Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

AHCBAC408 Mapping and Delivery Guide
Manage agricultural crop production

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency AHCBAC408 - Manage agricultural crop production
Description
Employability Skills
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to manage agricultural crop 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.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.

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.
Prerequisites/co-requisites
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities 		Slides
PPT 		Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Determine requirements for an agricultural crop establishment program
  • Select plant varieties that are best suited to soil, climate, seasonal conditions and marketing goals
  • Determine required irrigation schedules where required for each soil and crop type based on assessed water requirements, rainfall and evapotranspiration data
  • Assess nutrient requirements for crops to determine appropriate fertiliser program
  • Assess technology to ensure most efficient performance of operations
  • Identify and maintain budgetary constraints
  • Develop a crop establishment program appropriate to the crop production plan
  • Identify work health and safety hazards and develop control strategies in establishing agricultural crops
       
Element: Implement crop maintenance
  • Implement strategic grazing to reduce or eradicate areas of weed infestation
  • Determine fertiliser applications and rates appropriate to crop type and applied accordingly
  • Determine crop nutrient requirements to ensure sustainability and achievement of yield
  • Monitor soil moisture and adjust watering schedule if appropriate
  • Determine and implement processes to minimise waste and soil degradation appropriately
       
Element: Monitor an agricultural crop through to harvest
  • Determine longer term trends in weed, pest and disease incidence, and implement any necessary changes to control measures
  • Monitor soil structure and erosion and determine necessary changes to cultural practices, grazing management and drainage
  • Check and maintain irrigation and drainage systems
  • Monitor grazing management to ensure crop production levels
  • Monitor crop maturity and undertake harvesting to meet marketing and production targets
       
Element: Implement the harvest strategy
  • Follow the harvesting plan to apply pre-harvest pest control treatments where weather patterns permit
  • Ensure adherence to all work health and safety and environmental requirements throughout the application of preharvest treatments and throughout the harvest
  • Ensure that all required labour and equipment is ready and available at the scheduled place and time
  • Commence the harvest at the scheduled time
  • Follow the order of the harvest described in the harvesting plan
  • Monitor harvesting operations and adjust to allow for weather, contracting and equipment maintenance needs
  • Instruct truck, tractor and harvester operators on procedures to deliver each crop load at maximum quality
       
Element: Record production
  • Maintain appropriate records of production for analysis and evaluation of production performance
       


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. Determine requirements for an agricultural crop establishment program

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

1.2 Determine required irrigation schedules where required for each soil and crop type based on assessed water requirements, rainfall and evapotranspiration data

1.3 Assess nutrient requirements for crops to determine appropriate fertiliser program

1.4 Assess technology to ensure most efficient performance of operations

1.5 Identify and maintain budgetary constraints

1.6 Develop a crop establishment program appropriate to the crop production plan

1.7 Identify work health and safety hazards and develop control strategies in establishing agricultural crops

2. Implement crop maintenance

2.1 Implement strategic grazing to reduce or eradicate areas of weed infestation

2.2 Determine fertiliser applications and rates appropriate to crop type and applied accordingly

2.3 Determine crop nutrient requirements to ensure sustainability and achievement of yield

2.4 Monitor soil moisture and adjust watering schedule if appropriate

2.5 Determine and implement processes to minimise waste and soil degradation appropriately

3. Monitor an agricultural crop through to harvest

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

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

3.3 Check and maintain irrigation and drainage systems

3.4 Monitor grazing management to ensure crop production levels

3.5 Monitor crop maturity and undertake harvesting to meet marketing and production targets

4. Implement the harvest strategy

4.1 Follow the harvesting plan to apply pre-harvest pest control treatments where weather patterns permit

4.2 Ensure adherence to all work health and safety and environmental requirements throughout the application of preharvest treatments and throughout the harvest

4.3 Ensure that all required labour and equipment is ready and available at the scheduled place and time

4.4 Commence the harvest at the scheduled time

4.5 Follow the order of the harvest described in the harvesting plan

4.6 Monitor harvesting operations and adjust to allow for weather, contracting and equipment maintenance needs

4.7 Instruct truck, tractor and harvester operators on procedures to deliver each crop load at maximum quality

5. Record production

5.1 Maintain appropriate records of production for analysis and evaluation of production performance

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:

apply environmental protection strategies in land use

set objectives and milestones for a cropping program

determine soil quality and land use capability

determine crop nutrient requirements and fertiliser requirements

measure and assess quantities of fertiliser to meet plant requirements

predict patterns of weed infestation

manage irrigation processes to avoid soil degradation if applicable

demonstrate use of technology to improve efficiency

prepare budgets

develop a cropping program for an enterprise

plan for crop establishment

monitor growing crops, provide inputs and carry out cultural practices as required

develop a plan for the crop harvest

monitor crop yields and evaluate production performance

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

implement enterprise environmental sustainability practices in the context of the work team.

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

land and soil conditions

effects of soil characteristics on nutrient availability

role of technology in improving efficiency

budgeting and financial analysis techniques

environmental protection strategies

cultivation requirements for different types of crop

safe handling processes for fertilisers

infestation patterns for different types of weed

integrated strategies for the management of pests, weeds and diseases

work health and safety legislative requirements

environmental legislation and codes of practice, relating to farm production.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, 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. Determine requirements for an agricultural crop establishment program

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

1.2 Determine required irrigation schedules where required for each soil and crop type based on assessed water requirements, rainfall and evapotranspiration data

1.3 Assess nutrient requirements for crops to determine appropriate fertiliser program

1.4 Assess technology to ensure most efficient performance of operations

1.5 Identify and maintain budgetary constraints

1.6 Develop a crop establishment program appropriate to the crop production plan

1.7 Identify work health and safety hazards and develop control strategies in establishing agricultural crops

2. Implement crop maintenance

2.1 Implement strategic grazing to reduce or eradicate areas of weed infestation

2.2 Determine fertiliser applications and rates appropriate to crop type and applied accordingly

2.3 Determine crop nutrient requirements to ensure sustainability and achievement of yield

2.4 Monitor soil moisture and adjust watering schedule if appropriate

2.5 Determine and implement processes to minimise waste and soil degradation appropriately

3. Monitor an agricultural crop through to harvest

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

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

3.3 Check and maintain irrigation and drainage systems

3.4 Monitor grazing management to ensure crop production levels

3.5 Monitor crop maturity and undertake harvesting to meet marketing and production targets

4. Implement the harvest strategy

4.1 Follow the harvesting plan to apply pre-harvest pest control treatments where weather patterns permit

4.2 Ensure adherence to all work health and safety and environmental requirements throughout the application of preharvest treatments and throughout the harvest

4.3 Ensure that all required labour and equipment is ready and available at the scheduled place and time

4.4 Commence the harvest at the scheduled time

4.5 Follow the order of the harvest described in the harvesting plan

4.6 Monitor harvesting operations and adjust to allow for weather, contracting and equipment maintenance needs

4.7 Instruct truck, tractor and harvester operators on procedures to deliver each crop load at maximum quality

5. Record production

5.1 Maintain appropriate records of production for analysis and evaluation of production performance

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
Select plant varieties that are best suited to soil, climate, seasonal conditions and marketing goals 
Determine required irrigation schedules where required for each soil and crop type based on assessed water requirements, rainfall and evapotranspiration data 
Assess nutrient requirements for crops to determine appropriate fertiliser program 
Assess technology to ensure most efficient performance of operations 
Identify and maintain budgetary constraints 
Develop a crop establishment program appropriate to the crop production plan 
Identify work health and safety hazards and develop control strategies in establishing agricultural crops 
Implement strategic grazing to reduce or eradicate areas of weed infestation 
Determine fertiliser applications and rates appropriate to crop type and applied accordingly 
Determine crop nutrient requirements to ensure sustainability and achievement of yield 
Monitor soil moisture and adjust watering schedule if appropriate 
Determine and implement processes to minimise waste and soil degradation appropriately 
Determine longer term trends in weed, pest and disease incidence, and implement any necessary changes to control measures 
Monitor soil structure and erosion and determine necessary changes to cultural practices, grazing management and drainage 
Check and maintain irrigation and drainage systems 
Monitor grazing management to ensure crop production levels 
Monitor crop maturity and undertake harvesting to meet marketing and production targets 
Follow the harvesting plan to apply pre-harvest pest control treatments where weather patterns permit 
Ensure adherence to all work health and safety and environmental requirements throughout the application of preharvest treatments and throughout the harvest 
Ensure that all required labour and equipment is ready and available at the scheduled place and time 
Commence the harvest at the scheduled time 
Follow the order of the harvest described in the harvesting plan 
Monitor harvesting operations and adjust to allow for weather, contracting and equipment maintenance needs 
Instruct truck, tractor and harvester operators on procedures to deliver each crop load at maximum quality 
Maintain appropriate records of production for analysis and evaluation of production performance 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCBAC408 - Manage agricultural crop production
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

AHCBAC408 - Manage agricultural crop 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:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: