Assessor Resource

AHCBAC503
Manage integrated crop and pasture production

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to manage integrated crop and pasture production.

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

This unit applies to individuals who demonstrate deep knowledge in a specific technical area, take personal responsibility and exercise autonomy in undertaking complex work. They organise the work of self and others and analyse, design and communicate solutions to sometimes complex problems.

No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to 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. Develop a pasture and crop program

1.1 Establish production targets for each crop and pasture type consistent with marketing and enterprise objectives

1.2 Select plant varieties that are best suited to soil, climate, seasonal conditions and marketing goals

1.3 Determine irrigation schedules, where required, for each soil and crop or pasture type based on assessed water requirements, rainfall and evapo-transpiration data

1.4 Assess nutrient requirements for crops and pastures to determine appropriate fertiliser program

1.5 Assess technology to ensure most efficient performance of operations

1.6 Identify and maintain budgetary constraints appropriately

1.7 Develop a pasture and crop program to meet production targets and enterprise objectives

1.8 Identify work health and safety hazards in crop & pasture management and develop control strategies

2. Implement pasture and crop management program

2.1 Implement pasture and crop program and monitor pasture capacity appropriately

2.2 Implement planned strategic grazing, where necessary, to reduce or eradicate areas of weed infestation

2.3 Determine and conduct fertiliser applications and rates appropriate to crop or pasture type

2.4 Apply crop and pasture nutrient requirements to ensure achievement of yield and sustainability of pasture

2.5 Monitor soil moisture schedule watering, and adjust as required

2.6 Determine and implement appropriate processes to minimise waste, soil degradation and environmental standards

3. Monitor crop or pasture growth and fodder production

3.1 Determine longer term trends in weed, pest and disease incidence and implement any necessary control measures changes

3.2 Monitor soil structure and erosion, determine and implement any necessary changes to cultural practices, grazing management and drainage

3.3 Check and maintain irrigation and drainage systems

3.4 Monitor grazing management

3.5 Integrate livestock into the cropping cycle through grazing of pastures returning to crop, stubbles and crop residues, and dual purpose crops

3.6 Identify feed surpluses and deficiencies and take appropriate action

3.7 Monitor crop or pasture maturity is monitored and conduct harvesting to meet marketing and production targets

4. Review production level

4.1 Monitor pasture and crop yields and evaluate against forecast production levels

4.2 Evaluate efficiency and effectiveness of grazing and cropping programs and document for future best practice

4.3 Evaluate production performance of each enterprise and document for management program review

4.4 Maintain appropriate production records for production performance analysis and evaluation

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:

measure and assess quantities of fertiliser

apply environmental protection strategies in land use

set objectives and milestones

determine soil quality and land use capability

predict patterns of weed infestation

design irrigation processes to avoid soil degradation

apply correct use of technology to improve efficiency

assess financial strategies and prepare budgets

develop a pasture and crop program to meet production targets and enterprise objectives

maintain the productivity of crops and pastures in a farming system

monitor soil structure and erosion and make required changes to cultural practices and grazing management

implement grazing strategies to optimise pasture and livestock production levels and support the cropping program

evaluate grazing and cropping programs for efficiency and effectiveness

use physical and financial records of production to evaluate production performance

implement work health and safety policies in the context of the work team.

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

land and soil conditions

effects of nutrients of soil types

crop and pasture production financial analysis techniques

environmental standards

cultivation requirements for different types of crop

safe handling processes for fertilisers

role of technology in improving efficiency

infestation patterns for different types of weed

work health and safety legislation codes of practice and enterprise procedures.

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. Develop a pasture and crop program

1.1 Establish production targets for each crop and pasture type consistent with marketing and enterprise objectives

1.2 Select plant varieties that are best suited to soil, climate, seasonal conditions and marketing goals

1.3 Determine irrigation schedules, where required, for each soil and crop or pasture type based on assessed water requirements, rainfall and evapo-transpiration data

1.4 Assess nutrient requirements for crops and pastures to determine appropriate fertiliser program

1.5 Assess technology to ensure most efficient performance of operations

1.6 Identify and maintain budgetary constraints appropriately

1.7 Develop a pasture and crop program to meet production targets and enterprise objectives

1.8 Identify work health and safety hazards in crop & pasture management and develop control strategies

2. Implement pasture and crop management program

2.1 Implement pasture and crop program and monitor pasture capacity appropriately

2.2 Implement planned strategic grazing, where necessary, to reduce or eradicate areas of weed infestation

2.3 Determine and conduct fertiliser applications and rates appropriate to crop or pasture type

2.4 Apply crop and pasture nutrient requirements to ensure achievement of yield and sustainability of pasture

2.5 Monitor soil moisture schedule watering, and adjust as required

2.6 Determine and implement appropriate processes to minimise waste, soil degradation and environmental standards

3. Monitor crop or pasture growth and fodder production

3.1 Determine longer term trends in weed, pest and disease incidence and implement any necessary control measures changes

3.2 Monitor soil structure and erosion, determine and implement any necessary changes to cultural practices, grazing management and drainage

3.3 Check and maintain irrigation and drainage systems

3.4 Monitor grazing management

3.5 Integrate livestock into the cropping cycle through grazing of pastures returning to crop, stubbles and crop residues, and dual purpose crops

3.6 Identify feed surpluses and deficiencies and take appropriate action

3.7 Monitor crop or pasture maturity is monitored and conduct harvesting to meet marketing and production targets

4. Review production level

4.1 Monitor pasture and crop yields and evaluate against forecast production levels

4.2 Evaluate efficiency and effectiveness of grazing and cropping programs and document for future best practice

4.3 Evaluate production performance of each enterprise and document for management program review

4.4 Maintain appropriate production records for production performance analysis and evaluation

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:

measure and assess quantities of fertiliser

apply environmental protection strategies in land use

set objectives and milestones

determine soil quality and land use capability

predict patterns of weed infestation

design irrigation processes to avoid soil degradation

apply correct use of technology to improve efficiency

assess financial strategies and prepare budgets

develop a pasture and crop program to meet production targets and enterprise objectives

maintain the productivity of crops and pastures in a farming system

monitor soil structure and erosion and make required changes to cultural practices and grazing management

implement grazing strategies to optimise pasture and livestock production levels and support the cropping program

evaluate grazing and cropping programs for efficiency and effectiveness

use physical and financial records of production to evaluate production performance

implement work health and safety policies in the context of the work team.

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

land and soil conditions

effects of nutrients of soil types

crop and pasture production financial analysis techniques

environmental standards

cultivation requirements for different types of crop

safe handling processes for fertilisers

role of technology in improving efficiency

infestation patterns for different types of weed

work health and safety legislation codes of practice and enterprise procedures.

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
Establish production targets for each crop and pasture type consistent with marketing and enterprise objectives 
Select plant varieties that are best suited to soil, climate, seasonal conditions and marketing goals 
Determine irrigation schedules, where required, for each soil and crop or pasture type based on assessed water requirements, rainfall and evapo-transpiration data 
Assess nutrient requirements for crops and pastures to determine appropriate fertiliser program 
Assess technology to ensure most efficient performance of operations 
Identify and maintain budgetary constraints appropriately 
Develop a pasture and crop program to meet production targets and enterprise objectives 
Identify work health and safety hazards in crop & pasture management and develop control strategies 
Implement pasture and crop program and monitor pasture capacity appropriately 
Implement planned strategic grazing, where necessary, to reduce or eradicate areas of weed infestation 
Determine and conduct fertiliser applications and rates appropriate to crop or pasture type 
Apply crop and pasture nutrient requirements to ensure achievement of yield and sustainability of pasture 
Monitor soil moisture schedule watering, and adjust as required 
Determine and implement appropriate processes to minimise waste, soil degradation and environmental standards 
Determine longer term trends in weed, pest and disease incidence and implement any necessary control measures changes 
Monitor soil structure and erosion, determine and implement any necessary changes to cultural practices, grazing management and drainage 
Check and maintain irrigation and drainage systems 
Monitor grazing management 
Integrate livestock into the cropping cycle through grazing of pastures returning to crop, stubbles and crop residues, and dual purpose crops 
Identify feed surpluses and deficiencies and take appropriate action 
Monitor crop or pasture maturity is monitored and conduct harvesting to meet marketing and production targets 
Monitor pasture and crop yields and evaluate against forecast production levels 
Evaluate efficiency and effectiveness of grazing and cropping programs and document for future best practice 
Evaluate production performance of each enterprise and document for management program review 
Maintain appropriate production records for production performance analysis and evaluation 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCBAC503 - Manage integrated crop and pasture production
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

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

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Result: Competent Not yet competent

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Assessment Record Sheet

AHCBAC503 - Manage integrated crop and pasture production

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:

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Student signature:

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