Cut in production (4)
I believe the answer is:
crop
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'cut' is the first definition.
(cropping is a kind of cutting)
'production' is the second definition.
(crop is a kind of production)
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for crop that I've seen before include "Yield from a single growing season" , "Line (of mountains)" , "hair style" , "Trim (a photograph)" , "Short cut - taken when hunting?" .)