Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range of Variables explains the contexts within which the performance and knowledge requirements of this standard may be assessed. The scope of variables chosen in particular training and assessment requirements may depend on the work situations available.

What does crop regulation involve at this standard?
Crop regulation may include the thinning and pruning of crops.

What enterprise work procedures may apply to this standard?
Work procedures will be based on sound horticultural principles and practices and may include supervisors oral or written instructions, the crop regulation program, enterprise standard operating procedures (SOPs), specifications, routine maintenance schedules, work notes; manufacturers service specifications and operators manuals; waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines; and OHS procedures.

For what purpose may crops be regulated?
The goals of pruning may include to shape, form, correct or control growth, provide clearance for services, access or cultural practices, prevent disease or damage, promote health, control capacity and vigour, manage the canopy and fruit and flower production, and to control yield and quality to meet market requirements.
The goal of thinning is to control yield and quality to meet market requirements.

What methods of crop regulation are appropriate for this standard?
Crop regulation methods may include thinning by removal of flowers or crops using hands, sticks, shakers and thinning sprays, and pruning methods such as winter or summer pruning, minimal pruning and hand clean up after machine pruning.

What services may need to be located?
Services may include above ground outlets for water supply, irrigation fittings, low overhead power (electricity) and telecommunications lines.

How may OHS hazards be identified?
Hazards may be identified through visual inspection of the area, understanding of site plans, and enterprise work procedures.

What OHS hazards may be associated with crop regulation?
Hazards may include disturbance or interruption of services, solar radiation, dust, noise, chemicals and hazardous substances, manual handling, moving vehicles, machinery and machinery parts, sharp tools and equipment, uneven surfaces, and flying and falling objects.

What crop regulation tools equipment and machinery may be used?
Tools, equipment and machinery may include rubber mallets, sticks, spray equipment, knives, handsaws, hand and battery-powered secateurs, pneumatic snips and compressors, hedge trimmers both manual and powered, small chainsaws, chippers, ladders, picking platforms, powered ladders and scissor lifts.

What safety equipment may be required?
Safety equipment may include signage and barriers.

What PPE may be required to carry out crop regulation?
PPE may include hat, boots, overalls, gloves, halter, waterproof or spray clothing, goggles, respirator or face mask, face guard, hearing protection, sunscreen lotion and hard hat.

What OHS requirements may be relevant to this standard?
OHS requirements may include identifying hazards; assessing and reporting risks; cleaning, maintaining and storing tools, equipment and machinery; appropriate use of personal protective equipment including sun protection, drinking to avoid dehydration; safe operation of tools, equipment and machinery; safe handling, use and storage of chemicals and hazardous substances; correct manual handling; basic first aid; personal hygiene and reporting problems to supervisors.

What waste material may be generated during crop regulation?
Waste material may include small to medium branches, foliage, leaves, sticks, buds, flowers, fruit, bark, plant debris and chipped material.

How may a clean and safe work area be maintained?
Tasks may include disabling unused tools, equipment and machinery and storing neatly out of the way of crop regulation activities; safely storing materials on site; using signage and safety barriers during crop regulation and removing them after activities are completed; and swiftly and efficiently removing and processing debris and waste from the work area.

What does crop regulation involve at this standard?
Crop regulation may include the thinning and pruning of crops.

What enterprise work procedures may apply to this standard?
Work procedures will be based on sound horticultural principles and practices and may include supervisors oral or written instructions, the crop regulation program, enterprise standard operating procedures (SOPs), specifications, routine maintenance schedules, work notes; manufacturers service specifications and operators manuals; waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines; and OHS procedures.

For what purpose may crops be regulated?
The goals of pruning may include to shape, form, correct or control growth, provide clearance for services, access or cultural practices, prevent disease or damage, promote health, control capacity and vigour, manage the canopy and fruit and flower production, and to control yield and quality to meet market requirements.
The goal of thinning is to control yield and quality to meet market requirements.

What methods of crop regulation are appropriate for this standard?
Crop regulation methods may include thinning by removal of flowers or crops using hands, sticks, shakers and thinning sprays, and pruning methods such as winter or summer pruning, minimal pruning and hand clean up after machine pruning.

What services may need to be located?
Services may include above ground outlets for water supply, irrigation fittings, low overhead power (electricity) and telecommunications lines.

How may OHS hazards be identified?
Hazards may be identified through visual inspection of the area, understanding of site plans, and enterprise work procedures.

What OHS hazards may be associated with crop regulation?
Hazards may include disturbance or interruption of services, solar radiation, dust, noise, chemicals and hazardous substances, manual handling, moving vehicles, machinery and machinery parts, sharp tools and equipment, uneven surfaces, and flying and falling objects.

What crop regulation tools equipment and machinery may be used?
Tools, equipment and machinery may include rubber mallets, sticks, spray equipment, knives, handsaws, hand and battery-powered secateurs, pneumatic snips and compressors, hedge trimmers both manual and powered, small chainsaws, chippers, ladders, picking platforms, powered ladders and scissor lifts.

What safety equipment may be required?
Safety equipment may include signage and barriers.

What PPE may be required to carry out crop regulation?
PPE may include hat, boots, overalls, gloves, halter, waterproof or spray clothing, goggles, respirator or face mask, face guard, hearing protection, sunscreen lotion and hard hat.

What OHS requirements may be relevant to this standard?
OHS requirements may include identifying hazards; assessing and reporting risks; cleaning, maintaining and storing tools, equipment and machinery; appropriate use of personal protective equipment including sun protection, drinking to avoid dehydration; safe operation of tools, equipment and machinery; safe handling, use and storage of chemicals and hazardous substances; correct manual handling; basic first aid; personal hygiene and reporting problems to supervisors.

What waste material may be generated during crop regulation?
Waste material may include small to medium branches, foliage, leaves, sticks, buds, flowers, fruit, bark, plant debris and chipped material.

How may a clean and safe work area be maintained?
Tasks may include disabling unused tools, equipment and machinery and storing neatly out of the way of crop regulation activities; safely storing materials on site; using signage and safety barriers during crop regulation and removing them after activities are completed; and swiftly and efficiently removing and processing debris and waste from the work area.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in regulating crops requires evidence that a person using appropriate techniques and equipment can effectively support the achievement of the crop yield and quality desired by individual enterprises.
The skills and knowledge required to regulate crops must be transferable to different work environments. For example, pruning techniques are required for a range of stages of plant growth in a number of horticultural sectors, including production, amenity horticulture, arboriculture and nurseries. The practical knowledge of techniques used to remove canes in a viticultural enterprise may be applied in a different context to removing wood from roses after flowering in a floricultural enterprise.
What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below:

principles of thinning and pruning and the methods used to achieve crop regulation goals
effects on plant growth, habit and production levels of thinning and pruning operations in relation to the market goals of the enterprise
the purpose of tools, equipment and machinery used for crop regulation and the correct and safe use and care of these tools, equipment and machinery
the effect of outdoor climatic conditions (e.g., rain, hail, total fire ban days, or very high ultraviolet radiation), which may prevent or impede crop regulation activities, or influence the selection of crop regulation tools, equipment and safety equipment to minimise the hazards presented.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required. These include the ability to:

participate in teams and contribute to team objectives
communicate orally with work team members and supervisors
utilise proforma recording, reporting and work procedure documents
interpret site plans and crop regulation specifications
measure quantities, estimate quantities of plant material to be regulated such as counting buds, flowers or fruit to be retained along a branch or cane, and numbers of branches to be retained per plant or bay, calculate material requirements, area, volume, ratios and application rates, and calibrate machinery
co-ordinate own activities with the work group
monitor enterprise plants for quality
minimise noise, dust, high activity vehicle traffic and water run-off to prevent nuisance-level environmental disturbance.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard

Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about

What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below:

principles of thinning and pruning and the methods used to achieve crop regulation goals
effects on plant growth, habit and production levels of thinning and pruning operations in relation to the market goals of the enterprise
the purpose of tools, equipment and machinery used for crop regulation and the correct and safe use and care of these tools, equipment and machinery
the effect of outdoor climatic conditions (e.g., rain, hail, total fire ban days, or very high ultraviolet radiation), which may prevent or impede crop regulation activities, or influence the selection of crop regulation tools, equipment and safety equipment to minimise the hazards presented.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required. These include the ability to:

participate in teams and contribute to team objectives
communicate orally with work team members and supervisors
utilise proforma recording, reporting and work procedure documents
interpret site plans and crop regulation specifications
measure quantities, estimate quantities of plant material to be regulated such as counting buds, flowers or fruit to be retained along a branch or cane, and numbers of branches to be retained per plant or bay, calculate material requirements, area, volume, ratios and application rates, and calibrate machinery
co-ordinate own activities with the work group
monitor enterprise plants for quality
minimise noise, dust, high activity vehicle traffic and water run-off to prevent nuisance-level environmental disturbance.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard

Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life. which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this competency standard. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.
Communicating ideas and information
Ideas and information relating to crop regulation activities and problems encountered should be discussed with other members of the work team and the supervisor. (1)

Communicating ideas and information
Ideas and information relating to crop regulation activities and problems encountered should be discussed with other members of the work team and the supervisor. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
The crop regulation site and surrounding area should be inspected visually and the information gained discussed with the work team and the supervisor.
Enterprise work procedures and site plans should be consulted, interpreted and applied to co-ordinate crop regulation activities with further clarification sought from the supervisor where necessary. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
The crop regulation site and surrounding area should be inspected visually and the information gained discussed with the work team and the supervisor.
Enterprise work procedures and site plans should be consulted, interpreted and applied to co-ordinate crop regulation activities with further clarification sought from the supervisor where necessary. (1)

Planning and organising activities
Equipment, materials and work procedures for crop regulation will need to be arranged before and between work periods, and there may be some responsibility for co-ordinating work with others. (1)

Planning and organising activities
Equipment, materials and work procedures for crop regulation will need to be arranged before and between work periods, and there may be some responsibility for co-ordinating work with others. (1)

Working with others and in teams
The crop regulation program may involve working with other members of a team to complete the program. (1)

Working with others and in teams
The crop regulation program may involve working with other members of a team to complete the program. (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Measuring distance, calculating areas, volume, ratios and application rates, calibrating machinery and estimating quantities of materials will require mathematical application. (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Measuring distance, calculating areas, volume, ratios and application rates, calibrating machinery and estimating quantities of materials will require mathematical application. (1)

Solving problems
Problems in applying crop regulation methods or achieving crop regulation levels, workplace safety and other team members may arise during the crop regulation activities. (1)

Solving problems
Problems in applying crop regulation methods or achieving crop regulation levels, workplace safety and other team members may arise during the crop regulation activities. (1)

Using technology
Technology may be applied in the preparation, use and maintenance of crop regulation tools, equipment and machinery. (1)

Using technology
Technology may be applied in the preparation, use and maintenance of crop regulation tools, equipment and machinery. (1)