Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers developing a whole farm plan and defines the standard required to: audit the natural resources of the property; monitor legal requirements impacting on the management of the property; develop management strategies to address the key natural resource management issues of water, soils, vegetation and wildlife; develop management strategies to address natural resource management issues; and integrate business objectives and production plans with sustainable land management in a whole farm plan.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to farm managers whose job includes developing a whole farm plan.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Determine directions for the business

1.1. Long-term directions and purposes of the business are established through identification and analysis of the values, expectations and personal goals of the people involved.

1.2. Business and personal Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) are identified.

1.3. Strategies to address the SWOT are developed consistent with the business vision.

2. Audit the natural resources and infrastructure of the property

2.1. Physical characteristics of the soil resource are identified and recorded.

2.2. Soil map of property is drawn and land classes are recorded using classification terminology.

2.3. Land capability is determined and land management options for each land class identified.

2.4. Natural property features and infrastructure are shown on property map.

2.5. Areas at risk of soil degradation are identified.

2.6. Native vegetation is classified and condition is assessed.

2.7. Endangered species are identified as appropriate.

2.8. Other natural resource issues are identified as appropriate to the property.

2.9. Infrastructure is marked to assist with maintenance and planning.

3. Monitor legal requirements impacting on the management of the property

3.1. Current knowledge of relevant Acts and regulations impacting on the property is maintained.

3.2. Legal requirements are addressed through management plans.

4. Develop management strategies to address natural resource management issues

4.1. Property improvement plans to assist natural resource management are developed, costed and prioritised.

4.2. Plans to repair land degradation are developed.

4.3. Strategies to address water supply and water management, vegetation and revegetation management, and wildlife management are prepared as appropriate to the property.

4.4. Strategies for weed and pest management are developed.

4.5. Plans to address fire risk/fire management are developed as appropriate.

5. Review whole farm plan

5.1. Plans are reviewed and revised to meet changing circumstances.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• assessment of soil physical characteristics
• determine existing and required infrastructure requirements
• identification and determination of Natural Resource Management (NRM) requirements
• ability to determine landuse capability
• use literacy skills to fulfil job roles as required by the organisation. The level of skill may range from reading and understanding documentation to completion of written reports
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record complex workplace measures
• use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• SWOT analysis
• sustainable land management practices
• property planning processes and approaches
• land capability
• water, vegetation, soil, fire and wildlife management strategies
• legal requirements impacting on whole farm planning
• risk management.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

• audit the natural resources of the property
• monitor legal requirements impacting on the management of the property
• develop management strategies to address the key natural resource management issues of water, soils, vegetation and wildlife
• develop management strategies to address natural resource management issues
• integrate business objectives and production plans with sustainable land management in a whole farm plan.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Whole farm plans include:

• all production land and natural areas
• waterways and physical features and improvements.

Unit sector 

Agribusiness

Co-requisite units 

Competency field