Glossary Entries beginning with S

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Glossary of Agricultural Production, Programs and Policy

4th Edition

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SEARCH grants for small communities

Under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Secs. 6301-6304), a program to allocate $1 million each year to each USDA state Rural Development director. With guidance from an independent citizen's council in that state, the director makes grants that would help communities with less than 2,500 residents address one or more environmental projects, so as to be in compliance with state or federal environmental law by helping eligible communities fund required initial feasability or environmental reviews.
See Also:
eligible. Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. program. Rural Development.

SMV

A red triangular-shaped sign that is attached to the rear of afarm vehicle indicating that the vehicle is a "slow-moving vehicle."
See Also:
farm.

Saccharimeter

Instrument used in sugar analysis to measure the amount of rotation of polarized light when passed through a sugar solution. The amount of rotation provides an estimate of the amount of sucrose solution. See Polarimeter, and Polarization (pol).
See Also:
Polarimeter. Polarization. sucrose.

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) (P.L. 93-523)

Signed into law December 16, 1974, and amended in 1986 and 1996. The Act, Title XIV of the Public Health Service Act, is the key federal law for protecting public water systems from harmful contaminants. The Act directs theEnvironmental Protection Agencyto insure safe drinking water, establish and enforce water-quality standards to protect the public, control underground injection of wastes that might contaminate water supplies, and protect groundwater. See Wellhead Protection Program (WHPP).
See Also:
Environmental Protection Agency. groundwater. Wellhead Protection Program (WHPP).

Safe-moisture level

A level of moisture low enough to prevent the growth of undesirable microorganisms in the finished product under the intended conditions of manufacturing, storage, and distribution.
See Also:
storage. undesirable microorganisms.

Safeguards

Temporary and selective measures (such as increasedtariffs, tariff-rate quotas, or quantitative restrictions) explicitly designed to slow imports in order to enable a particular industry to adjust to heightened competition from foreign suppliers.

Safened seed

Seed that has been chemically treated with a herbicide antidote which protects the seedling from herbicide damage.
See Also:
herbicide.

Safety net

(1) Protection fromfluctuating crop prices through marketing assistance loans, crop insurance, and revenue assurance/insurance. (2) The three-tiered program of price-supports and income supports: marketing assistance loans, direct payments, and counter-cyclical payments.
See Also:
crop insurance. program.

Safflower; safflowerseed

A source of oil used in cooking, cosmetics, paints, and medicines.

Sale barn

The local auction business for all types of animals, typically cattle, that have not been finished.
See Also:
finished.

Sales class(es)

Farms divided into classes, based upon the amount of total sales of agricultural products. The classes are (a) under $10,000; (b) $10,000 to $49,999; (c) $50,000 to $99,999; (d) $100,000 to $249,999; (e) $250,000 to $499,999; and (f) $500,000 and above. Farms with sales of $500,000 or more make up three percent of all farms, but 52 percent of all agricultural sales.
See Also:
Farms.

Sales closing date(s)

The date established by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation as the last date that a producer may apply for an eligible crop insurance contract on a crop in a specific county.
See Also:
crop insurance contract. eligible. Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. producer.

Saline soil

A soil containing enough soluble salts to impair its productivity for plants.
See Also:
soil.

Salmonella enteritidis (SE)

A foodborne illness associated with raw and undercooked eggs that can cause death in the elderly, infants, and those with weakened immune systems. See Foodborne illness(es).
See Also:
foodborne illness. Foodborne illness(es).

Salmonella, salmonellosis

A common bacterial form of food poisoning transmitted by food, water, and direct contact. Salmonellosis can cause fever, abortion, and death in cattle and swine.

Salt-tolerant vegetation

Special areas planted to vegetation capable of growing in high-saline environments and of reducing saline seepage.

Saltwater intrusion

The invasion of saltwater into freshwater aquifers in coastal and inland areas. This condition can be caused when groundwater, which charges the aquifer, is withdrawn faster than it is recharged by precipitation.
See Also:
aquifer. groundwater.

Salvage cattle

See Cull.
See Also:
Cull.

Salvage cutting

The exploitation of trees that are dead, dying, or deteriorating (e.g., overmature or materially damaged by fire, wind, insects, fungi, or other injurious agencies), before their timber becomes worthless.
See Also:
overmature.

Salvage sale

The removal of dead, dying, deteriorating, or susceptible trees to prevent the spread of pests orpathogens; to promote healthy, vigorous stands of trees; and to aid in the recovery of trees damaged by fire, wind, insects, fungi, or other injurious agents before the timber becomes worthless for harvesting.
See Also:
pathogens. pests.

Sample grade(s)

The federal grain and oilseeds standard that identifies commodities as having qualities unsuited for normal end-users. The designation is used for grain and oilseeds that do not come within the grade requirements of any of the numerical grades; have an unacceptable odor; or are contaminated with stones, animal filth, toxic substances or other inferior conditions or are otherwise of distinctly low quality.
See Also:
contaminated. distinctly low quality. grade. grain. numerical grades. oilseeds. stones.

Sample(s); sampling

(1) In scouting, the portion of an insect population collected in a prescribed manner upon which a judgment is made about the entire population. (2) The testing of a representative portion of a commodity delivery for grade and classification purposes. (3) The withdrawal of a representative portion of a grain from a container or carrier by use of a specialized probe in order to conduct a grain inspection. See Official sample-lot inspection service, and Submitted-sample inspection service. (4) See Cotton classer; cotton grader.
See Also:
classification. Cotton classer;. grade. grain. grain inspection. Official sample-lot inspection service. Submitted-sample inspection service.

Sample-lot inspection service

See Official sample-lot inspection service.
See Also:
Official sample-lot inspection service.

Sampler

After grain is unloaded, a sampler (located before or after the scale) sweeps a sampling container (a pelican) through the grain stream once every sampling period, usually between every 12 and 25 seconds. The grain flows directly to an inspection laboratory where it is graded. Grain arriving by barge to an export elevator must be officially weighed, but official inspection is optional. See Belt(s),Leg, Marine leg, and Tripper.
See Also:
Belt(s). elevator. graded. grain. inspection. Leg. Marine leg. Tripper.

Sandy loam

Soil made up primarily of sand (50-60 percent), with the remainder being silt (20-30 percent) and clay (approximately 20 percent). It is commonly referred to as good cotton soil. See Texture.
See Also:
clay. cotton. silt. Soil. Texture.

Sanitary and phytosanitary measures

Measures adopted by governments to protect animal, plant, or human health. International trading rules have always recognized the right of countries to implement such necessary measures, although vague standards encouraged some countries to adopt such measures for the purposes of trade restriction. Under the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, GATT disciplines will be imposed on the use of health measures to restrict trade. Trade-restrictive measures taken by an importing country must be based on science, including the use of risk assessment techniques.
See Also:
Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. GATT. plant. risk assessment.

Saplings

Live, vigorous, and well-formed trees of commercial species, usually one to five inches in diameter at breast-height.
See Also:
diameter at breast-height. species. vigor.

Saturated; saturated fat; saturated fatty acid(s)

See Fatty acid(s).
See Also:
Fatty acid(s).

Saved seed(s)

Seed that is saved from a previous harvest to be used for planting in a subsequent planting cycle. Saved seed primarily comes from self-pollinated crops such as wheat, soybeans, and rice. Saved seed can become an issue if the seeds are protected under patent law or the Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA). Generally, producers using patented seed varieties may only plant the seed for one year's crop; they are prohibited from collecting seeds from their crop to plant the following crop cycle. Producers using seeds registered under the PVPA cannot sell saved seeds, but may use saved seeds for their own use. See Terminator seeds.
See Also:
plant. Plant Variety Protection Act. self-pollinated. Terminator seeds.

Saw gin

A cotton gin which utilizes a series of fine-toothed circular discs slightly protruding through narrow slits of a plate holding the seed cotton. The teeth catch and pull the fiber from the cotton seeds that cannot pass through the slits. This type of gin can cause substantial fiber damage if not properly regulated, but has the advantage of being fast. See Gin(s)(ning)(ned), and Roller (type) gin(s).
See Also:
cotton. fiber. gin. Gin(s)(ning)(ned). Roller (type) gin(s). seed cotton.

Saw logs; sawlogs

Logs meeting minimum standards of diameter, length, and defect. The logs must be at least eight feet long, and have a minimum diameter inside bark of six inches for softwoods and eight inches forhardwoods.
See Also:
defect. diameter inside bark.

Sawtimber

Trees suitable for production of saw logs.
See Also:
saw logs.

Scab

See Fusarium.
See Also:
Fusarium.

Scabies

A highly contagious, serious disease of sheep, primarily, that causes loss of wool due to the infestation of mites. The mites burrow into the skin and are covered eventually by scabs. The mites continue to feed under the scabs and can cause death if untreated. The continual formation of scabs also lifts the wool hairs out by the roots.
See Also:
wool.

Scale ticket

A ticket, issued upon the delivery of grain to a public warehouse or the removal of grain from a warehouse, that typically notes the name of the person delivering grain, the date of delivery, and the gross amount of grain delivered. Scale tickets are not warehouse receipts. See Warehouse receipt(s).
See Also:
delivery. grain. warehouse. Warehouse receipt(s).

Scaling

The determination of the gross and net volume of timber using volumetric units.

Scarification

(1) The loosening of top soil or the breaking up of the forest floor to improve conditions for seed germination or tree planting. (2) The nicking or abrasion of the hard seed coat of some species which allows water and oxygen into the seed to aid germination.
See Also:
soil. species. top.

Schedule A (federally excepted) (appointment)

Appointment authority issued by the Office of Personnel Management for the USDA to appoint and employ individuals in the Cooperative Extension Service (CES) in a joint appointment arrangement between USDA and the CES organization in the land-grant college or university. The joint appointment was dependent upon an appointment in the land-grant organization. The appointment had to be a regular reoccurring position with at least a 50 percent extension-related assignment under the CES and have responsibility for being a representative of the federal system. This authority was terminated by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Sec. 7220).
See Also:
Cooperative Extension Service. extension. Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.

Scheme or device

In terms of payment limitations, the attempt to structure business entities in order to defraud the government by illegally evading the limitations. The Farm Service Agency defines scheme or device as an action adopted to defeat the purpose of a program through misrepresentation of fact affecting a program determination (7 U.S.C. § 1308-2).
See Also:
Farm Service Agency. program.

School Breakfast Program (SBP)

Made a permanent program in 1975. Provides financial and commodity assistance to states to maintain the provision of nourishing breakfasts in schools and residential child care institutions. These meals are free or at reduced or full prices, depending on the same income eligibility guidelines as used for the National School Lunch Program.
See Also:
commodity. National School Lunch Program.

School Lunch Program

See National School Lunch Program.
See Also:
National School Lunch Program.

Science and Education Resources Development (SERD)

The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service division responsible for strengthening key components of the infrastructure undergirding U.S. food and agricultural research, education, and extension and for building coalitions and alliances with public and private organizations. This primarily entails providing national leadership through the Office of Higher Education Programs, the International Programs Office, and the Current Research Information System.
See Also:
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. Current Research Information System. extension. Higher Education Programs. International Programs.

Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP)

TheEnvironmental Protection Agency's Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide ActScientific Advisory Panel provides scientific advice on pesticides and pesticide-related issues as to the effect of proposed and final regulations, EPA guidance, and registration actions on human health and the environment.
See Also:
pesticide. registration.

Scientist year (SY)

Unit of measurement that equates to the amount of scientific performance by a research scientist over one calendar year. A research scientist may divide a SY to show work in more than one area, i.e., 0.75SY in food safety research and 0.25SY in food quality research.

Scorecard lending

A loan-underwriting tool that attempts to statistically quantify a borrower's probability of repayment. This probability is based upon a number of factors statistically substantiated to be predictors of a borrower's willingness and ability to repay his debt. Scorecards vary by institution, but typically, credit bureau information is a key component. As with conventional underwriting methods, a borrower's repayment history is an important consideration in determining a borrower's willingness to repay future debt obligations. The assignment of a score to this and other credit factors results in an overall credit score that determines the probable credit-worthiness of the borrower.

Scour erosion

The erosive action of running water in streams that excavates and carries away material from the bed and banks. Scour erosion may occur in both earth and solid rock material.
See Also:
erosion.

Scour(ed)(ing)

(1) Cleaning raw wool or fiber and removing such impurities as dirt, sweat, and grease by washing with soaps and alkalies or with chemicals. (2) The cleaningof wheat whereby superficial dirt is removed by abrasion of the wheat surface against perforated metal or an emery-lined cylinder, and the dirt is subsequently blown away by air current. (3) See Scour erosion.
See Also:
fiber. Scour erosion. wool.

Scout(ing)

The inspection of a field for pests (insects, weeds, or pathogens). Scouting is a basic component of integrated pest management systems. It is used to determine whether pest populations have reached levels that warrant intervention for control and to help determine the appropriate method of control. See Point sampling (scouting), Random sampling (scouting), and Sample(s); sampling.
See Also:
inspection. integrated pest management. pathogens. pest. Point sampling (scouting). Random sampling (scouting). Sample(s); sampling.

Scrap (tobacco)

Theresidue that accumulates in the course of processing or manufacturing, consisting chiefly of portions of tobacco leaves and leaves of poor quality. It does not include any portion of the tobacco stems.
See Also:
processing. residue. tobacco.

Scrap(ped)(ping)

The second picking of cotton. It is often done when the first picking was early in the harvest season, when all bolls were not fully open. Thefiber quality of scrapped cotton is usually less than that of the first picking and usually has more trash. See Pick(ed)(ing).
See Also:
cotton. fiber quality. Pick(ed)(ing). trash.

Scrape and haul system

(1) Manure removal from poultry houses by means of a mechanical cable-operated scraper. (2) A waste-removal system using organic or inorganic bedding. The removed waste material can be handled with standard manure spreaders for land application.
See Also:
bedding. land application. organic. poultry.

Scrapie

A fatal, degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats. Scrapie has had a significant impact on the U.S. sheep industry, primarily to the Suffolk breed. See Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE).
See Also:
breed. Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE).

Screenings

(1) In seeds,the chaff, sterile florets, immature seed, weed seed, inert matter, and any other materials removed in any way from any seeds in any kind of cleaning or processing. It contains less than 25 percent of live agricultural or vegetable seeds. (2) Impurities of grain removed during the cleaning process. (3) The second-largest size of broken rice fragments. See 2nd heads, Brewers rice and Broken(s).
See Also:
2nd heads. broken. grain. process. processing. weed.

Screwworm

Fly maggots, laid in animal wounds, that feed on both the wounds and surrounding sound tissue, resulting in serious wounds that cause injury and death.

Scrotal circumference

A measure of testes size obtained by measuring the distance around the testicles in the scrotum with a circular tape. Measured for semen-producing capacity.

Seasonal agricultural worker(s)

A person employed in agricultural work of a seasonal or other temporary nature who is not required to be absent overnight from his or her permanent place of residence. Such a worker is covered by the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act when the worker is performingfield work or when the worker is employed in a packing or processing operation and is transported by day haul. Exceptions are immediate family members of an agricultural employer or a farm labor contractor and temporary H-2A foreign workers.
See Also:
agricultural employer. farm labor contractor. field work. H-2A. Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act. processing.

Seasonal residue management

See Residue management (seasonal).
See Also:
Residue management (seasonal).

Second AMTA (payment)

See Marketing loss (assistance) payments.
See Also:
Marketing loss (assistance) payments.

Second Morrill Act of 1890

See 2nd Morrill Act (1890).
See Also:
2nd Morrill Act (1890).

Second crop

(1) Under the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000, the second planting of the first crop on the same acreage in the same crop year, if the replanting is required or permitted by the terms of the crop insurance policy on the first crop. A cover crop, planted after a first crop, that is hayed, grazed, or harvested will be considered a second crop. See First crop, Replant(ing); replanted crop, and Prevented (from) planting; prevented from being planted (PP). (2) See Ratoon crop(ping).
See Also:
acreage. Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000. cover crop. crop insurance. crop year. first crop. hayed. Prevented (from) planting; prevented from being planted (PP). Ratoon crop(ping). Replant(ing); replanted crop.

Second heads

See 2nd heads.
See Also:
2nd heads.

Second pick(ing)

See Pick(ed)(ing), and Scrap(ped)(ping).
See Also:
Pick(ed)(ing). Scrap(ped)(ping).

Secondary (resale) markets for agricultural loans

See Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac).
See Also:
Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac).

Secondary agriculture

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, any activities or practices performed by a farmer (including employees of a farmer) or on a farm as an incident to or in conjunction with such farming operations. These activities include preparing commodities for market and delivering commodities to storage, to market, or to a carrier for transporting to market. See Primary agriculture.
See Also:
Fair Labor Standards Act. farm. market. Primary agriculture. storage.

Secondary and Two-Year Postsecondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants Program (SPEC)

Under Sec. 1417(j) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. § 3152(j)), the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service grants program to promote and strengthen secondary and 2-year postsecondary food and agricultural sciences education.
See Also:
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. food and agricultural sciences. program.

Secondary market

An organized market in which existing financial assets are bought and sold. Examples are the New York Stock Exchange, bond markets, over-the-counter markets, and the more recently formed secondary market for buying and selling farm mortgage loans and guaranteed Farm Service Agency loans (called Farmer Mac). See Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac).
See Also:
Exchange. farm. Farmer Mac. Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac). market. Stock.

Section

A tract of land one-mile square containing 640 acres.

Section 15 lands

Section 15 of the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934 establishes lands outside grazing districts for which the Bureau of Land Management leases grazing allotments (approximately 17 million acres). See Section 3 lands.
See Also:
Bureau of Land Management. Section 3 lands. Taylor Grazing Act of 1934.

Section 18

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act authorizes theEnvironmental Protection Agencyto allow states to use a pesticide for an unregistered use for a limited time if EPA determines that emergency conditions exist.
See Also:
Environmental Protection Agency. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. pesticide.

Section 201

A provision of the Trade Act of 1974 that allows the President to provide relief to industries hurt by competing imports. Growers or trade associations must petition the International Trade Commission to investigate complaints of trade practices. The Act requires the U.S. International Trade Commission to investigate petitions filed by domestic industries or workers claiming injury or threat of injury due to expanding imports. Investigations must be completed within six months. If such injury is found, restrictive measures may be implemented. Action under Section 201 is allowed under the escape clause, GATT Article XIX, and the Uruguay Round Agreement on Safeguards. See 201 Lamb Meat.
See Also:
201 Lamb Meat. escape clause. GATT. International Trade Commission. Safeguards. Trade Act of 1974. Uruguay Round Agreement.

Section 203

Part of the Trade Act of 1974 that allows apositive adjustment to import competition. Requests may be filed by an entity, including a trade association, firm, certified or recognized union, or group of workers, that is representative of an industry.
See Also:
import. positive adjustment. Trade Act of 1974.

Section 22

A section of the Agricultural Adjustment Act Amendment of 1935 (P.L. 73-10; amended the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933) that authorized the imposition of import quotas or fees on imports of price-support program commodities when these measures are necessary to prevent imports from interfering with the operation of U.S. support programs on the products involved. In 1955, the U.S. obtained a GATT waiver for quantitative import restrictions applicable to commodities specified under Section 22. The President is to impose tariffs of up to 50 percent of the value of the imported products, or import quotas of up to 50 percent of the quantity of imports in a representative period. This authorization is currently in use to restrict imports of dairy products, peanuts, sugar, and tobacco. Absolute import quotas authorized under Section 22 have been converted to tariff-rate quotas following passage of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See Uruguay Round Agreement(s); Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture (URAA).
See Also:
Agricultural Adjustment Act Amendment of 1935. authorization. authorized. dairy products. GATT. import. price-support program. tobacco. Uruguay Round Agreement(s); Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture (URAA). Uruguay Round Agreements.

Section 2501 (program) (projects)

See Outreach and assistance for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
See Also:
Outreach and assistance for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

Section 3 lands

Section 3 of the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934 establishes lands within grazing districts for which the Bureau of Land Management issues grazing permits (approximately 150 million acres). See Section 15 lands.
See Also:
Bureau of Land Management. Section 15 lands. Taylor Grazing Act of 1934.

Section 301

A provision of the Trade Act of 1974 that allows the President to take appropriate action to persuade a foreign government to remove any act, policy, or practice that violates an international agreement. The provision also applies to practices of a foreign government that are unjustified, unreasonable, or discriminatory and that burden or restrict U.S. commerce. Under Section 301, if the President determines that the alleged practices violate a trade agreement or are unjustifiable, unreasonable, or discriminatory and burden or restrict U.S. commerce, and that action is appropriate, the law directs that all appropriate and feasible action within the President's power should be taken to secure the elimination of the practice. See Special 301, and Super 301.
See Also:
Special 301. Super 301. Trade Act of 1974.

Section 32

A section of the Agricultural Adjustment Act Amendment of 1935(7 U.S.C. § 612c; amended the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933) that authorizes the use of customs receipts for (a) encouraging exports of agricultural commodities, (b) encouraging domestic consumption of surplus agricultural commodities by the poor and by schoolchildren, and (c) re-establishing producers' bargaining power. It is funded by a continuing appropriation of 30 percent of the import duties imposed on selected agricultural and nonagricultural products. Domestic acquisition and donations constitute the major use of Section 32. The funds may be used as export subsidies, as payments to producers, or to cover the costs of distribution of goods to charitable institutions, schools, and directly to the needy. It has also been used to fund programs such as disaster assistance and emergencycommodity purchases and for meeting other contingencies.
See Also:
Agricultural Adjustment Act Amendment of 1935. charitable institutions. commodity. customs. disaster assistance. export. import.

Section 404

A provision of the Clean Water Act of 1972 that requires a landowner to obtain a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prior to beginning any nonexempt activity involving the placement of dredged or fill material in the water of the United. States, including wetlands. Certain agricultural practices are exempt. Permits are either individual permits issued to single persons to authorize specific actions or general permits issued to the public-at-large that authorize specific activities that are deemed to have a minimal impact. See Isolated waters, and Swampbuster.
See Also:
authorize. Clean Water Act of 1972. Isolated waters. Swampbuster. wetlands.

Section 416(b)

A section of the Agricultural Act of 1949 intended to facilitate the disposal of surplus agricultural commodities to prevent waste. It permits donations of agricultural products to public and private nonprofit humanitarian organizations, foreign governments, and international organizations. Prior to 1985, donations under this provision were limited to dairy products, wheat, and rice. The Food Security Act of 1985 also mandated that certain minimum quantities of uncommitted stocks of grain, oilseeds, and dairy products be distributed as long as surpluses persist. As a bona fide overseas food aid program that is not used to circumvent export subsidy reduction commitments, Section 416(b) is consistent with the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture.
See Also:
Agricultural Act of 1949. dairy products. export subsidy. food aid program. Food Security Act of 1985. grain. oilseeds. stocks.

Section 502

See Single-family direct and guaranteed housing loans.
See Also:
Single-family direct and guaranteed housing loans.

Section 504

See Rural housing loans and grants (RHS).
See Also:
Rural housing loans and grants (RHS).

Section 514

See Farm labor housing loans and grants.
See Also:
Farm labor housing loans and grants.

Section 515

See Rural rental housing loans.
See Also:
Rural rental housing loans.

Section 516

See Farm labor housing loans and grants.
See Also:
Farm labor housing loans and grants.

Section 521

See Rental assistance.
See Also:
Rental assistance.

Section 523

See Mutual Self-Help Housing program.

Section 524

See Rural Housing Site loans.
See Also:
Rural Housing Site loans.

Section 533

See Housing Preservation grants program.

Section 538

See Multifamily rural rental guarantee loan program.
See Also:
Multifamily rural rental guarantee loan program.

Section 7 consultations

Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act directs all federal agencies to use their existing authorities to conserve threatened species and endangered species, and in consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Service, to ensure that their actions do not jeopardize listed species or destroy or adversely modify critical habitat. Section 7 applies to management of federal lands as well as other federal actions that may affect listed species, such as federal approval of private activities through the issuance of federal permits, licenses, or other actions.
See Also:
critical habitat. endangered species. Endangered Species Act. Fish and Wildlife Service. species. threatened species.

Secured party

A person in whose favor a security interest is given, a consignor, a holder of an agricultural lien, or a person who purchases accounts, payment intangibles, chattel paper, or promissory notes.
See Also:
agricultural lien. security interest.

Security agreement

Under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, a contract that creates a security interest. See Security interest.
See Also:
contract. security interest.

Security interest

Under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, an interest in personal property or fixtures that secures payment or performance of an obligation.

Sediment(s)

(1) Particles produced by the actions of weathering and erosion that break down pre-existing rocks by physical and chemical processes. Sediment is then transported by wind, water, or ice to the site of deposition. Sediments are classified on the basis of the origin, size, and mineralogical composition of the particles. (2) Suspended, extraneous matter in liquids.
See Also:
erosion. weathering.

Seed bank

The collection of seeds available for germination in the soil.
See Also:
soil.

Seed cleaning

The separating of seeds from seed heads, twigs, chaff, debris, and dirt.

Seed cotton

Cotton as it comes from the field.
See Also:
Cotton.

Seed drill

See Drill(ing).
See Also:
Drill(ing).

Seed germination test

A test to determine the percentage of germinating seed within a given unit of seed and under certain conditions. See Accelerated aging test, Cold germination test, Tetrazolium test (TZ), and Warm germination test.
See Also:
Accelerated aging test. Cold germination test. Tetrazolium test (TZ). Warm germination test.

Seed piracy

The illegal labeling and selling of proprietary crop seed protected by federal patent laws and the Plant Variety Protection Act. See Brown-bagging, and Saved seed(s).
See Also:
Brown-bagging. Plant Variety Protection Act. Saved seed(s).

Seed protectant

A chemical applied before planting to protect seeds and seedlings from disease or insects. See Seed treatment(s).
See Also:
Seed treatment(s).

Seed sizing

The separating of seed by length, width, or density to assist in achieving a uniform sowing rate.

Seed treatment(s)

A treatment of seed, either in commercial facilities or on the farm, designed to improve uniform seedling emergence, protect seeds and seedlings from early season diseases and insect pests, and to enhance growth performance during the growing season. Treatments can be by flowable or liquid materials or through the use of dusts or powders with special adhesives added.
See Also:
farm. growing season. seedling.

Seedbed

See Bed.
See Also:
Bed.

Seedling(s)

(1) Live trees of commercial species with diameters less than one inch that are expected to survive (not diseased and not heavily damaged by logging, browsing, or fire). Only softwood seedlings over six inches tall and hardwood seedlings over one foot tall are counted. (2) A young plant that ranges from newly sprouted up to a few weeks old.
See Also:
hardwood. plant. softwood. species.

Seedstock (operation)

A specialized cow-calf operation that generally produces purebredor registered cattle. The goal of seedstock production is to make genetic improvements in cattle that benefit the entire beef industry. Improvements in purebred cattle are documented through the extensive recording systems maintained by both the producer and breed organizations. See Registered cattle.
See Also:
breed. cow-calf. producer. purebred. registered cattle. stock.

Seedstock breeders

Producers of breeding stock for purebred and commercial breeders. Seedstock breeders seek an optimum or desirable combination of economical traits (genetic package) that will ultimately increase the profitability of commercial animal production.
See Also:
breeding. purebred. Seedstock. stock.

Segregation I, II, III (peanuts)

Grades designated and defined for peanuts by the Agricultural Marketing Service.
See Also:
Agricultural Marketing Service. Grades.

Select harvest

See Selective cutting.
See Also:
Selective cutting.

Selection

The causing or allowing of certain individuals in a population to produce offspring in the next generation.

Selection differential (reach)

The difference between the average for a trait in selected cattle and the average of the group from which they came. The expected response from selection for a trait is equal to the selection differential times the heritability of the trait.
See Also:
heritability. selection.

Selection index

A formula that combines performance records for several traits or different measurements of the same trait into a single value for each animal. Selectionindexes weigh the traits for their relative net economic importance and their inheritabilities, plus the genetic associations among the traits.
See Also:
Selection.

Selective cutting

The selective harvesting of intermediate-aged, mature, or diseased trees in a forest stand, either as single trees or small groups of trees. This harvesting technique encourages the growth of younger trees and maintainsstand development.
See Also:
stand.

Selective embargo

The restricting of export sales of commodities and food products but not of other exports.
See Also:
export.

Selective pesticide (herbicide)

A chemical designed to affect only certain types of pests, leaving other nontarget plants and animals unharmed. See Nontarget organisms.
See Also:
Nontarget organisms.

Self-help housing grants

See Mutual and Self-help housing grants.

Self-help housing land development loans

Rural Housing Service revolving fund for the making of loans to public and private nonprofit organizations for the acquisition and development of land as building sites to be subdivided and sold to eligible families, nonprofit organizations, and cooperatives.
See Also:
eligible. Rural Housing Service.

Self-pollinated (pollination)

Plant pollination as a result of pollen being transferred directly to the stigma within the flower. Self-pollinated crops include wheat, soybeans, and rice. Seeds harvested from self-pollinated crops are genetically identical to what was planted. See Hybrid(s).
See Also:
Hybrid(s). Plant. pollination.

Self-regulatory organization

Any nongovernmental body, including any securities or futures exchange or futures market, clearing agency, or other organization or association, that exercises its own delegated regulatory or supervisory authority over financial service providers or financial institutions.
See Also:
futures exchange. futures market.

Selling hedge

The selling of futures contracts to protect against possible declining prices of commodities that will be sold in the future. At the time the cash commodities are sold, the open futures position is closed by purchasing an equal number and type of futures contracts as those initially sold. See Hedge(s); hedging.
See Also:
futures.

Semolina

A coarse separation of endosperm extracted from durum wheat that is used for making macaroni, spaghetti, and egg noodles.
See Also:
durum wheat. endosperm.

Senior Scientific Research Service (SSRS)

The cadre of researchers who are provided pay incentives that go above the classifications and maximum general scheduled pay rates. Such incentives are needed to entice superior scientists with records of outstanding research to stay in public service or to remain within a particular federal agency. The USDA was allowed this protection with passage of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Sec. 7219).
See Also:
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. outstanding research.

Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)

The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Sec. 4402) authorizes the USDA to carry out and expand a seniors farmers' market nutrition program to (a) provide fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs from farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs to low-income seniors; (b) increase the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities by expanding or aiding in the expansion of domestic farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs; and (c) develop or aid in the development of new and additional farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs. See Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP).
See Also:
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. farmers' market. Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP). program.

Sensitive species

All species that are under status review, have small or declining populations, or live in unique habitats. They may also be species needing special management. Sensitive species includethreatened species, endangered species, and proposed species as classified by the Fish and Wildlife Service. In the Forest Service, sensitive species are designated by regional foresters.
See Also:
endangered species. Fish and Wildlife Service. Forest Service. species. threatened species.

Separate person(s)

For payment limitation purposes, an individual or entity with a separate and distinct interest in the land or crop involved, who exercises separate responsibility for that interest, and who maintains separate funds or accounts. See Person(s).
See Also:
entity. payment limitation. Person(s).

Separately eligible

Under 7 USC § 1308-1(b)(1) for payment limitation purposes, a separate person who is actively engaged in farming. See Person(s).
See Also:
actively engaged in farming. payment limitation. Person(s). separate person.

Sequential cropping

The growing of two or more crops in a sequence, planting a succeeding crop after the harvesting of the previous one. SeeDouble-crop(ping)(ped), Intercropping, Mixed cropping, Ratoon crop(ping), and Relay cropping.
See Also:
Double-crop(ping)(ped). Intercropping. Mixed cropping. Ratoon crop(ping). Relay cropping.

Sequester

Across-the-board spending cuts as required by the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Deficit Reduction Act.
See Also:
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Deficit Reduction Act.

Sequestration

The required reduction of government expenditures under the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Deficit Reduction Act, if the federal budget did not meet deficit reduction goals. See Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Deficit Reduction Act.
See Also:
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Deficit Reduction Act.

Series

See Soil series.
See Also:
Soil series.

Serious prejudice

Occurs when export subsidies or domestic support subsidies of one country significantly impair another country's market opportunities, either through product displacement or price undercutting.
See Also:
market.

Serotype

A population of an organism or cell that possesses identical antigens as identified by specific antibodies.
See Also:
antibodies. antigens.

Serotyping

A technique that uses antibodies to help identify an organism or cell.
See Also:
antibodies.

Service

One or more matings, within a single period, of a female in heat.
See Also:
heat.

Sesame; sesame seed

A plant, native to Asia, from whose seeds oil can be extracted to be used in cooking, medicines, soaps, and cosmetics.
See Also:
plant.

Set stocking

The practice of allowing a fixed number of animals on a fixed area of land during the time when grazing is allowed.
See Also:
grazing.

Set-aside(s)

(1) A former voluntary program to limit production by restricting the use of land. Introduced in 1970 and authorized for wheat and feedgrains only in the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (but not since), set-asides could be implemented at the discretion of the USDA. When a set-aside program was in effect, the total of the planted acreage of the designated crops and the set-aside acreage could not exceed the normal crop acreage. Producers must comply to be eligible for price-support loan programs or deficiency payments. (2) The acreage a producer must devote to soil conserving uses (such as grasses, legumes, and small grains that are not allowed to mature), in order to be eligible for production adjustment payments and price-support loans and purchases. All such authority was eliminated with the enactment of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 and not reauthorized in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. (3) The delay of scheduled payments on farm debt. (4) Under the former peanut program for farms with no quota, up to 25 percent of the total amount of farm poundage quota allocated in the state was allocated to farms in the state for which no farm poundage quota was established for the immediately preceding year's crop. The allocation to any such farm could not exceed the average farm production of peanuts for the three immediately preceding years during which peanuts were produced on the farm. See Disaster Debt Set-Aside Program.
See Also:
acreage. Agriculture and Food Act of 1981. authorized. Disaster Debt Set-Aside Program. eligible. farm. farm debt. farm poundage quota. Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. farms. Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996. loan. normal crop acreage. price-support. producer. program. quota. soil. voluntary program.

Settle

To become pregnant or conceive.

Settlement price(s)

The closing range of prices after a trading session, used to calculate gains and losses, margin calls, and invoice prices fordeliveries in futures market accounts.
See Also:
futures market.

Share lease

See Crop-share lease.
See Also:
Crop-share lease.

Share(d)(ing) in the risk of production

A direct financial stake in the success of the crop through a direct share in the actual proceeds from the actual marketingof the crop. The share is conditional upon the success of that marketing.
See Also:
marketing.

Sharecropper

Typically, one who farms land of a landowner, providing labor and often residing on the farm, in exchange for a share of the crop. The landowner usually provides the land, inputs, and supervision.
See Also:
farm. farms.

Sharecropper protection

Provisions in some state and federal legislation (Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002,Secs. 1105(d), 1305(d), 2001 [Food Security Act of 1985 as amended, Sec. 1238C(d)], and 10904) designed to insure that both sharecroppersand landowners equitably share farm program benefits or that sharecroppers are not adversely impacted by farm program provisions.
See Also:
farm. farm program. Food Security Act of 1985. program.

Shared appreciation agreement (SAA)

An agreement between the Farm Service Agency and a producer- borrower following a debt write-down in which the borrower promises to pay a certain amount of money from the time of the restructuring to the occurrence of a recapture event if the property securing the agreement increases in value, thus allowing the recapture of all or a portion of the debt write-down amount. See Recapture event.
See Also:
debt write-down. Farm Service Agency. producer. recapture. Recapture event.

Shear(ed)(ing)

The use of electric shears to remove the fleece from a sheep, usually in less than five minutes. An expert shearer can shear more than 100 sheep in one day.
See Also:
fleece.

Sheep Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1994 (Sheep Act) (P.L. 103-407)

Signed into law October 22, 1994. The Act authorized a national referendum on the adoption of a mandatory assessment to enable producers and feeders of sheep and importers of sheep and sheep products to develop, finance, and carry out a nationally coordinated program for sheep and sheep product promotion, research, and information. The referendum was defeated in 1996. Authority for reimbursement of expenses under the Act was repealed in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Sec. 7302).
See Also:
assessment. authorized. Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. program.

Sheep breeds

In the U.S., breeds include the Barbados, Border Leicester, California Red, Cheviot, Corriedale, Cotswold, Debouillet, Delaine Merino, Dorset, Finnsheep, Gulf Coast Native, Hampshire, Hog Island, Jacob, Karakul, Leicester Longwool, Lincoln, Montadale, Navajo Churro, Oxford, Polpay, Rambouillet, Romanov, Romney, Santa Cruz Island, Scottish Blackface (Highland), Shetland, Shropshire, Southdown, St. Croix, Suffolk, Targhee, Tunis, and Wiltshire Horn.
See Also:
breeds.

Sheet erosion

A type of erosion that leads to a generally uniform removal of topsoil over all of a field as a result of strong rains. See Erosion.
See Also:
Erosion.

Shelf-stable (products)

Foods that are able to be stored unrefrigerated for a period of time and remain suitable for consumption. Generally, these include all processed foods brought to commercial sterility by the application of heat, chemicals, irradiation, fermentation, pasteurization, or other processes. Safety and palatability are achieved by (a) eliminating the growth of aerobic and anaerobic organisms, and (b) retarding unwanted chemical reactions, moisture movement, or moisture loss.
See Also:
aerobic. anaerobic. fermentation. irradiation. pasteurization. processed.

Shell-egg handlers

Any business that grades and packs shell eggs for commercial distribution and hatcheries.

Sheller(s) (peanuts)

One who shells peanuts in a shelling plant.
See Also:
shelling plant.

Shelling plant (peanuts); shelled

The process of removing peanuts from peanut shells, including (a) removal of sand, stones, sticks, and trash by conveying the nuts through a series of over and under screens; (b) removal of metal by magnets; (c) gravity flow of in-shell nuts through a series of shellers and separators; (d) separation of shelled nuts into at least four grades by size screens; (e) passing edible grades over inspection belts and through electronic sorters; and (f) packaging.
See Also:
inspection. process. stones.

Shelterbelt(s)

See Windbreak(s).
See Also:
Windbreak(s).

Shigellosis

Contagious foodborne and waterborne illness. Outbreaks are difficult to control. See Foodborne illness(es).
See Also:
foodborne. Foodborne illness(es).

Shipping holiday(s)

A fruit and vegetable marketing order provision that prohibits commercial shipping during periods following certain holidays when demand is historically low. Shipping holidays usually include the three- to seven-day period after Thanksgiving and Christmas.
See Also:
marketing order.

Shoat

A young pig that has been weaned.
See Also:
weaned.

Shock

A pile of grain that is set up like a cone.
See Also:
grain.

Shock analysis

The analyzing of the strengths and weaknesses of a business or policy option by introducing extreme variables and estimating the results.

Shorn

See Shear(ed)(ing).
See Also:
Shear(ed)(ing).

Short

See Go(ing) short.
See Also:
Go(ing) short.

Short grain (rice)

Rice that is a little shorter (rounder) than medium grain rice. As a rule, the shorter the grain, the more tender and clinging it cooks.
See Also:
grain.

Short rotation woody crop (SRWC)

Trees grown as environmentally managed resources, usually of the same age, under intensive forest management to shorten planting rotations to typically ten years or less.
See Also:
age. resources.

Short selling

The selling of a futures contract with the idea of delivering on it or offsetting it at a later date.
See Also:
futures contract.

Short the basis

The purchase of futures as a hedgeagainst a commitment to sell in the cash or spot markets.
See Also:
cash. futures. hedge.

Short ton(s)

Two thousand pounds.

Short yearling

An animal that is over one year of age but under 18 months of age.

Short-Term Export Credit Guarantee Program

See Export Credit Guarantee Programs (GSM-102 and GSM-103), and GSM-102.
See Also:
GSM-102.

Show animal(s)

Any animal used for competition of judging animals against each other. Often, such animals are judged as part of a 4-H or FFA stockshow competition.
See Also:
4-H. FFA. stock.

Show list

Slaughter cattle that are ready for the cattle feeder to show to the packers.
See Also:
feeder. packers. Slaughter cattle.

Shrink; shrink factor

See Pencil shrink(age).
See Also:
Pencil shrink(age).

Shrinkage

(1) A reduction in length or width of a material caused by certain treatments, especially washing. (2) A loss of weight and volume of raw wool due to scouring when grease, sweat, vegetable matter, and other foreign material are removed; expressed as a percentage of the original weight. (3) See Pencil shrink(age). (4) See Chilled-carcass weight. (5) See Farm-to-plant loss(es). (6) The loss of product during transportation, storage, or processing.
See Also:
Chilled-carcass weight. Farm-to-plant loss(es). foreign material. Pencil shrink(age). processing. vegetable matter. wool.

Shrinkage and overage (dairy)

SeeOverage and shrinkage (dairy).
See Also:
Overage and shrinkage (dairy).

Shrubland

Areas covered with plants that have persistent woody stems and relatively low growth habits where the shrub canopy accounts for at least 25 to 100 percent of the cover. Shrub plants include cactus, mesquite, sagebrush, and thick brush found in wet and mountainous areas.

Sibs

Brothers and sisters of individual animals.

Sign(ing)(ed)-up

To enroll in a commodity programor other USDA program. See Producer agreement(s).
See Also:
commodity program. enroll. Producer agreement(s). program.

Significant contribution

In order to be considered as actively engaged in farming for payment limitation purposes, a producer has to make a significant contribution of capital, land, or equipment to the farming operation, as well as a significant contribution of active personal labor or active personal management. The contribution of management must be critical to the profitability of the farming operation, taking into consideration the individual's or entity's commensurate share in the farming operation.
See Also:
active personal labor. active personal management. actively engaged in farming. payment limitation. producer.

Silage

Prepared by chopping green forage (such as grass, legumes, and field corn) and placing it into an air-tight chamber where it is compressed to exclude air and undergoes acid fermentation that retards spoilage. It contains about 65 percent moisture. The main use of silage is for cattle feed.
See Also:
feed. forage.

Silt

The fine-grained particles of soil that are smaller than sand and larger than clay.
See Also:
clay. soil.

Siltation

The filling-in of lakes and stream channels with soil particles, usually as a result of erosion on adjacent land.
See Also:
erosion. soil.

Silviculture; silvacultural

The theory and practice of controlling the establishment, composition, constitution, and growth of forests.

Silvipastoral; silvopastoral

An agroforestrysystem that includes forage plants, controlled livestock grazing, and trees. In pine forest lands, it is also known as "pine-and-pasture" or "cattle-under-pine." See Forest grazing.
See Also:
agroforestry. forage. Forest grazing.

Similar entity

A person that is not eligible for a Farm Credit System loan, yet has an operation that is functionally similar to a person that is eligible for such, in that the person derives a majority of the income or has a majority of the assets invested in the conduct of activities that are functionally similar to the activities that are conducted by an eligible person.
See Also:
eligible. Farm Credit System. loan.

Single-blind experiment

Anexperiment during which the research subjects do not know whether they are receiving an experimental treatment or a placebo. See Double-blind experiment.
See Also:
Double-blind experiment.

Single-family direct and guaranteed housing loans

Commonly known asSection 502 loans, the Rural Housing Service provides homeownership to low- and very-low income families who are without adequate housing. For those unable to get credit from other sources, direct loans of between one percent and 6.5 percent are available for 30 to 38 years. Guaranteed loans for up to 100 percent of market value can be provided to lenders for 30-year loans. The RHS will provide a 90 percent guarantee to lenders.
See Also:
guarantee. market. Rural Housing Service. Section 502.

Sinkhole(s)

A depression in a karst area, commonly with a circular pattern. Its drainage is subterranean, its size is measured in meters and tens of meters, and it is commonly funnel shaped.
See Also:
drainage. karst.

Sire(s)

Male parent.

Site management plan

A plan that provides information regarding land application of animal waste. Such a plan includes maps showing where the waste is to be applied, a description of the vegetative cover in the application area, and a land-use agreement if the land is not owned by the owner of the confined livestock operation.
See Also:
confined livestock operation. land application. vegetative cover.

Site-specific farming (SSF)

See Precision farming.
See Also:
Precision farming.

Sixteen contiguous Western states

Under the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978, for purposes of federal grazing regulations on public rangelands, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. See Eleven contiguous Western states.
See Also:
Eleven contiguous Western states. grazing. Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978.

Skidding

The moving of trees from the felling site to a loading area or landing using tractors, horses, or specialized logging equipment.

Skim milk; skimmilk; skimmed milk

Milk that has had the fat removed. The dry form of skim milk is known as nonfat dry milkorpowder.
See Also:
fat. nonfat dry milk. powder.

Skip-row

A planting pattern or row configuration that is not solidly continuous across the field, but rather two rows spaced 38 inches apart, followed by a skip of 64 inches, then followed by another two rows 38 inches apart and a 64-inch skip, and repeated in this fashion across the field. It is used primarily for cotton, although the use is limited.
See Also:
cotton.

Skirting

Removing the stained, unusable, or undesirable portions of a fleece.
See Also:
fleece.

Slash

Branches, tree tops, bark, cull trees, and other woody debris left on the ground after an area is logged. Also known as brush.
See Also:
cull.

Slash and burn cultivation

Type of agriculture where trees and other vegetation are cut down in a patch of forest, dried, and then burned to releasenutrients stored in biomass. The nutrient-rich ash is then used to fertilize the planted crops. Plots are abandoned after the nutrients are depleted.
See Also:
biomass. nutrient.

Slaughter cattle

All fed cattle and canners and cutters sold for slaughter.
See Also:
fed cattle.

Slippage

Under former programs, a term used to refer to the case of producers thwarting the government's attempt to reduce output through voluntary cropland diversion programs. Participating producers do so through diversion of inferior cropland and by substituting nonland inputs for land. In addition, nonparticipating producers may bring new land into production in anticipation of higher prices as a result of the acreage reduction program requirements for those who enroll in the programs. Slippage is calculated as the proportion of acreage set aside or put into a reserve program for which there is no corresponding reduction in production of the crops for which output reduction is sought.
See Also:
acreage. acreage reduction program. cropland. diversion. enroll. output. program. reserve.

Slit seeding

Seeding or overseeding using a specially designed machine that utilizes a series of vertically rotating discs to cut small grooves into the soil while depositing seed into the grooves just behind the discs.
See Also:
soil.

Slope

The average inclination of a surface measured from the horizontal, generally expressed as the ratio of a unit of vertical distance to a given number of units of horizontal distance. It may also be expressed as a percent or in degrees.

Slope length (factor) (L)

The ratio of soil loss from the field slope length to that from a 72.6-foot length on the same soil type and gradient. Slope length is the distance from the origin of overland flow along its flow path to the location of either concentrated flow or deposition. See Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), and Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE).
See Also:
Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). slope. soil. soil type. Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE).

Small (farmer and rancher)

Under the Farm Credit System's young, beginning, and small (YBS) initiative, a farmer, rancher, producer or harvester having sustained gross sales from agriculture of less than $250,000 annually.

Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)

First authorized by the Small Business Innovation Development Act (P.L. 97-219), as amended. A program designed to strengthen the role of small, innovative firms in federally funded research and development. Under the program, small firms will receive at least 2.5 percent of research and development awards made by federal agencies with sizeable research and development budgets.
See Also:
authorized. program.

Small Farm Coordinators

The USDA has a department-wide group of coordinators representing each mission area, individual agencies, and the Office of Outreach, Office of Civil Rights, Office of Budget and Program Analysis, Office of Communications,Office of the Chief Economist, and the Office of the General Council that provides a focal point to coordinate small farm policy and programs within USDA. They are responsible for planning, recommending, and coordinating the implementation of small farms policies and programs. See Advisory Committee on Small Farms, Assisting America's Small Farmers and Ranchers in the 21st Century, Small farm(s),and Small Farm Council.
See Also:
Advisory Committee on Small Farms. Assisting America's Small Farmers and Ranchers in the 21st Century. mission area. Office of Budget and Program Analysis. Office of Civil Rights. Office of Communications. Office of Outreach. Office of the Chief Economist. Small Farm Council. Small farm(s).

Small Farm Council

Established by the USDA in September 1999 following the expiration of the term of the National Commission on Small Farms. It is chaired by the Deputy Secretary. Membership is comprised of the Under Secretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs; Under Secretary, Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services; Under Secretary, Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services; Under Secretary, Food Safety; Under Secretary,Natural Resources and Environment; Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics; Under Secretary, Rural Development; Assistant Secretary, Administration; Office of Outreach Director; and the Office of Civil Rights Director. The Director of Sustainable Development and Small Farms, Office of the Chief Economist, will serve as the Executive Director of the Small Farms Council and is responsible for coordinating, advocating, and facilitating implementation of small farms policies and programs. The Executive Director also chairs a department-wide group of small farm coordinators. See Advisory Committee on Small Farms, and Assisting America's Small Farmers and Ranchers in the 21st Century.
See Also:
Advisory Committee on Small Farms. Assisting America's Small Farmers and Ranchers in the 21st Century. Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services. Food Safety. Marketing and Regulatory Programs. National Commission on Small Farms. Natural Resources and Environment. Office of Civil Rights. Office of Outreach. Office of the Chief Economist. Research, Education, and Economics. Rural Development. small farm coordinators. Small Farms. Sustainable.

Small Farmer Outreach Training and Technical Assistance Program

See Outreach and assistance for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
See Also:
Outreach and assistance for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

Small Hog Operation Payment Program (SHOP)

Implemented by the USDA on January 8, 1999, the Farm Service Agency program utilized Section 32 funds to compensate hog producers impacted by a plunge in market prices. Begun as a $50 million program,additional funds were authorized by the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, FY1999, which also removed the 25 percent limitation on the amount of Section 32funds that may be devoted to any one agricultural commodity or product. The supplemental funding provided additional payments to producers who sold hogs and pigs during the last six months of 1998. Producers were eligible for payments if their hog operations marketed less than 2,500 hogs during the last six months of 1998 and were still in operation. The maximum payment for any operation was $5,000.
See Also:
agricultural commodity. authorized. eligible. Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act,. Farm Service Agency. program. Section 32.

Small Watershed Rehabilitation Program

See Watershed Rehabilitation Program.
See Also:
Watershed Rehabilitation Program.

Small and emerging private business enterprise

Under the Rural Business Enterprise grants program, any private business that will employ 50 or fewer new employees and has less than $1 million in projected gross revenues.

Small farm(s)

(1) Generally, farms having less than $100,000 annually in crop or livestock sales. Many of these are not full-time, commercial farms. (2) Farms having less than $250,000 in gross receipts, with labor and management provided by the owners. According to the National Commission on Small Farms, small farms make up 94 percent of the nation's agriculture, yet earn only 41 percent of all farm receipts. (3) The aggregated number of limited-resource farms, retirement farms, residential/lifestyle farms, and farming occupation farms. Such farms account for 72 percent of farm assets, including 74 percent of the land in farms.
See Also:
farm. farm assets. Farms. livestock. National Commission on Small Farms.

Small farms policy(ies) (USDA)

It is the policy of the USDA to (a) develop and support research, development, regulatory, and outreach programs and initiatives that focus on the special needs of small farms, especially those programs that help small farms develop alternative enterprises, value-added products, and collaborative marketing efforts, including cooperatives, that enhance stewardship of biological, natural, human, and community resources; (b) make special efforts to meet the credit needs of small, under-served, minority, women, and beginning farmers and ranchers; (c) consider the special needs of and specific effects on small farms when developing and implementing marketing, incentive, and regulatory programs and processes; (d) develop and foster marketing, development, credit, and outreach programs that improve the competitiveness of small farms and give priority to farmer-owned and farm-based businesses, especially those that foster local and regional competition in production, processing, and distribution of food, fiber, and wood products that connect small farms and consumers at the local and regional levels; (e) foster collaboration among public and private sector agencies, programs, and institutions, including farm and community-based organizations, to meet the financial, educational, and technological needs of small farms, including developing small farms networks, joint enterprises, and mentoring systems; (f) encourage and emphasize educational, outreach, marketing regulatory, credit, and other programs that will help ensure new generations of small farmers can gain access to the resources they need; and (g) encourage all USDA agencies, the land grant institutions, and collaborating public and private sector institutions to emphasize sustainable agriculture, sustainable forestry, and agroforestry as profitable, environmentally sound, and socially desirable strategies for small farms. See Advisory Committee on Small Farms, Assisting America's Small Farmers and Ranchers in the 21st Century,Building on a Time to Act,Small Farm Coordinators,and Small Farm Council.
See Also:
Advisory Committee on Small Farms. agroforestry. Assisting America's Small Farmers and Ranchers in the 21st Century. Building on a Time to Act. farm. fiber. processing. Small Farm Coordinators. Small Farm Council. small farms. sustainable agriculture. sustainable forestry.

Small grain(s)

Crops with small kernels such as wheat, barley, oats, rice,triticale, and rye.
See Also:
barley. rye. triticale.

Smaller enterprise

Under the Rural Business Investment Program, any rural business concern that, together with its affiliates, has a net financial worth of not more than $6 million and an average net income for the previous 2-year period of not more than $2 million after federal income taxes (excluding any carryover losses).
See Also:
rural business concern. Rural Business Investment Program.

Smart cards (peanuts)

Cards first issued in 1987 and used to automate the collection of peanut marketing and program data. The Farm Service Agency issued smart cards to each producer eligible to market peanuts under the peanut quota. The card contained the producer's name, farm number, farm peanut quota in pounds, crop loan eligibilityinformation, and transaction records. When a producer took peanuts to a buying point, the smart card was inserted into a terminal to determine whether peanuts could be purchased as quota peanuts or additional peanuts. Each marketing transaction was recorded on the system where the previous balances were maintained. At the end of the crop season, producers returned the smart card to the FSA county office so the information could be electronically reconciled to marketing information that was telecommunicated from the buying point computers to the USDA central computers. Following passage of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, smart cards are no longer used in the peanut program.
See Also:
eligible. farm number. Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. Farm Service Agency. market. marketing. peanut quota. producer. program. quota peanuts.

Smith-Doxey classification

Cotton classification data showing color grade, leaf grade, length, length uniformity, strength, micronaire, and trash for each bale. Producers use this information in selling their cotton or placing it in the Commodity Credit Corporation loan program. See Cotton classing; cotton classification.
See Also:
bale. classification. Cotton. Cotton classing; cotton classification. leaf grade. length. length uniformity. micronaire. strength. trash.

Smith-Lever 3(b&c) (funds)

Formula funds allocated to the states, based on their rural and farm population, for the discretionary use of the Cooperative Extension Servicein each state to help provide locally determined programs to meet local needs.
See Also:
Cooperative Extension Service. farm. Formula funds. rural.

Smith-Lever 3(d) (funds)

Targeted or earmarked funds allocated to the state Cooperative Extension Service to address special concerns of regional or national importance. Funds are distributed based upon the relative need in each state for assistance in addressing the special concerns. The programs currently funded through Smith-Lever 3(d) funds are the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, Pest Management, Pesticide Impact Assessment, Farm Safety, Rural Development Centers, Water Quality, Food Safety, Indian Reservation, Sustainable Agriculture,and the Children, Youth, and Families At Risk programs.
See Also:
Cooperative Extension Service. earmarked funds. Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. Farm Safety. Food Safety. Indian Reservation. Pest Management. Pesticide Impact Assessment. Rural Development Centers. Water Quality.

Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. §§ 341 et seq.)

Signed into law May 8, 1914. The Act created the Cooperative Extension Service system. Each state's CES is associated with a land grant university and its agricultural experiment station.
See Also:
agricultural experiment station. Cooperative Extension Service.

Smith-Lever funds

The Smith-Lever Act provides funds to be matched to help each state disseminate information gleaned from the land grant universities and agricultural experiment stations and to provide practical educational services. Smith-Lever funds are either formula funds (known as Smith-Lever 3(b&c) funds) or earmarked funds (known as Smith-Lever 3(d) funds). See Smith-Lever 3(b&c) (funds), Smith-Lever 3(d) (funds), and Hatch Act (funds, formula funds).
See Also:
earmarked funds. formula funds. Hatch Act (funds, formula funds). Smith-Lever 3(b&c) (funds). Smith-Lever 3(d) (funds). Smith-Lever Act.

Smut

A fungus that attacks grain kernels and replaces the contents with black, powdery spore masses. Smut can attack leaves, stems, and seeds. Smut rarely kills the host plant, but it can cause severe stunting of growth. Smut is second only to rust in damage caused to grain, onion, and sugarcane production. The more common smuts are corn smut, sugarcane smut, covered smut, sorghum smut, kernel smut, loose smut, and leaf smut. See Bunt, and TCK smut.
See Also:
Bunt. grain. plant. rust. TCK smut.

Snapping

The separation of the corn ears from the corn stalks during harvesting.

Snapshot

An analysis or review taken at a specific point in time instead of over a period of time.

Snow fence(s)

See Living snow fence(s).
See Also:
Living snow fence(s).

Snow survey

The Natural Resources Conservation Service, in cooperation with other federal and state agencies, conducts snow surveys in 11 western states and Alaska for the purposes of flood prediction, water supply prediction, and natural resource information. Snowmelt accounts for 80 percent of the streamflow in the West.
See Also:
Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Social forestry

The growth and management of trees where primary management decisions are made by resident individuals and groups and where the primary benefits of trees remain within the household or community. This is frequently contrasted with industrial forestry where ownership and management reside in private corporations, or reserve forestry where ownership and management reside in state governments.
See Also:
forestry.

Socially disadvantaged (SDA)

Under USDA programs, farmers or ranchers who are one of a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice, without regard to their individual qualities, because of their identity as a member of the group. Those groups previously identified as socially disadvantaged are women, African-Americans, American Indians and Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Asians, and Pacific Islanders.
See Also:
socially disadvantaged.

Socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (loans)

The Farm Service Agency will make and guarantee loans to socially disadvantagedapplicants to buy and operate family farms and ranches. Funds for direct and guaranteed farm operating and farm ownership loansare reserved each year. For purposes of the loan program,those groups previously identified as socially disadvantaged are women, African-Americans, American Indians and Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Asians, and Pacific Islanders.
See Also:
direct. family. farm operating. farm ownership. Farm Service Agency. farms. guaranteed. loan. socially disadvantaged.

Sodbuster

First authorized by the Food Security Acts of 1985 (Title XII, Subtitle B, Secs. 1211-1213) (16 U.S.C. §§ 3811 et seq.). A provision designed to discourage the conversion of highly erodible cropland from extensive conserving uses to intensive agricultural production. If highly erodible grassland or woodland is used for crop production, without appropriate conservation measures, producers may lose eligibility for participation in many USDA programs.
See Also:
authorized. conservation. crop production. grassland. highly erodible. woodland.

Soft

A description of a price that is gradually weakening. It also refers to commodities such as sugar, cocoa, and coffee.

Soft currency

A currency that may not be exchanged for another currency without restrictions; an unstable currency, the value of which is likely to decline. Also referred to as inconvertible currency.

Soft loan

A credit providing for significantly easier repayment terms than credits that are normally obtainable from commercial banks. A soft loan frequently involves a grace period of several years and only a small servicing charge.
See Also:
loan.

Soft products

A category of manufactured dairy products with a relatively short shelf life, including cottage cheese, sour cream, ice cream, yogurt, and buttermilk.

Soft red winter wheat

Triticum aestivum; a common wheat that is fall seeded; a low- to medium-protein wheat with a soft or floury endosperm; used primarily for making cakes and other pastries.
See Also:
endosperm. protein.

Soft wheat

Wheat that, due to a combination of breeding and growing environment, has a chalky (nonvitreous) endosperm suitable for making pastry flour; it yields a very fine flour consisting of irregularly shaped fragments of endosperm cells that adhere together and sift with difficulty.
See Also:
breeding. endosperm. vitreous.

Softwood(s)

(1) Botanical grouping of trees that are usually evergreen and have needle-like or scale-like leaves. They are also known as conifers and coniferous trees. (2) The wood produced from such trees. The term softwood does not refer to the hardness of the wood.

Soil Bank

See Soil Bank Program.
See Also:
Soil Bank Program.

Soil Bank Act of 1956 (P.L. 84-540)

Title I of the Agricultural Act of 1956. See Soil Bank Program.
See Also:
Agricultural Act of 1956. Soil Bank Program.

Soil Bank Program

Mandated by the Soil Bank Act of 1956. A program to decrease the supply of agricultural products by reducing the amount of land used in crop production. The program was also initiated to establish and maintain protective vegetative cover or other needed conservation practices. Land was retired for three, five, or ten years and put into a specified type of use such as grasses, trees, or water impoundments. The program provided an 80 percent cost share to convert to conservation uses. The official name of the Soil Bank was the Conservation Reserve Program. The program was voluntary, and participating producers agreed to comply with any acreage allotments on the farm and to reduce total cropped acreage by the amount of land placed in the reserve. The programoperated from 1956 to 1960 with 28.7 million acres enrolled nationwide. Of this total, 2.2 million acres were planted to trees. The Soil Bank Act was repealed by the Food and Agricultural Act of 1965.
See Also:
acreage. Bank. Conservation Reserve Program. crop production. farm. Food and Agricultural Act of 1965. program. reserve. Soil. Soil Bank Act. Soil Bank Act of 1956. vegetative cover.

Soil Conservation District

See Conservation district(s).
See Also:
Conservation district(s).

Soil Conservation Service (SCS)

A former USDA agency responsible for developing and carrying out national soil and water programs in cooperation with landowners,operators, and others. These functions have now been assum