Assessor Resource

AHCORG506
Manage an agroecology production system

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to use agroecology principles in managing all elements of a farm ecosystem including the soil ecosystem, vegetation, animals, pests and diseases to achieve and maintain overall ecological and economic health of the farm ecosystem and farm production.

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

This unit applies to individuals who take responsibility for their own work and for the quality of the work of others within know parameters and use discretion and judgment in the selection, allocation and use of available resources.

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. Identify the farm agroecosystem functions at a systems level

1.1 Identify and map energy flows through a farm agroecosystem

1.2 Identify and map nutrient cycles through different parts of a farm ecosystem

1.3 Identify disturbance points in the farm ecosystem succession

1.4 Develop a model of the farm ecosystem and its elements

1.5 Identify areas of complexity and simplicity within the farm ecosystem

1.6 Identify ecosystem functions that can be used to replace the use of external inputs in the farm production systems

1.7 Identify interactions between elements of farm ecosystem

1.8 Assess health of existing farm ecosystems

2. Develop plans to enhance farm agroecosystem

2.1 Identify areas within the agroecosystem that require enhancement

2.2 Identify methods that encourage niche development, increase complexity in the farm agroecosystem and improve interactions between different components of farm agroecosystem

2.3 Document the implementation plan

3. Manage Farm Agroecosystems

3.1 Identify and monitor appropriate parts of the ecosystem

3.2 Set up monitoring system

3.3 Comply with requirements for monitoring determined by organic standards and legislative requirements

3.4 Review measured ecosystem and farm production performance with expected performance and adjust plan in response to differences

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:

identify the farm agro ecosystem functions at a systems level

assess the health of existing farm ecosystems

develop plans to enhance farm agroecosystem

manage and monitor the development of a farm ecosystem

review ecosystem and farm production performance

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

advantages of ecological agriculture

ecosystem processes, energy flows, nutrient cycles, biological succession, predator and prey relationships, ecological niche

relationships between ecosystems and agricultural production

application of ecosystem processes to a production system

Competency is to be assessed in the workplace and/or a 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. Identify the farm agroecosystem functions at a systems level

1.1 Identify and map energy flows through a farm agroecosystem

1.2 Identify and map nutrient cycles through different parts of a farm ecosystem

1.3 Identify disturbance points in the farm ecosystem succession

1.4 Develop a model of the farm ecosystem and its elements

1.5 Identify areas of complexity and simplicity within the farm ecosystem

1.6 Identify ecosystem functions that can be used to replace the use of external inputs in the farm production systems

1.7 Identify interactions between elements of farm ecosystem

1.8 Assess health of existing farm ecosystems

2. Develop plans to enhance farm agroecosystem

2.1 Identify areas within the agroecosystem that require enhancement

2.2 Identify methods that encourage niche development, increase complexity in the farm agroecosystem and improve interactions between different components of farm agroecosystem

2.3 Document the implementation plan

3. Manage Farm Agroecosystems

3.1 Identify and monitor appropriate parts of the ecosystem

3.2 Set up monitoring system

3.3 Comply with requirements for monitoring determined by organic standards and legislative requirements

3.4 Review measured ecosystem and farm production performance with expected performance and adjust plan in response to differences

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:

identify the farm agro ecosystem functions at a systems level

assess the health of existing farm ecosystems

develop plans to enhance farm agroecosystem

manage and monitor the development of a farm ecosystem

review ecosystem and farm production performance

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

advantages of ecological agriculture

ecosystem processes, energy flows, nutrient cycles, biological succession, predator and prey relationships, ecological niche

relationships between ecosystems and agricultural production

application of ecosystem processes to a production system

Competency is to be assessed in the workplace and/or a 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
Identify and map energy flows through a farm agroecosystem 
Identify and map nutrient cycles through different parts of a farm ecosystem 
Identify disturbance points in the farm ecosystem succession 
Develop a model of the farm ecosystem and its elements 
Identify areas of complexity and simplicity within the farm ecosystem 
Identify ecosystem functions that can be used to replace the use of external inputs in the farm production systems 
Identify interactions between elements of farm ecosystem 
Assess health of existing farm ecosystems 
Identify areas within the agroecosystem that require enhancement 
Identify methods that encourage niche development, increase complexity in the farm agroecosystem and improve interactions between different components of farm agroecosystem 
Document the implementation plan 
Identify and monitor appropriate parts of the ecosystem 
Set up monitoring system 
Comply with requirements for monitoring determined by organic standards and legislative requirements 
Review measured ecosystem and farm production performance with expected performance and adjust plan in response to differences 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCORG506 - Manage an agroecology production system
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:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

AHCORG506 - Manage an agroecology production system

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: