Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the process of managing plant health in a horticultural or agricultural enterprise, and defines the standard required to: gather information and advice on plant health for an enterprise; develop strategies to manage plant health; integrate plant health strategies into enterprise planning; determine scheduling and key responsibilities for plant health management; evaluate and modify the plant health program; document the strategic plan for plant health management; report on the implementation of the strategies.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to the ability to develop a plant health and management strategy, determine plant health strategies, scheduling and key responsibilities and document a strategic plan of plant health management.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Develop a plant health and management program

1.1. Plant health issues are identified from published data, historical records and industry consultation.

1.2. Management issues are defined relative to desired quality, quantity and productivity requirements of marketing and production plans.

1.3. The program is developed which defines enterprise guidelines and specific responsibilities of operational elements to achieve required outcomes.

1.4. The program is communicated effectively, and systems are established to monitor business goals.

1.5. Professional assistance is sought where appropriate.

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

1.7. The environmental implications of chemical use, alternative methods and non-chemical preventative methods are considered and documented.

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

2. Determine plant health strategies

2.1. Information gathered is analysed for suitable approaches to plant health management.

2.2. Strategies are considered in the light of their impacts.

2.3. Strategies for plant health management are determined to integrate the most suitable methods with the proposed plants and the existing soil types.

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 plant health management strategies are used as input to other organisational planning processes.

3.2. Information regarding other planning processes is collected and used to inform the plant health management 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 plant health management 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. Recordkeeping requirements are determined and procedures are put in place to ensure compliance with the range of applicable regulations.

4.4. The strategic 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 plant health management strategies

5.1. The effectiveness of the plant health management strategies is evaluated at key points and adjustments made as necessary.

5.2. Environmental impacts and OHS hazards relating to plant health management are identified, monitored and risk assessed and managed 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 plant health management strategies and record result

6.1. Data, observations and documentation from the implementation of plant health management program 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.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• determine plant health strategies
• develop plant health management strategies
• provide input to other planning processes
• determine scheduling and key responsibilities
• monitor and adjust plant health management strategies
• evaluate plant health management strategies and record results
• 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 

• strategic aspects of managing plant quality, performance and nutrition
• management of weed, pest and disease infestations
• planning water budgets and irrigation strategies
• plant growth processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, nutrient uptake, solute transport, and metabolism, water balance and osmotic pressure
• plant growth and development and growth regulators
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• 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 plant health management operations
• sound management practices and processes to minimise plant health management 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:

• gather information and advice on plant health for an enterprise
• develop strategies to manage plant health
• integrate plant health strategies into enterprise planning
• determine scheduling and key responsibilities for plant health management
• evaluate and modify the plant health program
• document the strategic plan for plant health management
• report on the implementation of the 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.

Strategies may include:

• managing plant quality, performance and nutrition
• management of weed, pest and disease infestations
• planning water budgets and irrigation strategies
• plant health management and organisational planning processes
• integrated pest management
• risk management and environmental and OHS impacts.

Report structure may include:

• the approach to the implementation of the strategies that includes any difficulties or issues faced
• the methods used for treatment
• impacts on environmental and OHS
• any recommendations for future work
• results, costs, and data analysis.

Unit sector 

Plants

Co-requisite units 

Competency field