Assessor Resource

AHCAGB506
Manage application technology

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to provide information or manage application technology in crops or pastures. The technology applies to the application of chemicals such as herbicides, fungicides, insecticide and fertilisers as well as biological and organic agents.

The unit involves the application of a broad knowledge base to identify and apply solutions to a range of problems. This includes plant morphology and physiology, plant protection, nutrition requirements, environmental impacts, the use of information technology and occupational health and safety hazards.

All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety legislation and codes, and sustainability practices.

This unit of competency applies to work in a range of agricultural or support enterprises, such as agronomists and rural merchants. Work will be undertaken without supervision. Responsibility for and organisation of the work of others involved in the program may be required.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Analyse application requirements

1.1 Determine goals for application of agents following a review of enterprise production plans and in consultation with land manager

1.2 Access and review records of previous nutrition, pest, weed and disease management including the application of any agents

1.3 Access and review relevant climate, environmental and geographic data from available information systems and sources

1.4 Access and review yield monitoring data including yield variability

1.5 Access and review relevant soil, plant and water information from tests and records

2. Develop an application plan

2.1 Identify performance targets and indicators in the plan

2.2 Select appropriate agent/s, including adjuvants, method of application and equipment based on site analysis, recommendations, production requirements, environmental conditions and manufacturer’s specifications

2.3 Select spray nozzles to achieve the optimum droplet size with minimal variation and deliver the appropriate liquid flow rate for the selected agent in the desired spray distribution pattern

2.4 Determine and monitor measures to control factors influencing the level of spray drift

2.5 Determine procedures to ensure compliance with the range of appropriate federal, state and local government legislation and regulations

2.6 Identify work health and safety hazards, assess risks and implement appropriate controls

2.7 Determine environmental impacts of application and implement appropriate clean up strategies to the area

2.8 Determine scheduling for applications taking the range of seasonal, geographic and resourcing factors into consideration

2.9 Determine the type, format, frequency and detail of record keeping required by legislation and undertaken by manager(s) and operators

3. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the application plan

3.1 Evaluate the effectiveness of the application at key points and make adjustments as necessary

3.2 Monitor and assess environmental impacts and work health and safety hazards relating to application strategies throughout the implementation process

3.3 Make modifications to the plan as and when necessary for environmental, work health and safety, resourcing or effectiveness reasons

3.4 Analyse data, observations and documentation from the implementation of the application plan against the plan according to enterprise guidelines

3.5 Prepare recommendations for future strategies based on the analysis of the data

3.6 Record details of the implementation including information on any difficulties or issues faced, technical details, environmental and work health and safety impacts, recommendation for future action, results, costs and any available data analysis

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

interpret, analyse and extract information from a range of sources

establish processes, strategies, procedures and controls for the application of chemical and biological agents

prepare written plans and procedures for implementation by others

explain and deliver instructions about the plans and scheduling of operations

identify and react appropriately to environmental implications and work health and safety hazards

identify and assess weeds, pests, diseases and nutritional and other deficiencies

formulate efficient, cost effective control programs

read and interpret manufacturer’s instructions and agent labels

record recommendations and applications.

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

characteristics of pest, weed and disease species including their life cycles and reproduction capability

principles of integrated pest and weed management

range and classes of fertilisers, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides available and their basic chemistry

growth stages of weeds and plant morphology

the effects on crops of weeds, pests, diseases and/or lack of soil fertility

mode of action of chemical or biological control agents and long term effects of these agents with respect to plant back periods and resistance

range and effect of different nozzles, pressures, spray patterns, droplet sizes and basic physics of droplets and fluids

work health and safety hazards and controls and environmental impacts

best management practices and processes to minimise the impact of agents

federal, state and local government legislation and regulations.

Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Analyse application requirements

1.1 Determine goals for application of agents following a review of enterprise production plans and in consultation with land manager

1.2 Access and review records of previous nutrition, pest, weed and disease management including the application of any agents

1.3 Access and review relevant climate, environmental and geographic data from available information systems and sources

1.4 Access and review yield monitoring data including yield variability

1.5 Access and review relevant soil, plant and water information from tests and records

2. Develop an application plan

2.1 Identify performance targets and indicators in the plan

2.2 Select appropriate agent/s, including adjuvants, method of application and equipment based on site analysis, recommendations, production requirements, environmental conditions and manufacturer’s specifications

2.3 Select spray nozzles to achieve the optimum droplet size with minimal variation and deliver the appropriate liquid flow rate for the selected agent in the desired spray distribution pattern

2.4 Determine and monitor measures to control factors influencing the level of spray drift

2.5 Determine procedures to ensure compliance with the range of appropriate federal, state and local government legislation and regulations

2.6 Identify work health and safety hazards, assess risks and implement appropriate controls

2.7 Determine environmental impacts of application and implement appropriate clean up strategies to the area

2.8 Determine scheduling for applications taking the range of seasonal, geographic and resourcing factors into consideration

2.9 Determine the type, format, frequency and detail of record keeping required by legislation and undertaken by manager(s) and operators

3. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the application plan

3.1 Evaluate the effectiveness of the application at key points and make adjustments as necessary

3.2 Monitor and assess environmental impacts and work health and safety hazards relating to application strategies throughout the implementation process

3.3 Make modifications to the plan as and when necessary for environmental, work health and safety, resourcing or effectiveness reasons

3.4 Analyse data, observations and documentation from the implementation of the application plan against the plan according to enterprise guidelines

3.5 Prepare recommendations for future strategies based on the analysis of the data

3.6 Record details of the implementation including information on any difficulties or issues faced, technical details, environmental and work health and safety impacts, recommendation for future action, results, costs and any available data analysis

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

interpret, analyse and extract information from a range of sources

establish processes, strategies, procedures and controls for the application of chemical and biological agents

prepare written plans and procedures for implementation by others

explain and deliver instructions about the plans and scheduling of operations

identify and react appropriately to environmental implications and work health and safety hazards

identify and assess weeds, pests, diseases and nutritional and other deficiencies

formulate efficient, cost effective control programs

read and interpret manufacturer’s instructions and agent labels

record recommendations and applications.

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

characteristics of pest, weed and disease species including their life cycles and reproduction capability

principles of integrated pest and weed management

range and classes of fertilisers, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides available and their basic chemistry

growth stages of weeds and plant morphology

the effects on crops of weeds, pests, diseases and/or lack of soil fertility

mode of action of chemical or biological control agents and long term effects of these agents with respect to plant back periods and resistance

range and effect of different nozzles, pressures, spray patterns, droplet sizes and basic physics of droplets and fluids

work health and safety hazards and controls and environmental impacts

best management practices and processes to minimise the impact of agents

federal, state and local government legislation and regulations.

Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Determine goals for application of agents following a review of enterprise production plans and in consultation with land manager 
Access and review records of previous nutrition, pest, weed and disease management including the application of any agents 
Access and review relevant climate, environmental and geographic data from available information systems and sources 
Access and review yield monitoring data including yield variability 
Access and review relevant soil, plant and water information from tests and records 
Identify performance targets and indicators in the plan 
Select appropriate agent/s, including adjuvants, method of application and equipment based on site analysis, recommendations, production requirements, environmental conditions and manufacturer’s specifications 
Select spray nozzles to achieve the optimum droplet size with minimal variation and deliver the appropriate liquid flow rate for the selected agent in the desired spray distribution pattern 
Determine and monitor measures to control factors influencing the level of spray drift 
Determine procedures to ensure compliance with the range of appropriate federal, state and local government legislation and regulations 
Identify work health and safety hazards, assess risks and implement appropriate controls 
Determine environmental impacts of application and implement appropriate clean up strategies to the area 
Determine scheduling for applications taking the range of seasonal, geographic and resourcing factors into consideration 
Determine the type, format, frequency and detail of record keeping required by legislation and undertaken by manager(s) and operators 
Evaluate the effectiveness of the application at key points and make adjustments as necessary 
Monitor and assess environmental impacts and work health and safety hazards relating to application strategies throughout the implementation process 
Make modifications to the plan as and when necessary for environmental, work health and safety, resourcing or effectiveness reasons 
Analyse data, observations and documentation from the implementation of the application plan against the plan according to enterprise guidelines 
Prepare recommendations for future strategies based on the analysis of the data 
Record details of the implementation including information on any difficulties or issues faced, technical details, environmental and work health and safety impacts, recommendation for future action, results, costs and any available data analysis 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCAGB506 - Manage application technology
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

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Assessment Record Sheet

AHCAGB506 - Manage application technology

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: