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Farm Vocabulary for interpreters
CERTIFIED 
ORGANIC
Government certification given to businesses and farmers 
who produce products without the use of chemicals. 
FARM 
CHEMICALS
A substance that is made by humans that is generally used 
for controlling pests and is often dangerous. 
COMPOST A decayed mixture of plants and or animal manure (such 
as leaves and grass) that is used to improve the soil in a 
garden
CONVENTIONAL 
AGRICULTURE
Farming with the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers 
(not organic). 
CROPS Plants that are grown by farmers
DRIP TAPE A flat plastic hose with holes that is used to water plants 
slowly and directly to the roots without wetting the entire 
plant to promote plant health. Used to conserve water. 
FERTILIZER A substance that is added to soil to help the growth of 
plants; used to add nutrients to the soil that will help the 
growth of plants. Can be an organic or chemical source. 
FOOD SAFETY The practice of handling food during harvest, storage, and 
preparation to ensure that produce is clean and will not 
cause sickness
GERMINATE When a plant begins to grow or sprout
GREENHOUSE A building made of plastic or glass that is used for growing 
plants
HARVEST To gather or collect a crop
STRAW The dry stems of wheat and other grasses; often used as 
mulch on a farm
HERBICIDES Chemicals used to kill plants or stop growth. Usually used 
on weeds 
HIGH TUNNEL
/ HOOPHOUSE
A structure made of bent poles that is covered in plastic 
used by farmers to extend the seasons as the structure 
can be made hotter (plastic) or colder (shade cloth) and 
about climate control to control humidity and moisture.
HOSE A long tube that water or other liquid can flow through
INFRASTRUC
TURE
The basic equipment and structures that are needed for 
something to function properly
IRRIGATION To supply land with water by using pipes or hoses
MULCH A material (such as straw, leaves or pieces of wood) that is 
spread over the ground in a garden to protect the plants 
and stop weeds from growing
PESTICIDES A chemical that is used to kill animals or insects that 
damage plants or crops
POSTHARVEST 
HANDLING
The process of cooling, cleaning, sorting and packing 
produce immediately after it has been harvested
POTTING UP Moving seedlings into larger containers for healthy root 
development
SOIL 
AMENDMENTS
Things added to the soil (chicken manure, straw, or 
compost) to make it healthier and make plants grow 
stronger
SUCCESSION 
PLANTING
To plant crops at multiple times during the season so that 
you can harvest them several times
TILLER A tool used to prepare land for growing crops
T-POSTS Long-lasting, reusable Long metal poles used to trellis 
plants that have vines or do not stand up on their own
TRACTOR A large vehicle that has two large back wheels, two smaller 
front wheels, and is used
WALK 
BEHIND 
TRACTOR 
A walk behind tractor often has a rototiller attachment to 
prepare soil for planting. However, it can be used for many 
different purposes depending on the attachment it has. 
TRANSPLANT Small plant grown from a seed that is grown in a 
greenhouse and will be planted outside in the ground
TRELLIS A frame with long pieces of wood or string that cross each 
other that is used as a support for climbing plants
TWINE String often used in farming for trellising and making hay 
bales. 
PACK/WASH 
STATION
Where crops are cooled, washed and packaged for CSA 
wholesale or market. 
WEEDS Plants that grow very quickly in places they are unwanted 
and often cover or kill other plants
WHEELBARROW A cart with two handles and a large bowl that is used for 
carrying heavy things on a farm
YIELDS The amount of something that is produced by a plant or 
farm
THINNING removing some plants to make room for others to grow
PRUNING Removing parts of the plant to reduce disease, increase 
airflow through the plant, and direct more energy towards 
the fruit of the plant. 
SANITIZE To apply a bacteria-killing cleaning product to implements 
and surfaces, such as bathrooms or food preparation 
spaces.
WHOLESALE 
MARKETS
Selling a larger quantity of our product to a restaurant or 
retailer that will often re-sell the product. 
DIRECT 
MARKETS
Selling your product directly to the customer (farmers 
market, CSA) 
ASSET A part of your business that is beneficial to you. This could 
refer to any financial invest you have made in equipment 
or other infrastructure pieces that you now own. Could 
also refer to non-tangibles such as your experience or 
education. 
LIABILITY Often used to describe something that could affect the 
financial trajectory of your business, such as loans. Could 
be used to describe other factors in your life that could 
negatively affect your business. 
CROP PLAN A plan that you make before you begin planting that 
determines when, what, where and how much of each 
crop you will plant throughout the growing season. 
TRAILER A tractor attachment used for carrying large loads, such as 
hay or pieces of equipment. 
SOIL TEST A test that can tell you how much fertility is in your soil, 
and how much (and what kinds) should be added for 
optimal production. 
NPK The macro nutrients in soil, what crops need the most of. 
Stands for nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. 
FERTILITY The amount of plant nutrients, and the availability of 
those nutrients, in your soil. 
ORGANIC 
MATTER
A component of soil that is made up of once-living things 
(as compared to the majority of soil which is made up of 
things that are mineral). 
ROW COVER A fabric material that is installed over crops to exclude 
pests and / or warm the air around the plant. 
WELL A structure where water is pulled from the ground. 
PUMP An engine used for moving water from a water source to 
where water is needed. 
MARKETING A strategy to promote, coordinate and sell your product. 
BUSINESS 
LICENSE
A permit issued by the government that makes a business 
official, in terms of taxes, protections and other rights and 
responsibilities. 
COOPERATIVE 
EXTENSION 
Agricultural services in each county in the state that 
provide Training and technical assistance for agricultural 
producers of all kinds. 
BRAND An identity for your business, includes your name, your 
logo, and the way you market yourself. 
LOGO The name of your business written in a particular way, to 
be used in all marketing and business purposes. 
WASH/PACK 
STATION
A set place on the farm where produce is washed and 
packed. Contains sinks, handwashing stations and counter 
space to pack our produce. 
WALK IN 
COOLER / 
COLD 
STORAGE
A large enclosed refrigerated space to store large amount 
of produce. 
WAX BOX A carboard box that has a wax coating, intended to keep 
their shape even if carrying produce that has some 
moisture. 
RPC, 
REUSABLE 
PRODUCE 
CRATE
Usually plastic, porous, large totes used for harvesting and 
storing produce. 
PALLET A wood platform that is used to keep containers of 
produce off the floor, and for easy moving. 
USDA United States Department of Agriculture. Provides grants 
and technical support for agriculture and conservation. 
BUSINESS 
INCORPORATION
A classification for a business that has benefits such as 
liability protection or tax incentives. 
TROWEL A small hand shovel used for digging small amounts of soil. 
HOE A tool for killing weeds and making beds
RAKE A tool for distributing materials (soil, mulch or compost) 
and making beds.
SHOVEL A tool or moving larger quantities of materials like 
compost, or digging into the ground to make beds or 
harvest potatoes, for example. 
SOIL 
TEXTURE
The percentage of sand, silt and clay particles in the soil, 
which determines how water and nutrients move through 
the soil. 
CHEMICAL 
FERTILIZER
Nutrients for plants that are chemically derived and 
human-made. 
MANURE Animal waste that is rich in nutrients. 
CLAY
SAND A large soil particle
ORGANIC 
FERTILIZER
Includes compost, manure, minerals, and other materials 
from the natural environment
FROST A layer of ice that settles on the ground during cool nights 
(commonly when the temperature goes below 32 degrees 
F.) 
GROWING 
SEASON
The period of time during the year when you can produce 
crops (depending on temperature and daylight etc.). 
FROST-FREE
DATES
The period of time between the last frost in the spring and 
the first frost of the fall.