculate the Class III price under the federal milk marketing orders.
See Also:
barrel. Class III price. National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Chef ready

Cuts portioned and trimmed to food service specifications, so that the chef need only season, cook, and serve.

Chemical Use Survey

In states that supply significant amounts of a given commodity, the USDA conducts surveys to estimate agrichemical use in the production of that commodity. Commodities included in these studies are corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, rice, potatoes, the major vegetables, and the major fruits and nuts.
See Also:
commodity. cotton.

Chemical fallow

See No-till fallow.
See Also:
No-till fallow.

Chemical fixation

The process by which certain nutrient elements in a soil are converted from their available form to an unavailable form.
See Also:
nutrient. soil.

Chemical tenderization

The process of utilizing proteolytic enzymes to attack or digest complex protein within the cell fiber. Proteolytic enzymes commonly used by the meat industry are papain, bromelin, and ficin, and are activated by heat. These enzymes can be applied by the use of a pumping machine, or simply by hand dipping the retail cut into the enzyme solution. In addition, if proteolytic enzymes are incorporated into a meat product, the ingredient statement on the label must reflect this. See Mechanical tenderization.
See Also:
fiber. label. meat. Mechanical tenderization. protein. retail cut.

Chemigation

Application of pesticides through irrigation.
See Also:
irrigation.

Chemosterilant

A pesticide that interrupts reproduction of pests.
See Also:
pesticide.

Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT)

The world's largest commodity exchange for futures contracts, in terms of the number of contracts traded, and founded in 1848, the oldest commodity exchange in the U.S. The CBOT trades both financial and commodity futures, with U.S. Treasury bond futures being the most frequently traded instrument.
See Also:
commodity futures. futures.

Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME)

Founded in 1898 as the Chicago Butter and Egg Board and evolved into Chicago Mercantile Exchange in 1919. The CME (also called the "Merc") has four major product areas: futures and options contracts for interest rates, stock indexes, foreign currencies, and agricultural commodities. In November 2000, the CME became the first U.S. exchange to "demutualize" by converting its membership interests into shares of common stock that can trade separately from exchange trading privileges.
See Also:
exchange. futures.

Chicken breeds

In the U.S., these include the Brahma, Cochin, Cornish, Delaware, Dorking, Dutch Bantam, Holland, Java, Jersey Giant, Langshan, New Hampshire Red, Orpington, Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Sussex, White Rock, and Wyandotte.

Chickpeas

Also known as garbanzos or garbanzo beans. Traditionally, a buff-colored, mild-flavored, marble-sized legume high in protein and low in fat that can be purchased dried and cooked like other beans, purchased in cans ready for use, or roasted for snacks.
See Also:
protein.

Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (P.L. 89-642) (42 U.S.C. §§ 1771 et seq.)

Signed into law October 11, 1966. An Act to extend, expand, and strengthen under the USDA a measure to safeguard the health and well-being of the nation's children, and to encourage the domestic consumption of agricultural and other foods, by assisting the states, through grants-in-aid and other means, to meet more effectively the nutritional needs of our children. The Act extended the Special Milk Program, which had been functioning since 1954 under a separate authorization(P.L. 85-478), and made it a part of the Child Nutrition Act. A pilot School Breakfast Program was authorized for two years for schools drawing attendance from areas where poor economic conditions existed and to those schools where a substantial proportion of the children enrolled must travel long distances daily. The breakfasts were required to meet the nutritional standards established by the USDA, on the basis of tested nutritional research. Schools were required to serve the meal free of charge or at reduced charge to children who were unable to pay the full charge, and as in the case of the National School Lunch Program, there could be no segregation of, or discrimination against, any child because of inability to pay. The Act also centralized school food programs under the USDA. The goal was to promote uniform standards of nutrition, sanitation, management of funds, supervision, guidance, use of equipment and space, and some guarantee of program continuity.
See Also:
authorization. authorized. National School Lunch Program. program. School Breakfast Program. Special Milk Program.

Child Nutrition Commodity Support Program

See Child Nutrition Programs.
See Also:
Child Nutrition Programs.

Child Nutrition Programs

Includes the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program,and Summer Food Service Program, which are designed to assist state and local governments in providing food services that serve healthful, nutritious meals to children in public and nonprofit private schools, child care institutions, summer recreation programs, and certain adult day care centers.
See Also:
Summer Food Service Program.

Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 1989 (101-147)

Signed into law November 10, 1989. The Act amended the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to extend certain authorities contained in such Acts through FY1995. It amended the National School Lunch Act to eliminate certain duplicate provisions, amended the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to provide for expansion of the School Breakfast Program, and revised provisions for determination of total commodity assistance for the school lunch and child care food programs under the NSLA.
See Also:
Child Nutrition Act of 1966. commodity. National School Lunch Act. School Breakfast Program.

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

USDA subsidies are available to nonprofit child care centers, family and group day care homes, and certain adult day care centers for meals and snacks. Enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-193) provided for reimbursements based on income testing in family day care homes.

Children, Youth, & Families At Risk program

Smith-Lever 3(d) program that focuses on America's children, youth, and families to help promote and provide positive, productive, secure environments and contributions to communities and the nation. See Smith-Lever 3(d) (funds).
See Also:
Smith-Lever 3(d) (funds).

Chilled-carcass weight

The carcass weight after it has completely cooled off, resulting in shrinkage from thehot-carcass weight.
See Also:
carcass weight. hot-carcass weight. shrinkage.

Chisel planter; chisel plow

A system for breaking and loosening soil without inversion. Most of the residue remains on the surface.
See Also:
residue. soil.

Chiseling and subsoiling

Loosening the soil, without inverting and with a minimum of mixing of the surface soil, to shatter restrictive layers below normal plow depth that inhibit water movement or root development.
See Also:
soil.

Chlorophenoxy herbicides

Herbicides used for control of broadleaved weeds. The common chemical names of chlorophenoxy active ingredients include 2,4-D; 2,4-DP; 2,4,5-T; MCPP; MCPA; and 2,4-DB.
See Also:
2,4,5-T. 2,4-D.

Cholera

A serious foodborne illness caused by drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated shellfish. Cholera can cause a rapid loss of body fluids, shock, and death. See Foodborne illness(es).
See Also:
foodborne illness. Foodborne illness(es).

Cholinesterase

An enzyme found in animals that regulates nerve impulses.

Cholinesterase inhibitors

See Carbamate(s).
See Also:
Carbamate(s).

Chronic food insecurity

A state of food insecurity that arises and endures as a result of long-term, not easily changed conditions, such as the lack of access to land. See Transient food insecurity.
See Also:
food insecurity. Transient food insecurity.

Chronic vulnerability

Long-term conditions that predispose a particular group or region to food insecurity.
See Also:
food insecurity.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD)

A fatal, neurological disease of farmed and wild deer and elk. The disease has been identified in wild and captive mule deer, white-tailed deer, North American elk, and captive black-tailed deer. CWD belongs to the family of diseases known transmissable spongiborm encephopathy (TSE).

Chuck Culver

The drafter, compiler, and babysitter of this glossary. His e-mail address is cculver@uark.edu.

Circle of poison

The exportation of pesticides for use in other countries that are not registered for use in the U.S. Foods treated with these pesticides are then imported back to the U.S. for consumption.
See Also:
pesticides.

Circuit breaker tax relief

A tax abatement program that permits eligible landowners to take some or all of the property tax they pay on farmland and farm buildings as a credit to offset their state income tax. Generally, producers are eligible for a credit when property taxes exceed a set percentage of their income.
See Also:
eligible. farm. farmland. program.

Circuit rider program

See Rural Water Circuit Rider (Technical Assistance) Program.
See Also:
Rural Water Circuit Rider (Technical Assistance) Program.

Circumvention

(1) Measures taken by exporters to evade antidumping or countervailing duties. (2) Avoiding quotas and other restrictions by altering the country of origin of a product.
See Also:
dumping.

Citrus canker

A highly contagious bacterial disease that attacks all parts of citrus plants, including the fruit. Symptoms include brown, raised lesions surrounded by an oily, water-soaked base and a yellow ring or halo. Citrus canker is one of the most devastating diseases known to attack citrus. It does not, however, present any health risks to humans or any animals.

Citrus tristeza (virus)

A virus that causes the collapse and death of all types of citrus trees through the sudden drying and wilting of leaves.

Civic agriculture

Innovative food production and marketing initiatives designed to sustain and strengthen farm families, local communities, and natural resources by linking producers, communities, and consumers.
See Also:
farm. marketing. resources.

Civil Rights Action Team (CRAT)

Established December 12, 1996, by the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a comprehensive audit of civil rights in USDA to determine how both employees as well as stakeholders were treated. The team developed 92 recommendations which were compiled in the report released in February 1997: "Civil Rights at the United States Department of Agriculture –A Report by the Civil Rights Action Team." The USDA committed to take action on all 92 recommendations.

Clarification

The process of removing suspended material. In milk processing, clarification is achieved by centrifugal treatment, which removes sediment (extraneous matter) and somatic cells.
See Also:
process. processing. sediment.

Class I (milk); (use)

Under the classified pricing system ofmilk marketing orders, milk used for fluid milk products.
See Also:
classified pricing. fluid milk.

Class I butterfat price

Price based on the Class III/Class IV butterfat price, plus the Class I differential.
See Also:
Class I differential.

Class I differential(s)

Added to the base price of milk in a region to determine the minimum price processors must pay for milk used for fluid consumption. The USDA's differential pricing structure is based on the location value of milk –that is, calculating how far a milk consumption region is from a milk production region, and establishing a minimum price that will attract sufficient milk to the market. See Differential(s).
See Also:
base price. differential. Differential(s). location value. market.

Class I price

The price per hundredweight that is 0.965 times the Class I skim milk price, plus the Class I differential, plus 3.5 times the Class I butterfat price. See Class price(s).
See Also:
Class I butterfat price. Class I differential. Class I skim milk. Class price(s). hundredweight.

Class I price mover

See Higher of (provision) (dairy), and Price mover.
See Also:
Higher of (provision) (dairy). Price mover.

Class I skim milk price

The price that is the higher of two formulas: the Class III formula, using cheese, butter, and whey prices; or the Class IV formula, using nonfat dry milk prices; plus a Class I differential.
See Also:
Class I. Class III. Class IV. differential. higher of. nonfat dry milk. whey.

Class II (milk); (use)

Under the classified pricing system of federal milk marketing orders, milk used for fluid cream or in soft, perishable manufactured dairy products such as ice cream, cottage cheese, and yogurt.
See Also:
classified pricing.

Class II butterfat price

The Class IV butterfat price plus 0.007 cents per pound.
See Also:
Class IV butterfat price.

Class II nonfat solids price

The Class II skim milk price divided by 9.
See Also:
Class II skim milk price.

Class II price

The price per hundredweight that equals the Class II skim milk price times 0.965, plus the Class II butterfat price times 3.5. See Class price(s).
See Also:
Class II butterfat price. Class II skim milk price. Class price(s). hundredweight.

Class II skim milk price

The price that equals the Class IV skim milk price (calculated from the nonfat dry milk powder price) plus 70 cents per hundredweight.
See Also:
Class IV skim milk price. hundredweight. nonfat dry milk. powder.

Class III (milk); (use)

Under the classified pricing system of federal milk marketing orders, milk used in most cheese, including cream cheese.
See Also:
classified pricing.

Class III butterfat price

The same price formula used in the Class IV butterfat price, based on butter prices.
See Also:
Class IV butterfat price.

Class III price

The cheese price based on the value of the principal components of cheese. The Class III price per hundredweight shall be 0.965 times the Class III skim milk price, plus 3.5 times the Class III butterfat price.
See Also:
cheese price. Class III. Class III butterfat price. Class III skim milk price. hundredweight.

Class III protein price

The price formula is (a) the National Agricultural Statistics Service weighted cheese price, minus the $0.165 make allowance, times 1.383 (the yield effect of one pound of protein at the farm); this resultis then added to (b) the NASS weighted cheese price, minus the $0.165 make allowance, times 1.572 (the yield effect of one pound of butterfat at the farm); then minus the butterfat price times 0.9 (butterfatretention); then multiplied by 1.17 (butterfat to protein ratio in producer milk).
See Also:
butterfat. butterfat at the farm. butterfat price. cheese price. make allowance. National Agricultural Statistics Service. producer. protein. protein at the farm.

Class III skim milk price

Price based on the value of milk going into cheese and cheese whey, minus the value of the butterfat if it had been used for making butter. This formula causes the Class III skim milk price to go up with a higher cheese price and down with a higher butter price.
See Also:
butterfat. cheese price. Class III. skim milk. whey.

Class III-A

A special class and price established in 1993 for milk used to produce nonfat dry milk in plants regulated by federal milk marketing orders. Class III-A was effectively replaced with adoption of Class IV under the federal milk marketing order reforms mandated by the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996.
See Also:
Class IV. Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996. federal milk marketing order. nonfat dry milk.

Class IV (milk); (use)

Milk used to produce butter and all milk powders.

Class IV butterfat price

The National Agricultural Statistics ServiceGrade AA butter price per pound, minus the butter make allowance of $0.115 multiplied by the farm-to-plant loss adjustment factor of 1.20.
See Also:
make allowance. National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Class IV nonfat milk solids price

The National Agricultural Statistics Service survey price for nonfat dry milk minus the make allowance of $0.14 times 0.99 (the factor that includes farm-to-plant loss adjustment,solids ending up as dry buttermilk powder, and moisture).
See Also:
buttermilk. farm-to-plant loss adjustment. make allowance. National Agricultural Statistics Service. nonfat dry milk. powder. solids.

Class IV price

The price for milk used for butter and powdered milks based on the value of the components going into the production of these products. The Class IV price per hundredweight shall be 0.965 times the Class IV skim milk price, plus 3.5 times the Class IV butterfat price.
See Also:
Class IV. Class IV butterfat price. Class IV skim milk price. components. hundredweight.

Class IV skim milk price

Price based on nonfat dry milk powder prices. It is the nonfat solids price times 9.
See Also:
nonfat dry milk. nonfat solids price.

Class action

A lawsuit brought by a group of people on behalf of themselves and others who have similar claims. See Pigford v. Veneman.
See Also:
Pigford v. Veneman.

Class member(s)

One who has consented to be a member of a class action lawsuit. See Pigford v. Veneman.
See Also:
class action. Pigford v. Veneman.

Class price(s)

For skim milk and butterfat, calculated from the prices of manufactured dairy products. The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service asks dairy manufacturing plants around the U.S. what price they were paid for their products during the week; each week NASS calculates a weighted average of the responses. These are the prices used in the class price formulas.
See Also:
butterfat. dairy products. manufactured. National Agricultural Statistics Service. skim milk.

Class(es)

(1) See Class action, and Class member(s). (2) See Classification(s); classifying. (3) Under milk marketing orders, Class I, Class II, Class III, and Class IV.
See Also:
Class action. Class I. Class II. Class III. Class IV. Class member(s). Classification(s); classifying.

Classer

See Cotton classer; cotton grader.
See Also:
Cotton classer;.

Classification(s); classifying

(1) The systematic grouping of plants based on natural relationships or botanical classification. (2) For cotton, the classification of samples based on official standards. Leaf grade, preparation, andextraneous matter determinations are made by cotton classers. All other fiber properties of both upland cotton and American Pima cotton are determined by High Volume Instrument (HVI) systems. The HVI systems currently consist of instrument measurements for fiber length, length uniformity, strength, micronaire, and color. See Cotton classer; cotton grader, and Cotton classing; cotton classification. (3) See Classified price plan. (4) See Land classification, and Soil classes (classification). (5) See Asset (quality) classification(s). (6) See Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).
See Also:
American Pima. Asset (quality) classification(s). Classified price plan. color. cotton. Cotton classer;. Cotton classing; cotton classification. extraneous matter. fiber. fiber length. Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). High Volume Instrument. Land classification. Leaf grade. length uniformity. micronaire. preparation. Soil classes (classification). strength. upland cotton.

Classified

(1) See Classification(s); classifying. (2) Under milk marketing orders, milk is classified and priced based upon the uses of the milk. See Classified price plan, and Classified pricing. (3) See Asset (quality) classification(s).
See Also:
Asset (quality) classification(s). Classification(s); classifying. Classified price plan. Classified pricing.

Classified price plan

A plan providing different classes and prices for different uses of milk. Milk used in fluid products is placed in Class I, the highest-priced class. Milk used to produce ice cream, yogurt, and other soft products is placed in Class II. Butter, cheese, nonfat dry milk, and other storable manufactured dairy products are placed in Class III and Class IV.
See Also:
class. Class I. Class II. Class III. Class IV. nonfat dry milk. soft products. storable.

Classified pricing

A structure of prices that differ according to category of use. In particular, it is the federal milk marketing order pricing system under which regulated processors pay for Grade A milk according to the class in which it is used. See Classified price plan.
See Also:
class. Classified price plan. federal milk marketing order. Grade A milk.

Classing

See Classification(s); classifying.
See Also:
Classification(s); classifying.

Clay(s)

The smallest particle of soil, some forms of which swell or shrink depending on whether wet or dry. See Texture.
See Also:
soil. Texture.

Claypan

A dense layer of subsoil, composed of clay, that resists water percolation.
See Also:
clay. percolation. subsoil.

Clayton Act of 1914 (15 U.S.C. §§ 12-27)

Signed into law Oct. 15, 1914. This Act authorized producers to form cooperatives and provided that antitrust laws are not to be construed so as to forbid their existence. However, it only applied to nonstock organizations.
See Also:
authorized.

Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 7401-7671q)

Signed into law July 14, 1955, and amended in 1963, 1965-67, 1969-71, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1980-83, 1988, 1990, 1991, and 1994-96. The Act was originally enacted in 1955, but the amendments made to the Act in 1970 established the core of the clean air program as it is known today. The primary objective of the Act is to establish federal standards for air pollutants from stationary and mobile sources, and to work with the states to regulate polluting emissions. The Act is designed to improve air quality in areas of the country that do not meet federal standards and to prevent significant deterioration in areas where air quality exceeds those standards.
See Also:
program.

Clean Water Act of 1972 (CWA) (P.L. 92-500) (33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 to 1387)

Refers to the main federal law for protecting water quality; originally known as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA). The Act contains nonpoint source pollution provisions dealing with agricultural runoff, and establishes the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System for pollution permits that applies to concentrated animal feeding operations.
See Also:
agricultural runoff. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. nonpoint source pollution.

Clean cultivation

Mechanical removal of weeds and the keeping of the surface of the soil loose to lessen weed-seed germination.
See Also:
soil.

Clean till(age); clean culture

A process of frequent cultivation or plowing during the growing season to prevent growth of all vegetation except the particular crop desired.
See Also:
growing season.

Clean(ed)(s); cleaning

The phase or phases of the post-harvest operation during which impurities (such as dirt, twine, pebbles, hulls, chaff, stems, seeds, grease, sweat, twigs, and plant, animal, and insect waste) mixed with the commodity mass are removed. See Dockage.
See Also:
commodity. Dockage. plant.

Cleaned-in-place (CIP)

The process of cleaning milk-handling equipment by circulating washing solutions through them without disassembly.
See Also:
assembly.

Cleanliness (grain)

The visual inspection of grain and oilseeds, and stowage space. Grainand oilseeds are inspected for the presence of foreign material after dockage has been removed. Stowage space is inspected for remnants of previous cargoes, rust or paint that might come loose and contaminate the commodities, animal filth, rodents, decaying matter, or any unsanitary conditions or unknown substances.
See Also:
dockage. foreign material. Grain. oilseeds.

Clear-cut(ting)

Complete tree clearance. Strictly speaking, the removal of the entire standing crop; although in actual practice, it may refer to exploitation that leaves much unsalable material still standing.

Clearing and forwarding agent

A licensed firm or individual who takes responsibility for passing documents to customs and port authorities, and often for moving the commodities out of port to warehouses.

Clearing margin(s)

Financial safeguards to ensure that clearing members perform on their customer's open futures and options contracts. Clearing margins are distinct from customer margins that individual buyers and sellers of futures and options contracts are required to deposit with brokers. See Clearing member(s), and Customer margin(s).
See Also:
Clearing member(s). Customer margin(s). futures. options.

Clearing member(s)

A member of an exchange clearinghouse. Memberships in clearing organizations are usually held by companies. Clearing members are responsible for the financial commitments of customers that clear through their firms. See Clearinghouse.
See Also:
clearinghouse. exchange.

Clearinghouse

An agency or separate corporation of a futures exchange that is responsible for settling trading accounts, clearing trades, collecting and maintaining margin monies, regulating deliveries, and reporting trading data. A clearinghouse is a third party to all futures and options contracts, acting as a buyer to every clearing member seller and a seller to every clearing member buyer.
See Also:
clearing member. exchange. futures. margin. options.

Climax species

Plant species that will remain essentially unchanged in terms of species composition for as long as the site remains undisturbed.
See Also:
Plant. species.

Clip

One season's yield of wool.
See Also:
wool.

Clone

A group of cells or tissues that are in principle genetically identical.

Cloning

In biotechnology, making identical copies of a gene.
See Also:
biotechnology.

Close breeding

A form of inbreeding, such as mating brother to sister, sire to daughter, and son to dam.
See Also:
dam. inbreeding. sire.

Close-ended grant(s)

A mandatory grant where the award constitutes an upper limit on the amount of funds the federal government may pay for the activities. The amount of the award is usually determined on a formula basis. For this reason, close-ended mandatory grants are sometimes referred to as formula grants. Block grants are close-ended grants. See Grant(s).
See Also:
formula. Grant(s). mandatory grant.

Closed herd

A herd in which no outside breeding stock are introduced.
See Also:
breeding.

Closing option transaction

Cancels a previously established long- orshort-option position.
See Also:
long. option. position. short.

Club wheat

A triticum aestivum subspecies compactum. Varieties of this subspecies may be either of winter or of a spring type. The kernels are small and flattened, and are principally used in the manufacture of flour.
See Also:
species.

Co-dominant

Species in a mixed crop that are equally numerous and vigorous. In silviculture, it is one of the four main crown classes recognized on a basis of relative status and condition in the crop, more particularly for establishing thinning grades for pure regular crops; the trees have their crowns in the upper canopy, but are less free than the dominants and freer and taller than the dominateds.
See Also:
canopy. silviculture. Species. thinning.

Co-packer

Anyone who adds value to a licensed manufacturer's product, or produces a product for export by a licensed manufacturer.

Co-packing

One processor who processesfood for distribution by another company.
See Also:
processor.

Co-precipitate(s)

A mixture that contains whey proteins used in food products. Calcium chloride or dilute acid is added to skim milk, and the mixture then is heated to precipitate bothcasein and whey proteins. The precipitatedproteins next are washed and dried to produce an insoluble protein mixture. Co-precipitates have approximately 5 to 10 percent moisture and 89 to 94 percent protein. Co-precipitates are insoluble unless they are treated with neutralizers.
See Also:
acid. casein. protein. skim milk.

CoBank

A $24 billion international cooperative bank that is part of the Farm Credit System. CoBank specializes in providing credit to cooperatives, agribusiness, rural communications and energy systems, Farm Credit associations, and agricultural export businesses. CoBank has banking centers across the U.S. with representative offices in Mexico City, Singapore, and Buenos Aires, as well as a national office in Denver, Colorado. To facilitate the export of U.S. agricultural products, CoBank has 612 correspondent banking relationships in 85 countries. CoBank is the successor in interest to the former National Bank for Cooperatives.
See Also:
agribusiness. cooperative. export. Farm Credit System. National Bank for Cooperatives. rural.

Coagulation; coagulate(s)

A step in cheese manufacture when casein is clotted by the action of rennetor acids.
See Also:
casein. rennet.

Coarse grains

Corn, barley, oats, grain sorghum, rye, and millet.
See Also:
barley. grain sorghum. millet. rye.

Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-583) (16 USC §§ 1451-1464)

Signed into law October 27, 1972. An Act, as amended in 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1986, 1990, 1992, and 1996, to establish a voluntary national program within the Department of Commerce to encourage coastal states to develop and implement coastal zone management plans. Funds were authorized for cost-sharinggrants to the states to develop their programs. Subsequent to federal approval of their plans, grants would be awarded for implementation purposes. In order to be eligible for federal approval, each state's plan was required to define boundaries of the coastal zone, to identify uses of the area to be regulated by the state, the mechanism (criteria, standards, or regulations) for controlling such uses, and broad guidelines for priorities of uses within the coastal zone.
See Also:
authorized. coastal zone. eligible. program.

Coastal plain(s)

Any plain of unconsolidated fluvial or marine sediment that has its margin on the shore of a large body of water, particularly the ocean.
See Also:
sediment.

Coastal waters

(1) In the Great Lakes area, the waters within the territorial jurisdiction of the U.S. consisting of the Great Lakes, their connecting waters, harbors, roadsteads, and estuary-type areas such as bays, shallows, and marshes. (2) Those waters, adjacent to the shorelines, that contain a measurable quantity or percentage of sea water, including, but not limited to, sounds, bays, lagoons, bayous, ponds, and estuaries.

Coastal zone

The coastal waters (including the lands therein and thereunder) and the adjacent shorelands (including the waters therein and thereunder), strongly influenced by each other and in proximity to the shorelines of the several coastal states, including islands, transitional and intertidal areas, salt marshes, wetlands, and beaches.
See Also:
coastal waters. wetlands.

Coated seed

(1) Coating used to make seeds uniform in size to improve the efficiency of planting equipment. (2) Coatings containing fertilizer, pesticides, or other additives.
See Also:
fertilizer.

Coccidiosis

Protozoan infection in the intestines of cattle that causes permanent damage leading to loss of gain and often death if untreated.
See Also:
gain.

Cochran Fellowship Program (7 U.S.C. § 3293)

Begun in 1984 and administered by the Foreign Agricultural Service, the program provides international participants with short-term technical instruction, practical field observations, and hands-on experience with a goal of providing actual trade benefits to the U.S. Participants attend trade shows, meet with U.S. agribusiness, attend policy and food safety seminars, and receive technical training related to short- and long-term market development.
See Also:
agribusiness. Foreign Agricultural Service. market.

Codex Alimentarius

The international standards-setting organization on food safety and science issues.

Codling moth

The common name for a speciesof moth, the larvae of which is known as the apple worm. Codling moths are common wherever apples are grown. They also attack pears, quinces, and English walnuts.
See Also:
species.

Coggins test

A test that screens the blood sample of horses for exposure to the virus causing Equine Infectious Anemia. Horses that are "Coggins positive" may not show any signs of clinical disease but act as a reservoir.
See Also:
Equine Infectious Anemia.

Cohort

A group of animals that share a common event within a defined period of time.

Cold germination test

A seed germination test designed to measure the ability of seeds to germinate under high soil-moisture content and low soil temperature. This vigortest simulates early season adverse field conditions and usually represents the lowest germination that would be expected from a seed lot planted under such conditions. A set number of seeds are placed in a high-moisture soil mix for seven days at a low temperature, then provided optimal heat for four more days. The test measures the percentage of healthy seedlings that emerge a certain height above the soil.
See Also:
germinate. seed germination test. soil. vigor.

Cold pasteurized

See Irradiation (pasteurization).
See Also:
Irradiation (pasteurization).

Cold storage

Product in refrigerated warehouses.

Colic

Abdominal irregularities in horses.

Coliform

A general term for a group of bacteria. It has special significance in public health because the bacteria inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals. Their presence in water indicates fecal pollution and potentially adverse contamination by pathogens.
See Also:
pathogens.

Collateral acquisition

Under the nonrecourse loan program, if a producer does not redeem the commodity underloan by the end of the loan term, the Commodity Credit Corporation will take title and possession of the commodity pledged as collateral.
See Also:
commodity. Commodity Credit Corporation. loan. producer.

Collection

A gathering of different strains, varieties, or species for preservation until evaluated or multiplied. A set of varieties used and maintained by a researcher is called a working collection.
See Also:
specie