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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Plan for forage conservation
   • Determine the resource needs and end use requirements of forage conservation in the farm production system
   • Define forage conservation options and cost benefit
   • Select appropriate paddocks for forage conservation with regard to species selection and target growth stage
   • Select appropriate forage conservation machinery, equipment and personal protective equipment in accordance with manufacturer's specifications, work health and safety requirements and industry practice
   • Assess technology to ensure most efficient performance of operations
   • Ensure safe access to paddocks for harvesting and transport machinery
   • Plan and prepare storage facility or system for selected forage conservation method
   • Identify and minimise potential environmental impacts of forage conservation activities
   • Negotiate contracts and costs including crop inputs, machinery, harvest area and storage sites where applicable
   • Communicate details of work activities with workers or contractors where applicable
   • Identify work health and safety hazards and risks in forage conservation and develop control strategies
2. Prepare paddocks for forage conservation
   • Identify need for fertiliser, irrigation, weed control and grazing or slashing before closing paddock to stock at appropriate time
   • Identify optimum time for harvest of key species
   • Monitor and control weeds, pests and diseases
3. Oversee forage harvesting operations
   • Establish dry matter targets for the selected method of forage conservation
   • Monitor seasonal and current weather conditions to determine optimum time for harvest and to ensure quality
   • Assess condition and dry matter content of the crop throughout the harvesting operation
   • Select harvesting and conditioning machinery based on weather conditions and forage drying targets
   • Ensure that harvesting activities are conducted in a safe, controlled and efficient manner
   • Ensure that baling, wrapping, compacting, sealing or storage of forage is in accordance with storage plan
   • Ensure that forage is safely loaded, transported and stored in accordance with work health and safety and quality requirements and to minimise spoilage and the risk of combustion
4. Complete operation
   • Complete records in accordance with quality assurance requirements and industry practice
   • Ensure waste and debris is disposed of to minimise environmental impact
   • Ensure that machinery and ancillary equipment is cleaned and serviced in accordance with manufacturer's specifications, work health and safety requirements and industry practice
   • Conduct quality checks on stored forage
   • Monitor and minimise environmental impacts of forage conservation activities including concentration of nutrients at field out areas and effluent run-off
   • Implement enterprise biosecurity policies

Range Statement

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Performance Evidence

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:

assess the need for and implications of forage conservation in the farming system

select and implement a forage conservation system

perform harvesting operations

assess cost benefit and forage conservation options

select appropriate forage conservation method

select suitable forage conservation machinery

apply correct use of technology to improve efficiency

oversee harvest, forage preparation and storage

record work activities

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

implement enterprise biosecurity policies in the context of the work team

implement enterprise environmentally sustainability practices.

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Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

forage conservation options and cost benefit economic analysis

silage and hay conservation systems

factors affecting the quality of silage and hay

dry matter content, quality and hygiene requirements

range and functions of silage and haymaking machinery and equipment

role of technology in improving efficiency

common weeds, pests and diseases associated with crops and pastures

types and application of personal protective equipment

work health and safety legislation and regulations including licensing requirements in relation to forage operations

risk factors including human and animal health, weather, harvesting and environmental

enterprise biosecurity policies and environmental sustainability practices.

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