Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to manage the harvest of crops.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety and biosecurity legislation and codes, and sustainability practices.
Harvesting crops carries risk of fire. All harvesting activities shall be conducted appropriate to relevant regulations, legislation and guidelines as determined by the relevant fire authority.
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. Determine crop quality | 1.1 Assess the potential crop yield using measurements made in the field 1.2 Test and assess the potential quality of the crop using quality parameters before harvest 1.3 Estimate the value of each crop using the measurements taken and assessments made before harvest |
2. Determine crop readiness | 2.1 Refer pre-harvest samples to the laboratory or marketing agent to determine the potential quality of the crop 2.2 Monitor weather patterns estimate the rate of ripening 2.3 Monitor crop maturity and estimate when the crop will be at its optimum and harvest commencement 2.4 Assess the incidence of pests and determine the requirement for, and the type of, pre-harvest treatment 2.5 Select pre-harvest treatments to ensure that the crop meets market requirements 2.6 Ensure adherence to all work health and safety and environmental requirements throughout the application of pre |
3. Assess the need for insurance | 3.1 Confirm any commitments to insure the crop 3.2 Estimate the crop value 3.3 Insure the crop, if appropriate 3.4 Analyse, assess and implement appropriate strategies to manage financial risk |
4. Plan harvest strategy | 4.1 Estimate the appropriate harvest commencement date and the time span 4.2 Calculate equipment and labour resources required for harvest from the size of the crop and harvest time limitations 4.3 Analyse equipment and labour resources required against those available within the enterprise, and determine the amount of labour and equipment to be contracted 4.4 Assess technology to ensure most efficient performance of operations 4.5 Plan for and order any equipment preparation required prior to harvest 4.6 Plan application of required pre-harvest pest control treatments appropriately 4.7 Determine and arrange required licenses, permits and notifications 4.8 Determine and describe the order of the harvest in the plan |
5. Plan for work health and safety hazard management | 5.1 Communicate with all harvesting personnel and ensure awareness of work health and safety hazards that may be present, their responsibilities for action, and the systems that are in place to deal with such hazards 5.2 Implement suitable controls to reduce work health and safety hazard risks 5.3 Monitor, identify and assess work health and safety hazards at each stage of the harvesting process |
6. Plan for fire prevention and control | 6.1 Evaluate the property and identify fire risks and hazards 6.2 Develop a fire prevention and control strategy that addresses the identified risks and hazards, including measures to be taken 6.3 Assess the fire prevention and control strategy, and the specific measures to be taken 6.4 Prepare appropriate fire breaks as identified in the strategy 6.5 Ensure that sufficient firefighting equipment meets appropriate fire authority standards or guidelines is available as prescribed in the strategy 6.6 Implement appropriate community fire control practices |
7. Decide on storage and delivery requirements | 7.1 Allocate crop storage facilities, and plan and arrange for immediate delivery of the crop to packing sheds, the bulk handling system, or other purchasers 7.2 Ensure that silos, storage bins and other containers are located to enable efficient harvesting and transport operations 7.3 Identify any work health and safety hazards from silo operation and implement risk minimisation practices 7.4 Plan storage for flexible marketing and distribution initiatives 7.5 Evaluate resources required for crop transport, engage contractors where required 7.6 Identify strategies and resources to dry crops appropriately |
8. Manage harvest operations | 8.1 Ensure harvest plan is adhered to 8.2 Ensure adherence to all work health and safety and environmental requirements 8.3 Monitor harvest operations to ensure efficient and timely completion 8.4 Monitor crop quality against the harvesting plan as the crop is harvested and segregate into the various marketing grades 8.5 Store each crop grade as determined by the harvesting plan 8.6 Implement enterprise biosecurity policies |
9. Record production level and review cropping strategies | 9.1 Maintain appropriate records of production for analysis and evaluation of production performance 9.2 Monitor and evaluate crop yields against forecast production levels |
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:
plan and implement harvesting operations, including amendment of these during the operation itself
organise and schedule the maintenance of plant and equipment
establish processes or strategies, procedures and controls for crop harvesting
demonstrate correct use of technology to improve efficiency
interpret, analyse and extract information from a range of sources and discussions
assess potential yields
negotiate and arrange contracts and agreements
explain, and deliver instructions about the plans and scheduling of the harvest operations to both staff and contractors, as well as suppliers, customers, and neighbours
observe, identify and react appropriately to environmental implications and work health and safety hazards
estimate crop yield and value and monitor for harvest readiness
plan for the resources that will be required for harvest
negotiate insurance and equipment supply contracts
develop risk management procedures for work health and safety, climate and fire risk
organise for the logistics of the harvesting operation including harvesting, storage and delivery
keep grain batches separate and monitor for pests or spoilage
implement work health and safety policies in the context of the work team
implement enterprise biosecurity policies
implement enterprise environmental sustainability practices.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
capability and use of harvesting equipment
role of technology in improving efficiency
crop measurement techniques and parameters
market information and sources
contracting requirements for crop insurance
management of the moisture content of crops, including drying and aeration
storage options and local storage availability
bushfire prevention and control legislation
bushfire prevention and control strategies and equipment
contact details for local fire services
weather conditions which may affect the harvest
relevant legislation and regulations relating to WHS, contractor engagement, chemical use and application, and vehicle and plant use
environmental controls and codes of practice applicable to the business and to the harvesting operations
sound management practices and processes to minimise noise, odours, and debris from the harvesting operations
enterprise biosecurity policies and environmental sustainability practices.
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)