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

What information may be included in a production plan?
The crop production plan may include details of management strategies, budgetary considerations, paddock histories, rotations, fallowing regimes, fertiliser regimes, irrigation programs, and conservation earthworks.

What enterprise requirements may apply to this standard?
Standard operating procedures (SOPs), 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 pesticides to the pesticide site
selecting pesticides with minimal environmental impact.

How may nutrients 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 may be involved in a pasture and crop establishment program?
Pasture and crop establishment programs may include establishment in virgin ground, establishment after a cropping program, replacement of run down pasture, changing the composition of pastures, growing fodder crops, growing cash crops, and re-establishing pastures after earthworks.

What types of pastures species may be selected?
Pasture species may include perennials such as phalaris, rye grass, and strawberry clover. Annual grasses such as rye, grass, cereals. Annual legumes such as medics and subterranean clover.

What considerations may be involved in the selection of a pasture species?
Selection of pasture species depends on the climate, soil pH and stock types.

What methods of sowing pastures may be selected?
Methods may include under sowing, direct drilling, band seeders and broadcasting seed into stubbles and trampling seed into ground with livestock.

What range of machinery and equipment may be selected?
Cultivating machinery and equipment may include ploughs, scarifiers, offset discs, rippers and rotary tillers. Sowing machinery and equipment may include fertiliser spinner, drop spreader, fertiliser truck, disc seeder, and chisel seeder, crop specific such as maize planter, contract aerial application, air seeder and combine.

What OHS requirements may be relevant to this standard?
Safe systems and procedures for:
the safe operation and maintenance of machinery and equipment, hydraulics and guarding of exposed moving parts
the operation of tractors and other vehicles
manual handling especially when handling and loading seed
working around dams, channels and other water sources
storage, handling and transportation of hazardous substances (petroleum products, pesticides and anhydrous ammonia)
protection from hazardous noise and organic and other dusts
outdoor work including protection from solar radiation
use of relevant personal protective equipment.

What weeds and pests may be controlled?
Weeds include all plants not required in the pasture. Pests may include army worms, grass grubs, grasshoppers, lucerne flea, snails, native fauna, cut worm, locusts, earth mite, crickets and rabbits.

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

What information may be included in a production plan?
The crop production plan may include details of management strategies, budgetary considerations, paddock histories, rotations, fallowing regimes, fertiliser regimes, irrigation programs, and conservation earthworks.

What enterprise requirements may apply to this standard?
Standard operating procedures (SOPs), 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 pesticides to the pesticide site
selecting pesticides with minimal environmental impact.

How may nutrients 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 may be involved in a pasture and crop establishment program?
Pasture and crop establishment programs may include establishment in virgin ground, establishment after a cropping program, replacement of run down pasture, changing the composition of pastures, growing fodder crops, growing cash crops, and re-establishing pastures after earthworks.

What types of pastures species may be selected?
Pasture species may include perennials such as phalaris, rye grass, and strawberry clover. Annual grasses such as rye, grass, cereals. Annual legumes such as medics and subterranean clover.

What considerations may be involved in the selection of a pasture species?
Selection of pasture species depends on the climate, soil pH and stock types.

What methods of sowing pastures may be selected?
Methods may include under sowing, direct drilling, band seeders and broadcasting seed into stubbles and trampling seed into ground with livestock.

What range of machinery and equipment may be selected?
Cultivating machinery and equipment may include ploughs, scarifiers, offset discs, rippers and rotary tillers. Sowing machinery and equipment may include fertiliser spinner, drop spreader, fertiliser truck, disc seeder, and chisel seeder, crop specific such as maize planter, contract aerial application, air seeder and combine.

What OHS requirements may be relevant to this standard?
Safe systems and procedures for:
the safe operation and maintenance of machinery and equipment, hydraulics and guarding of exposed moving parts
the operation of tractors and other vehicles
manual handling especially when handling and loading seed
working around dams, channels and other water sources
storage, handling and transportation of hazardous substances (petroleum products, pesticides and anhydrous ammonia)
protection from hazardous noise and organic and other dusts
outdoor work including protection from solar radiation
use of relevant personal protective equipment.

What weeds and pests may be controlled?
Weeds include all plants not required in the pasture. Pests may include army worms, grass grubs, grasshoppers, lucerne flea, snails, native fauna, cut worm, locusts, earth mite, crickets and rabbits.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in establishing pastures and crops for livestock production requires evidence of the ability to assess existing pastures and crops to maximise livestock production. It also requires the ability to establish new pastures and crops including selecting the pasture species, sowing method and application appropriate for optimal yield, manage grazing systems including weed and stubble control, and control pests and weeds without damage to the crop.
The skills and knowledge required to establish pastures and crops for livestock production must be transferable to another rural environment. For example, this could include different crop and pastures species, livestock, soil types and enterprise situations.
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:

types of grasses and clovers
chemical free weed control
relevant provisions of the Native Vegetation Acts with particular attention to potential soil degradation and destruction of flora and fauna
safe use of chemicals and machinery
advantages and disadvantages of pasture and crop establishment programs
timing of pasture and crop establishment
OHS legislative requirements
codes of practice with regard to protection of the environment.

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:

operate machinery and equipment
calibrate boom spray and drill and fertiliser spreader
identify pests and diseases
identify pasture species
identify and control weeds
handle chemicals safely
mix and inoculate seed
interpret and implement crop and pasture production plans
converse and liaise with industry network, staff and senior management
write reports for the understanding of staff and management
calculate and measure quantities and dimensions.

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:

types of grasses and clovers
chemical free weed control
relevant provisions of the Native Vegetation Acts with particular attention to potential soil degradation and destruction of flora and fauna
safe use of chemicals and machinery
advantages and disadvantages of pasture and crop establishment programs
timing of pasture and crop establishment
OHS legislative requirements
codes of practice with regard to protection of the environment.

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:

operate machinery and equipment
calibrate boom spray and drill and fertiliser spreader
identify pests and diseases
identify pasture species
identify and control weeds
handle chemicals safely
mix and inoculate seed
interpret and implement crop and pasture production plans
converse and liaise with industry network, staff and senior management
write reports for the understanding of staff and management
calculate and measure quantities and dimensions.

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 grazing management programs may be documented and organised by reports for analysis. (3)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Information on the grazing management 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 effective methods and procedures to manage the establishment of pastures and crops for livestock production. (3)

Working with others and in teams
In the implementation of effective methods and procedures to manage the establishment of pastures and crops for livestock production. (3)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Calculation techniques may be used to determine dimensions and quantities. (3)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Calculation techniques may be used to determine dimensions and quantities. (3)

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

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

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

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