Elements and Performance Criteria

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

What agricultural crops are covered by this unit?
Agricultural crops covered by this unit include wheat and coarse grains, cotton, grain legumes, oilseeds, sugar, and temperate and tropical pastures

How factors might be considered in determining water requirements?
Considerations may include stage of crop, rainfall records, water availability, soil types, soil physical structure, and fertiliser applications.

How may nutrient requirements be assessed?
Nutrients may include nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, calcium, magnesium, boron, molybdenum, copper and chlorine. Nutrient requirements may be assessed by tissue or soil testing.

What factors affecting total crop capacity may be relevant to this standard
Factors may include climate, irrigation availability, soil types, pasture pests, topography, soil and plant nutrient status, paddock history, and drainage.

What enterprise requirements may apply to this standard?
SOP, industry standards, Total Quality Management standards, product labels, manufacturers specifications, MSDS, operators manuals, enterprise policies and procedures (including waste disposal, recycling and re-use), and reporting requirements. It may also include consideration of the following factors:
the introduction of transgenic varieties to minimise chemical use
the industry commitment to minimise pesticide use
containing weedicides to the weedicide site
selecting weedicides with minimal environmental impact.

What type of pests may be identified?
Pests may include insects, weeds, pathogens, vertebrates, nematodes and molluscs. Vertebrate pests include rabbits, rats and mice, macropods and birds. Invertebrate pests include thrips, mites, nematodes, locusts and caterpillars.
All pest and weed control is carried out according to principles of integrated pest management.

What crop diseases may be identified?
Diseases may include forliar pathogens such as rusts, chocolate spot,

What control measures may be considered?
This may include herbicides and insecticides. Vertebrate pest control methods may include physical barriers, baiting methods, shooting, and fumigation of burrows. Invertebrate pest control methods may include insecticides, biological agents, crop rotation and fallowing.

What type of weeds may be identified?
Weeds may include annual, perennial, broad leaf, narrow leaf and grasses.

What may be involved in crop planning?
Planning may involve rotations which include wheat, other grains, lupins, pulses, pasture and fallow.

What agricultural crops are covered by this unit?
Agricultural crops covered by this unit include wheat and coarse grains, cotton, grain legumes, oilseeds, sugar, and temperate and tropical pastures

How factors might be considered in determining water requirements?
Considerations may include stage of crop, rainfall records, water availability, soil types, soil physical structure, and fertiliser applications.

How may nutrient requirements be assessed?
Nutrients may include nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, calcium, magnesium, boron, molybdenum, copper and chlorine. Nutrient requirements may be assessed by tissue or soil testing.

What factors affecting total crop capacity may be relevant to this standard
Factors may include climate, irrigation availability, soil types, pasture pests, topography, soil and plant nutrient status, paddock history, and drainage.

What enterprise requirements may apply to this standard?
SOP, industry standards, Total Quality Management standards, product labels, manufacturers specifications, MSDS, operators manuals, enterprise policies and procedures (including waste disposal, recycling and re-use), and reporting requirements. It may also include consideration of the following factors:
the introduction of transgenic varieties to minimise chemical use
the industry commitment to minimise pesticide use
containing weedicides to the weedicide site
selecting weedicides with minimal environmental impact.

What type of pests may be identified?
Pests may include insects, weeds, pathogens, vertebrates, nematodes and molluscs. Vertebrate pests include rabbits, rats and mice, macropods and birds. Invertebrate pests include thrips, mites, nematodes, locusts and caterpillars.
All pest and weed control is carried out according to principles of integrated pest management.

What crop diseases may be identified?
Diseases may include forliar pathogens such as rusts, chocolate spot,

What control measures may be considered?
This may include herbicides and insecticides. Vertebrate pest control methods may include physical barriers, baiting methods, shooting, and fumigation of burrows. Invertebrate pest control methods may include insecticides, biological agents, crop rotation and fallowing.

What type of weeds may be identified?
Weeds may include annual, perennial, broad leaf, narrow leaf and grasses.

What may be involved in crop planning?
Planning may involve rotations which include wheat, other grains, lupins, pulses, pasture and fallow.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in supervising agricultural crop maintenance requires evidence of the ability to accurately assess crop needs, implement pest and weed control measures, apply growth control compounds, and monitor and assess crop maturity. It also requires the ability to ascertain water requirements from survey advice and weather forecasts, accurately measure soil moisture and interpret data, apply specialist sprays, and ascertain time of harvest with consultant advice. Evidence must be demonstrated in the maintenance of sustainable land management practices and principles.
The skills and knowledge required to supervising agricultural crop maintenance must be transferable to another agricultural enterprises. For example, this may include different crops, cropping systems, geographical regions, machinery and equipment, pests and diseases.
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:

crop growth stages and keys
fertiliser types and application times, methods and rates
chemical use
factors leading to development of chemical resistance
integrated pest management
life-cycles of pest, diseases and weeds
OHS legislative requirements
relevant codes of practice with regard to the use and control of hazardous substances
relevant codes of practice with regard to environmental protection.

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:

refer to records of paddock nutrient requirements
dispatch samples to laboratories
operate and interpret on-the-spot tests
recognise damage caused by weeds, pests or diseases
recognise poor growth and lack of vigour caused by nutrient deficiency
record monitoring results manually or on the computer
plan and implement control programs to rectify nutrient deficiencies, disease outbreaks, pest and weed infestations
accurately measure soil moisture and estimate irrigation needs
communicate with industry, suppliers and other personnel
read and interpret MSDS, production plans and analysis results
estimate and measure pest control treatments.

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:

crop growth stages and keys
fertiliser types and application times, methods and rates
chemical use
factors leading to development of chemical resistance
integrated pest management
life-cycles of pest, diseases and weeds
OHS legislative requirements
relevant codes of practice with regard to the use and control of hazardous substances
relevant codes of practice with regard to environmental protection.

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:

refer to records of paddock nutrient requirements
dispatch samples to laboratories
operate and interpret on-the-spot tests
recognise damage caused by weeds, pests or diseases
recognise poor growth and lack of vigour caused by nutrient deficiency
record monitoring results manually or on the computer
plan and implement control programs to rectify nutrient deficiencies, disease outbreaks, pest and weed infestations
accurately measure soil moisture and estimate irrigation needs
communicate with industry, suppliers and other personnel
read and interpret MSDS, production plans and analysis results
estimate and measure pest control treatments.

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
Information with regard to the soil tests results and analysis may be discussed with industry network and work team. (3)

Communicating ideas and information
Information with regard to the soil tests results and analysis may be discussed with industry network and work team. (3)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Information on the pest control programs may be documented and organised by reports for analysis. (3)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Information on the pest control programs may be documented and organised by reports for analysis. (3)

Planning and organising activities
Pest control applications may be planned and arranged around other crop management procedures or sequenced as required. (3)

Planning and organising activities
Pest control applications may be planned and arranged around other crop management procedures or sequenced as required. (3)

Working with others and in teams
In the implementation of methods and procedures to manage the crop to maximise yield. (3)

Working with others and in teams
In the implementation of methods and procedures to manage the crop to maximise yield. (3)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Estimation techniques may be used to determine the likelihood of successful outcomes of the pest control program. (3)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Estimation techniques may be used to determine the likelihood of successful outcomes of the pest control program. (3)

Solving problems
Problems may arise in the course of the program that need to be addressed through adjustments of resources or timetables. (3)

Solving problems
Problems may arise in the course of the program that need to be addressed through adjustments of resources or timetables. (3)

Using technology
Technology may be used to monitor and calculate the results of the crop program. (3)

Using technology
Technology may be used to monitor and calculate the results of the crop program. (3)