Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to plan and manage long-term weed, pest or disease control in 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 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.
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. Source information for input to weed, pest or disease control planning | 1.1 Identify and access historical data, including recent data from organisational records for input to weed, pest or disease control planning 1.2 Research and collate information from other enterprises within the district 1.3 Use information regarding the characteristics of the crop(s) planned for, or under production 1.4 Research and collate information regarding the local geography, soil and climatic conditions 1.5 Consider and document the environmental implications of pesticide or herbicide use, alternative methods and non 1.6 Assess technology to ensure most efficient performance of operations 1.7 Assess information and determine potential key information for input to planning decisions |
2. Determine long-term weed, pest or disease control strategies | 2.1 Analyse information gathered for suitable methods 2.2 Consider methods of control, including their impacts 2.3 Determine strategies for weed, pest or disease control to integrate the most suitable control methods with the proposed crops and the existing geography 2.4 Establish environmental controls and include in the plan 2.5 Identify work health and safety hazards, assess risks and incorporate suitable controls into the plan |
3. Provide input to other planning processes | 3.1 Incorporate selected weed, pest or disease control strategies into other organisational planning processes 3.2 Collect and use information regarding other planning processes in the weed, pest or disease control plan 3.3 Communicate information appropriately about the range of planning processes |
4. Determine scheduling and key responsibilities | 4.1 Determine appropriate scheduling for weed, pest or disease control 4.2 Determine key responsibilities for specific implementation processes 4.3 Determine record keeping requirements are determined and implement appropriate procedures 4.4 Document the plan, including scheduling and key responsibilities and ensure it includes the type, format, frequency and detail of any reporting required by both managers and operators |
5. Monitor and adjust weed, pest or disease control strategies | 5.1 Evaluate the effectiveness of the weed, pest or disease control strategies at key points, and implement any necessary adjustments 5.2 Identify, monitor and assess environmental impacts and work health and safety hazards relating to weed, pest or disease control throughout the implementation process 5.3 Identify and implement necessary modifications to the strategy 5.4 Implement enterprise biosecurity policies |
6. Evaluate weed, pest or disease control strategies and record result | 6.1 Analyse data, observations, and documentation from the implementation against the plan appropriately 6.2 Prepare recommendations for future strategies 6.3 Prepare a report that documents the implementation of the strategies and includes any difficulties or issues faced, the methods used for treatment, impacts on environmental and work health and safety, any recommendations for future work, results, costs and any available data analysis |
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 monitored information on pest and weed numbers, density and control
interpret, analyse and extract information from a range of sources and discussions
plan and manage long-term weed, pest or disease control including amending plans during the operations
plan land use incorporating appropriate weed, pest or disease control measures
establish processes or strategies, procedures and controls for long-term weed, pest or disease control
demonstrate correct use of technology to improve efficiency
negotiate and arrange contracts and agreements
explain, and deliver instructions about the plans and scheduling of the weed, pest or disease control operations to both staff and contractors, as well as suppliers, customers, and neighbours
recognise poor growth and lack of vigour caused by weeds, pests or disease rather than nutrient deficiency
observe, identify and react appropriately to environmental implications and work health and safety hazards
interpret information on pest and weed numbers, density and control
establish processes or strategies, procedures and controls for long-term weed, pest or disease control
implement and monitor long-term weed, pest or disease control strategies
use records and observations to evaluate weed, pest or disease control strategies
plan land use incorporating long term weed, pest or disease control strategies
implement work health and safety policies
implement enterprise biosecurity policies.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
pest and weed species, including their life cycles and reproduction or multiplication capability
integrated pest and weed management
effects on crops of weeds, pests or diseases including competitive effects on crop yield; threshold levels; and the effects of alternative methods of control
role of technology in improving efficiency
environmental controls and codes of practice applicable to the enterprise
relevant legislation and regulations relating to work health and safety, contractor engagement, chemical use and application, and vehicle and plant use
environmental controls and codes of practice applicable to the business, and to the weed, pest or disease control operations
sound management practices and processes to minimise noise, odours, and debris from weed, pest or disease control operations
enterprise biosecurity 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)