Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare land for 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 work under broad direction and take responsibility for own work including limited responsibility for the work of others. They use discretion and judgement in the selection and use of available resources and complete routine activities.
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 cultivation | 1.1 Confirm work requirements from the planting plan with supervisor 1.2 Confirm the identified method and order of cultivation from the planting plan with supervisor 1.3 Identify work health and safety hazards in land preparation and assess risks implement suitable controls 1.4 Select, use and maintain appropriate personal protective equipment |
2. Prepare the cultivating equipment | 2.1 Confirm appropriate vehicles and equipment required for site cultivation with supervisor and select according to the planting plan 2.2 Confirm that vehicles and equipment are serviced and check that worn parts are replaced and vehicles are adjusted for the conditions 2.3 Dispose of all containers, leftover fluids, waste and debris from the maintenance and servicing work appropriately 2.4 Record all maintenance and servicing appropriately |
3. Cultivate soil | 3.1 Implement appropriate work health and safety controls 3.2 Carry out removal of previous crop or land clearance debris and incorporate or burn appropriately 3.3 Follow the cultivation plan and complete for each paddock 3.4 Select, use and maintain appropriate personal protective equipment 3.5 Operate vehicles and equipment appropriately 3.6 Apply technology to ensure most efficient performance of operations 3.7 Check and adjust vehicles and equipment regularly 3.8 Confirm the timelines, resource and quality requirements of the planting plan |
4. Prepare site for planting | 4.1 Complete the planting layout and soil profiles to the planting plan 4.2 Conduct identified weed and pest control measures 4.3 Apply fertilisers, ameliorants, or other pre-planting treatments appropriately 4.4 Confirm the environmental implications of site preparation with supervisor and take identified action |
5 Complete land preparation operations | 5.1 Clean and store vehicles and equipment appropriately 5.2 Dispose of all containers, leftover fluids, waste and debris according to enterprise polices and minimising the impact on the environment 5.3 Complete all required records and documentation organisational requirements 5.4 Apply enterprise biosecurity policies |
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:
interpret production and planting plans, produce standards, quality specifications and work procedure documents
measure materials and site plan specifications
operate, adjust and calibrate cultivation equipment safely
complete pre- and post-operational checks on tools, vehicles and equipment
perform routine safety, service and maintenance procedures on tools, cultivator and equipment
demonstrate correct use of technology to improve efficiency
read and interpret manufacturer specifications, work and maintenance plans, and Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
communicate effectively with supervisor
follow enterprise work health and safety policies in the context of own work
follow enterprise biosecurity policies in the context of own work
follow enterprise sustainability practices in the context of own work.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
methods of cultivating a range of soil types
environmental issues of cultivating soil for planting, such as drainage and irrigation systems, soil amelioration and waste disposal procedures
a range of pre-planting treatments, their purpose and method of application
operation and maintenance of planting equipment
role of technology in improving efficiency
work health and safety guidelines, procedures and principles, including manual handling and exposure to hazardous substances
enterprise biosecurity and sustainability policies.
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)