Glossary

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

Agricultural Land Capability (Potentiel agricole des terres)

The ability of an area to sustain the production of a range of crops without environmental degradation. Capability is based on soil, climate, and other biophysical features. Characteristics such as distance to market are not considered. (also Land Capability)

Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) (Cadre stratégique pour l'agriculture CSA)

The comprehensive policy involving the Government of Canada, provincial and territorial governments, and the agriculture and agri-food industry to help the agricultural sector address emerging challenges (such as increasing domestic and foreign consumer demands), increased global competition and advances in science.

Agroforestry (Agroforesterie ou agrosylviculture)

A land management system that involves the deliberate retention, introduction or mixing of woody plants into agricultural production systems to increase profitability, sustainability, environmental protection and social acceptance.

Algorithm (Algorithme)

A step-by-step procedure for producing a solution to a given problem

B

Beneficial Management Practice (BMP) (Pratique de gestion bénéfique (PGB))

A practice which, when implemented singly or in combination, will reduce any adverse environmental impacts of agricultural activities without sacrificing economic productivity. A Beneficial Management Practice becomes a Best Management Practice when it is successfully implemented in the unique environmental, agronomic, economic, and operating circumstances existing in a particular situation.

C

Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility (CBIF) (Système canadien d'information sur la biodiversité (SCIB))

A Web site dedicated to biodiversity data and information, including a set of interactive tools and web services to visualize species distribution and facilitate application development.

Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI) (Infrastructure canadienne des données géospatiales (ICDG))

The infrastructure set up to provide Canadians with on-demand access to geographic information (e.g., maps and satellite images), related services and applications, in support of sound decision making.

Canadian Institute of Geomatics (CIG) (Association canadienne des sciences géomatiques (ACSG))

The non-profit scientific and technical association representing a large and influential geospatial knowledge network in Canada that is dedicated to advancing the development of geomatics and enhancing public awareness of the role geomatics plays in daily life.

Canadian Information System for the Environment (CISE) Système canadien d'information pour l'environnement (SCIE))

A comprehensive portal, or gateway, to environmental information about air, water, climate and biodiversity.

Conservation Farming (Agriculture de conservation)

A series of agricultural production and agroforestry practices that maintain and improve soil, air and water quality by preventing wind and water erosion, decreasing salinization, increasing organic matter levels, improving soil structure and increasing soil fertility.

Conservation Tillage (Travail de conservation du sol)

See Reduced Tillage

Contour Tillage and Planting (Culture et plantation en courbes de niveau)

The practice of tilling soil and planting crops across the slope, following the shape of the land, to reduce water erosion.

Controlled Drainage System (Système de drainage contrôlé)

A tile drainage system in which the outlet water level is raised during periods of very high crop use (e.g., sub-irrigation) or during non-cropped periods (e.g., winter) to control the effective drainage depth, reduce movement of agro-chemicals from the root zone and improve crop production.

Cover Crop (Culture de couverture)

A crop that is planted late in summer to protect the soil against late fall and early spring erosion, store nutrients for subsequent crops, reduce weeds, host beneficial insects, improve soil structure and increase soil moisture conditions in the spring.

Crop Residue (Résidus de culture)

The roots, chaff, stems, leaves and other organic matter of a crop that are left on farm fields to conserve moisture, improve soil properties, add nutrients and prevent erosion. (also Trash Cover)

Crop Rotation (Rotation de cultures)

The regular sequencing of crops grown in the same field to minimize pest, disease, and weed pressures, thereby maintaining or increasing crop yields and soil quality.

D

Database (Base de données)

A collection of data that is organized so that its contents can easily be accessed, managed and updated.

Data Mart (Dépôt de données)

A repository of data gathered from operational data and other sources that is designed and managed to serve a particular use.

Data Warehouse (Entrepôt de données)

A central repository for all or significant parts of the data that an enterprise's various business systems collect.

Direct Seeding (Semis direct)

See No-till Seeding

Dugout (étang artificiel)

Dugouts are earthen excavations designed to collect runoff and store it for use during drier times. Typically, dugout capacity ranges from a few hundred thousand to several million imperial gallons.

E

Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) (Plan environnemental de la ferme (PEF))

A plan to reduce environmental risks from agriculture through the adoption of beneficial management practices.

Environment Chapter (Chapitre sur l'environnement)

One of the five key elements of the Agricultural Policy Framework (Business Risk Management, Food Safety and Quality, Renewal, Science and Innovation, and Environment) to accelerate efforts to reduce agricultural risks and provide benefits to Canada's water resources, soil, air and biodiversity.

F

G

GeoConnections (Géoconnexions)

A national partnership program led by Natural Resources Canada, to make Canadian geospatial information available on the Internet.

Geo-Dataset (Jeu de données spatiales)

A digital collection of geospatial information primarily managed or edited by geographic information system (GIS) software.

Geographic Information System (GIS) (Système d'information géographique (SIG))

A system of computer software, hardware, data and personnel, which together, manipulates, analyzes, presents and stores information that is tied to a spatial location.

Geomatics (Géomatique)

The science and technology of gathering, analyzing, interpreting, distributing and using geographic information. It encompasses a broad range of disciplines including surveying, mapping and remote sensing, as well as the use of geographic information systems (GIS) and global positioning systems (GPS).

Geospatial Data

The information that identifies the geographic location and characteristics of natural or constructed features and boundaries on the earth. This information may be derived from, among other things, remote sensing, mapping, and surveying technologies.

Global Positioning System (GPS) Système de positionnement global (GPS))

A satellite navigation system providing specially coded satellite signals that can be processed in a GPS receiver, enabling the receiver to compute position, velocity and time.

Grassed Waterway (Voie d'eau gazonnée)

A channel covered with perennial vegetation established for the safe disposal of runoff from diversion terraces, stabilization structures, contoured rows or natural depressions.

H

I

Integrated Pesticide Management (IPM) (Gestion intégére des pesticides (GIP))

A system to minimize pesticide use and optimize pest control by means of an integrated approach, which incorporates other pest control practices such as varied crop rotation and biological control options.

Inter-Agency Committee on Geomatics (IACG) (Comité mixte des organismes intéressés à la géomatique (CMOIG))

The interdepartmental federal co-ordinating body that provides a common federal approach, advice, feedback, leverage and common practices through geomatics communities of practice.

Irrigation (Irrigation)

The timely application of recommended quantities of suitable quality water to agricultural land, to increase crop yields, enhance crop quality and reduce water losses from evaporation and over-application.

J

K

L

Land Capability (Potentiel des terres)

see Agricultural Land Capability

Land Use (Utilisation des terres)

The decisions that are made regarding the types of products, commodities or services that are obtained from the land (e.g., agricultural versus alternative uses).

M

Manure Management (Gestion du fumier)

A series of farming practices to manage manure not as a waste, but as an important source of organic matter and plant nutrients, to increase water holding capacity and nutrient availability in the soil, reduce erosion and help prevent water and air pollution.

Metadata (Métadonnées)

The structured information that describes another set of data ("data about data").

Minimum Tillage (Travail minimum du sol)

See Reduced Tillage

N

National Land and Water Information Service-Geographic Information System (N-GIS) (Système d'information géographique du Service national d'information sur les terres et les eaux (SIG-S))

The platform set up by the National Land and Water Information Service to provide access to geospatial data, services, and applications, including access from AAFC desktops and client Web applications, as well as metadata for external clients to locate information.

No-till Seeding (Culture sans travail du sol)

The practice of seeding crops directly into the previous year's stubble without tillage before seeding to increase soil organic matter, enhance water infiltration, conserve moisture, reduce runoff and minimize soil erosion due to wind, water and tillage. (also Direct Seeding, Zero-till Seeding)

Nutrient Management (Gestion des elements nutritifs)

The balancing of fertilizer and manure applications to increase the amount of organic matter in the soil and prevent air and water pollution through evaporation and runoff.

O

Organic Farming (Agriculture biologique)

An ecological production management system that is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.

P

Pasture Management (Gestion du pâturage)

A series of farming practices which conserve the forage resource.

Precision Farming (Agriculture de precision)

A farming system which uses global positioning systems (GPS) and geographic information system (GIS) software to gather, store, analyze and map data to make farm management decisions and which uses electronically controlled distribution systems to apply farm chemicals at varying rates across fields to minimize inputs and optimize crop production.

Q

R

Reduced Tillage (Travail réduit du sol)

A farm management system that improves the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil by replacing one or more tillage operations with herbicide application to control weeds, or using tillage implements which cause less soil mixing and disturbance. (also Conservation Tillage, Minimum Tillage)

Rotational Grazing (Pâturage en rotation)

A farming practice whereby livestock are periodically moved to fresh paddocks to allow pastures to regrow.

Riparian (Zone riveraine)

An area of land adjacent to a stream, river, lake or wetland that contains vegetation that, due to the presence of water, is distinctly different from the vegetation of adjacent upland areas.

Riparian Buffer System (Système de tampon riverain)

The trees, shrubs and grasses planted or managed between agricultural land and water bodies, including surface and groundwater.

Riparian Habitat (Habitat riverain)

The vegetation growing close to a watercourse, lake, swamp or spring that is generally critical for wildlife cover, fish food organisms, stream nutrients and large organic debris, and for streambank stability.

Riparian Management Zone (Zone de gestion des terres)

The area located adjacent to a stream, wetland or lake of a pre-determined width.

S

Scale (Échelle)

The relationship between distance on a map and the corresponding distance on the ground. At a scale of 1/50,000 for example, one unit of measure on the map represents 50,000 equivalent units of measure on the ground. Medium-scale maps (e.g., 1/50,000) cover smaller areas in greater detail, whereas smaller-scale maps (e.g., 1/250,000) cover larger areas, but in less detail.

Selective Harvesting (Récolte selective)

A tree harvesting method in which certain trees are selected for harvest and others are left on the site for erosion control, to provide wildlife habitat, for re-vegetation, to maintain biodiversity and to protect water quality.

Soil Conservation (Conservation des sols)

The implementation of practices (singly or in combination) that are effective in maintaining or enhancing soil quality, sustaining crop yields and maintaining air and water quality.

Shelterbelt (Brise-vent)

A barrier of trees or shrubs that are planted in farm fields and around farm buildings to reduce wind erosion and conserve moisture.

Strip Cropping (Culture en bandes)

The alternation of crop rows and/or forages across the slope of the land to slow water runoff and reduce erosion.

Strip Farming (Culture en bandes alternantes)

The alternation of strips of cropland and summerfallow as a conservation measure used primarily to control wind erosion.

Summerfallow Minimization or Elimination (Minimisation ou elimination de la jachère)

The substitution of crops for summerfallow in crop rotations, where suitable moisture conditions permit, to increase yields, reduce runoff, lower water tables and maintain soil quality.

Summerfallowing (Jachère)

A production management system where fields are left fallow (no crops grown) for one or more seasons to conserve moisture and capture nutrients in the soil through decomposition of soil organic matter.

Sustainable agriculture (Agriculture durable)

An integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will, over the long term:

• Satisfy human food and fibre needs
• Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends
• Make the most efficient use of non-renewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls
• Sustain the economic viability of farm operations
• Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole

T

Tile Drainage (Drainage par tuyaux)

A system of perforated drainage piping installed underground at designed spacing in order to improve crop production by the removal of excess soil water and the lowering of the water table.

Trash Cover (Couverture de débris végétaux)

See Crop Residue

U

W

Water Erosion Control (Lutte contre l'érosion par l'eau)

The adoption of soil conservation practices, such as reduced tillage, terracing, use of grassed waterways and perennial grass barriers and strip cropping, to prevent soil erosion through uncontrolled field water runoff.

Web Map Service (WMS) (Service de cartographie Web (WMS))

A Web Map Service produces maps of spatially referenced data dynamically from geographic information. This standard defines a “map” to be a portrayal of geographic information as a digital image file suitable for display on a computer screen. WMS-produced maps are generally rendered in a pictorial format to allow a large amount of geographic information to be transferred across a network efficiently.

WMS operations can be invoked using a standard Web browser by submitting requests in the form of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs). The content of such URLs depends on which operation is requested. In particular, when requesting a map, the URL indicates what information is to be shown on the map, what portion of the earth is to be mapped, the desired coordinate reference system and the output image width and height. When two or more maps are produced with the same geographic parameters and output size, the results can be accurately overlaid to produce a composite map. The use of image formats that support transparent backgrounds allows underlying maps to be visible. Furthermore, individual maps can be requested from different servers. The WMS thus enables the creation of a network of distributed map servers from which clients can build customized maps.

Web Service (Service Web)

A software system designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network. Unlike traditional client/server models, Web services do not provide the user with a Graphic User Interface (GUI). Web services instead share business logic, data and processes through a programmatic interface across a network.

Wildlife Corridor (Trajet de passage de la faune)

A travel route that connects areas of wildlife habitat, permits wildlife movement across farmland, and provides food, shelter and protection from predators.

X

Y

Z

Zero-till Seeding

See No-till Seeding