Elements and Performance Criteria
- Prepare for forage conservation
- Confirm forage conservation options using the production plan
- Identify risk factors for spoilage in forage conservation such as fire, vermin and air in silage
- Confirm that paddock conditions are suitable for forage production
- Prepare forage conservation machinery and equipment
- Ensure clear access to paddocks for harvesting and transport machinery
- Prepare storage facility for selected forage conservation method
- Identify work health and safety hazards in forage conservation and assess risks
- Prepare paddocks for forage conservation
- Make forage
- Implement work health and safety procedures for forage conservation
- Monitor weather conditions
- Identify dry matter target and assess dry matter content of forage material for the forage operation
- Mow, condition, tedder and rake swaths depending on weather conditions and forage drying targets
- Conduct harvesting activities
- Apply technology to ensure most efficient performance of operations
- Check equipment during harvesting operations regularly for wear and damage
- Bale, wrap, compact, seal or store forage to the storage plan
- Load, transport, and store or compact (if required) forage appropriately
- Store forage to minimise risk of spoilage and combustion
- Complete operations
- Complete records appropriately
- Dispose of all waste and debris appropriately
- Clean and service machinery and ancillary equipment appropriately
- Test or sample stored forage for quality
- Report on environmental impacts of forage conservation activities such as effluent run off to supervisor
- Apply enterprise biosecurity policies