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

AHCBAC507A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Develop production plans for crops

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency AHCBAC507A - Develop production plans for crops
Description This unit covers the process of developing production plans for agricultural and horticultural crops and defines the standard required to: prepare budgets and gross margins; source and interpret relevant benchmark information from consultants or peers; sample soils and plant tissue for testing; select crop species and variety and determine yield potential for crop; prepare individual paddock plans and a whole farm cropping plan.
Employability Skills This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit applies to production managers is likely to be undertaken without supervision, with only technical advice sought from others. It requires knowledge of determinants of crop types and yields, market prices, gross margins, cash flow budgets and disease and pest management for relevant crops.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
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: Select crop species and variety
  • Crop types and varieties are assessed and selected for their market potential and gross margin returns for the farm environment.
  • Most profitable cultural practices and rotations are selected consistent with disease and pest management strategies, available machinery resources, and management for sustainability of resources.
  • Production risks are identified for each crop and strategies to address these are determined.
  • Environmental risks are identified and strategies developed as appropriate.
       
Element: Establish yield potential and quality specification for crop
  • Relevant benchmark yields are sourced, where available, to assist setting target yields.
  • Past production records are analysed to determine the key determinants of yield.
  • Available models for calculating water use efficiency or other key determinants of yield are used, as appropriate, to assist in setting target yields.
  • Quality specifications and target yields are established for all crops.
       
Element: Prepare crop program
  • Proposed crop land areas are assessed for their nutrient, pest and disease status, water reserves, tillage requirements, and other factors before selecting crop variety.
  • Records of chemical use are used, as appropriate, to assist planning to reduce chemical resistance.
  • Crop variety is selected and paddock preparation, planting, fertilising and other treatments are planned.
  • Optimum timing of planting, applications and treatments is determined and a calendar of operations is prepared.
  • Cash flow budget for the cropping program is determined.
       
Element: Review production plan
  • Logistical arrangements related to harvesting/transportation/marketing and other key operations are planned for the production cycle.
  • Machinery and equipment requirements are planned and checked for the crop production cycle.
  • Labour requirements are identified and planned for the crop production cycle.
  • Seed, fertiliser, pest and disease treatments and other input requirements are identified.
  • Physical and financial record keeping system is established to provide data for the analysis of crop performance, and to meet other statutory requirements including records of chemical use.
  • Production plan is reviewed, amended where required and documented as a final plan.
       


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.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

prepare budgets and gross margins

source and interpret relevant benchmark

information from consultants or peers

sample soils and plant tissue for testing

select crop species and variety and determine yield potential for crop

prepare individual paddock plans and a whole farm cropping plan.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.


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.

Required skills

prepare budgets and gross margins

source and interpret relevant benchmark information from consultants or peers

sample soils and plant tissue for testing

manage and monitor crop diaries and associated records

select crop species and variety

source and interpret relevant benchmark information

determine yield potential for crop

prepare crop programs

review, amend and document the production plan

use literacy skills to fulfil job roles as required by the organisation. The level of skill may range from reading and understanding documentation to completion of written reports

use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views

use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record complex workplace measures

use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge

determinants of crop yield

cultural practices related to cropping

market prices, gross margins, cash flow budgets

benchmark performance indicators

disease and pest management for relevant crops

machinery and equipment requirements for cropping

record keeping systems (computer or non-computer).

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Crops may include

all horticultural crops

all agricultural crops.

Horticultural crops may include

all fruit

vegetables

herbs

flowers

foliage

bulbs

tubers

nuts

fungi

wild harvest plants

oils

olives

grains

seeds

hops

other specialised crops not specifically named as broadacre crops.

Agricultural crops

canola

wheat

hay

barley

oats

rice

triticale

maize

millet

chickpeas

cotton

faba beans

lucerne lupins

pigeon peas

sorghum

soybean

sunflower

other crops grown as part of a broadacre mixed farming enterprise not specifically named as horticultural crops.

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
Crop types and varieties are assessed and selected for their market potential and gross margin returns for the farm environment. 
Most profitable cultural practices and rotations are selected consistent with disease and pest management strategies, available machinery resources, and management for sustainability of resources. 
Production risks are identified for each crop and strategies to address these are determined. 
Environmental risks are identified and strategies developed as appropriate. 
Relevant benchmark yields are sourced, where available, to assist setting target yields. 
Past production records are analysed to determine the key determinants of yield. 
Available models for calculating water use efficiency or other key determinants of yield are used, as appropriate, to assist in setting target yields. 
Quality specifications and target yields are established for all crops. 
Proposed crop land areas are assessed for their nutrient, pest and disease status, water reserves, tillage requirements, and other factors before selecting crop variety. 
Records of chemical use are used, as appropriate, to assist planning to reduce chemical resistance. 
Crop variety is selected and paddock preparation, planting, fertilising and other treatments are planned. 
Optimum timing of planting, applications and treatments is determined and a calendar of operations is prepared. 
Cash flow budget for the cropping program is determined. 
Logistical arrangements related to harvesting/transportation/marketing and other key operations are planned for the production cycle. 
Machinery and equipment requirements are planned and checked for the crop production cycle. 
Labour requirements are identified and planned for the crop production cycle. 
Seed, fertiliser, pest and disease treatments and other input requirements are identified. 
Physical and financial record keeping system is established to provide data for the analysis of crop performance, and to meet other statutory requirements including records of chemical use. 
Production plan is reviewed, amended where required and documented as a final plan. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCBAC507A - Develop production plans for crops
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

AHCBAC507A - Develop production plans for crops

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: