Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to assist others to maintain agricultural crops.
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 work under general supervision and exercise limited autonomy with some accountability for own work. They undertake defined activities and work in a structured context.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Element | Performance criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Prepare for agricultural crop maintenance operations | 1.1 Follow instruction for crop maintenance activities and clarify any special operating instructions 1.2 Select and prepare appropriate machinery, equipment and tools 1.3 Identify work health and safety hazards in crop maintenance and report to supervisor 1.4 Select, use and maintain suitable personal protective equipment |
2. Assist with the implementation of maintenance operations | 2.1 Assist with the implementation of the crop weed control program 2.2 Assist with the implementation of the crop pest and disease control program 2.3 Assist with the implementation of the crop nutrition program 2.4 Assist with the implementation of paddock maintenance duties 2.5 Assist with the implementation of any appropriate irrigation duties |
3. Complete maintenance operation | 3.1 Clean and sterilise tools and equipment appropriately 3.2 Dispose of all containers, leftover fluids, waste and debris according to enterprise polices and minimising the impact on the environment 3.3 Complete all required workplace records appropriately 3.4 Apply enterprise biosecurity polices |
Evidence of 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:
prepare machinery, equipment and tools to maintain crops
conduct scheduled routine checks on machinery and vehicles for oil levels, tyre pressures, water levels and greasing points
assist with cropping duties including weed control, pest and disease control, crop nutrition and paddock maintenance
report the presence of weeds, pests and disease in crops
record the details of crop maintenance
identify hazards and follow safety directions at work
read and interpret a range of workplace information
calibrate equipment
measure quantities of treatment
operate machinery to manufacturer's specifications and enterprise procedures
safely apply under supervision appropriate agricultural chemicals in weed and pest control programs
follow enterprise work health and safety policies in the context of own work
follow enterprise biosecurity policies in the context of own work.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
operations of a range of cropping machinery
importance of correct timing and procedures for crop maintenance
weed control in crops
pest and disease control
crop nutrition
methods of waste disposal causing minimal impact on the environment
enterprise work health and safety and biosecurity polices.
Assessment Conditions
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.
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Broad acre cropping (BAC)