Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers planning and managing long-term weed, pest and/or disease control in crops and defines the standard required to: interpret information on pest and weed numbers, density and control; establish processes/strategies, procedures and controls for long-term weed, pest and/or disease control; implement and monitor long-term weed, pest and/or disease control strategies; use records and observations to evaluate weed, pest and/or disease control strategies; plan land use incorporating long term weed, pest and/or disease control strategies.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to cropping managers or advisors whose job function includes planning for and managing weed, pest and/or disease control in crops and then managing the implementation of such a plan.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Source information for input to weed, pest and/or disease control planning

1.1. Historical data, including recent data from organisational records is identified and accessed for input to weed, pest and/or disease control planning.

1.2. Information from other enterprises within the district is sought and gathered.

1.3. Information regarding the characteristics of the crop(s) planned for, or under production, is accessed.

1.4. Information regarding the local geography, soil and climatic conditions is accessed and gathered.

1.5. The environmental implications of pesticide/ herbicide use, alternative methods and non-chemical preventative methods are considered and documented.

1.6. Information is assessed to determine potential key information for input to planning decisions.

2. Determine long-term weed, pest and/or disease control strategies

2.1. Information gathered is analysed for suitable methods of weed, pest and/or disease control.

2.2. Methods of control are considered in light of their impacts.

2.3. Strategies for weed, pest and/or disease control are determined to integrate the most suitable control methods with the proposed crops and the existing geography.

2.4. Environmental controls are established and specifically included in the plan.

2.5. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards are identified; risks assessed and suitable controls are incorporated into the plan.

3. Provide input to other planning processes

3.1. Details regarding selected weed, pest and/or disease control strategies are used as input to other organisational planning processes.

3.2. Information regarding other planning processes is collected and used to inform the weed, pest and/or disease control planning process.

3.3. Information about the range of planning processes is communicated verbally and/or in writing according to the requirements of the circumstances and the people involved.

4. Determine scheduling and key responsibilities

4.1. Scheduling for weed, pest and/or disease control is determined taking the range of seasonal, geographic and resourcing factors into consideration.

4.2. Key responsibilities for specific implementation processes are determined.

4.3. Record keeping requirements are determined and procedures are put in place to ensure compliance with the range of applicable regulations.

4.4. The plan, including scheduling and key responsibilities, is clearly documented.

4.5. The plan includes the type, format, frequency and detail of any reporting required by both manager(s) and operators.

5. Monitor and adjust weed, pest and/or disease control strategies

5.1. The effectiveness of the weed, pest and/or disease control strategies is evaluated at key points, and adjustments made as necessary.

5.2. Environmental impacts and OHS hazards relating to weed, pest and/or disease control are identified, monitored and assessed throughout the implementation process.

5.3. Modifications are made to the strategy as and when necessary for environmental, OHS, resourcing, or effectiveness reasons.

6. Evaluate weed, pest and/or disease control strategies and record result

6.1. Data, observations, and documentation from the implementation of weed, pest and/or disease control is analysed against the plan according to organisation guidelines.

6.2. Recommendations for future strategies are prepared based on the analysis of the data.

6.3. A report is prepared that documents the implementation of the strategies and includes any difficulties or issues faced, the methods used for treatment, impacts on environmental and OHS, any recommendations for future work, results, costs and any available data analysis.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• interpret monitored information on pest and weed numbers, density and control
• interpret, analyse and extract information from a range of sources and discussions
• plan and manage long-term weed, pest and/or disease control including amending plans during the operations
• plan land use incorporating appropriate weed, pest and/or disease control measures
• establish processes/strategies, procedures and controls for long-term weed, pest and/or disease control
• negotiate and arrange contracts and agreements
• explain, and deliver instructions about the plans and scheduling of the weed, pest and/or disease control operations to both staff and contractors, as well as suppliers, customers, and neighbours
• recognise poor growth and lack of vigour caused by nutrient deficiency
• observe, identify and react appropriately to environmental implications and OHS hazards
• 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 

• pest and weed species, including their life cycles and reproduction/multiplication capability
• integrated pest and weed management
• the effects on crops of weeds, pests and/or diseases including competitive effects on crop yield; threshold levels; and the effects of alternative methods of control
• environmental controls and codes of practice applicable to the enterprise
• relevant legislation and regulations relating to OHS, contractor engagement, chemical use and application, and vehicle and plant use
• environmental controls and codes of practice applicable to the business, and to the weed, pest and/or disease control operations
• sound management practices and processes to minimise noise, odours, and debris from weed, pest and/or disease control operations.

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:

• interpret information on pest and weed numbers, density and control
• establish processes/strategies, procedures and controls for long-term weed, pest and/or disease control
• implement and monitor long-term weed, pest and/or disease control strategies
• use records and observations to evaluate weed, pest and/or disease control strategies
• plan land use incorporating long term weed, pest and/or disease control strategies.

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.

Crop pests may include:

• insects
• weeds
• pathogens
• vertebrates
• nematodes
• molluscs.

Unit sector 

Broadacre crops

Co-requisite units 

Competency field