Apprenticeship training course

Crop technician (level 3)

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Information about Crop technician (level 3)

Optimising crop/plant yields whilst maintaining and improving the surrounding environment.

• Knowledge, skills and behaviours:
  View knowledge, skills and behaviours

  Knowledge

  • Health and safety legislation, regulations, guidelines and procedures relevant to own role. (Core)
  • Risk identification and mitigation techniques for risk assessments relevant to own organisational policies and procedures. (Core)
  • Workplace specific health and safety processes and procedures to ensure everyone is safe in the workplace. (Core)
  • Environmental issues, legislation, codes of practice and company policies. (Core)
  • Methods to maintain paper or electronic records in accordance with legislation. (Core)
  • Policies, procedures, guidance and legislation related to the safe setup, operation, maintenance and storage of machinery, equipment, tools. (Core)
  • Preparation methods, timing of activities, aftercare and monitoring requirements for the crops grown on-site. (Core)
  • Crop identification and establishment process including principles and methods. (Core)
  • Principles of plant growth, development and plant health. (Core)
  • Input costs, cost of production, margins and impact on financial resilience and sustainability. (Core)
  • Principles for developing and implementing an integrated pest management plan. (Core)
  • The relationship between soil types, environmental conditions, plant protection methods and crop growth. (Core)
  • The importance of biosecurity and how risks can be managed through disinfecting, cleaning and correct disposal of waste in line with company procedures, national regulations and legislation such as COSHH. (Core)
  • Quality standards and specifications relevant to their business and their importance. (Core)
  • Principles of environmental sustainability. (Core)
  • Emergency response and first aid protocols and procedures. (Core)
  • Methods to identify and undertake learning and continuing professional development opportunities. (Core)
  • The impact of machinery on soil structure and potential damage it can cause and the associated legislation to consider. (Soil based)
  • Health and safety legislation, regulations, guidelines and procedures relevant to own role. (Core)
  • Risk identification and mitigation techniques for risk assessments relevant to own organisational policies and procedures. (Core)
  • Workplace specific health and safety processes and procedures to ensure everyone is safe in the workplace. (Core)
  • Environmental issues, legislation, codes of practice and company policies. (Core)
  • Methods to maintain paper or electronic records in accordance with legislation. (Core)
  • Policies, procedures, guidance and legislation related to the safe setup, operation, maintenance and storage of machinery, equipment, tools. (Core)
  • Preparation methods, timing of activities, aftercare and monitoring requirements for the crops grown on-site. (Core)
  • Crop identification and establishment process including principles and methods. (Core)
  • Principles of plant growth, development and plant health. (Core)
  • Input costs, cost of production, margins and impact on financial resilience and sustainability. (Core)
  • Principles for developing and implementing an integrated pest management plan. (Core)
  • The relationship between soil types, environmental conditions, plant protection methods and crop growth. (Core)
  • The importance of biosecurity and how risks can be managed through disinfecting, cleaning and correct disposal of waste in line with company procedures, national regulations and legislation such as COSHH. (Core)
  • Quality standards and specifications relevant to their business and their importance. (Core)
  • Principles of environmental sustainability. (Core)
  • Emergency response and first aid protocols and procedures. (Core)
  • Methods to identify and undertake learning and continuing professional development opportunities. (Core)
  • Different growing mediums and their impact and relevance to crop production on site. (Container based)

  Skills

  • Identify and mitigate risks to promote and maintain health, safety and security. (Core)
  • Manage accurate paper or digital records within the workplace. (Core)
  • Maintain and operate machinery and equipment in accordance with manufacturer operating instructions. (Core)
  • Maximise economic sustainability by optimising plant growth when carrying out operations. (Core)
  • Establish crops to ensure efficient and sustainable growth. (Core)
  • Operate vehicles in accordance with manufacturer operating instructions. (Core)
  • Control pests, weeds and diseases using integrated pest management. (Core)
  • Apply and store pest management treatments in accordance with standard operating procedures, legislation and regulations. (Core)
  • Carry out plant nutrient application or irrigation tasks required by the crop. (Core)
  • Carry out harvesting and dispatch operations. (Core)
  • Assess and monitor crops for quality, performance and specification requirements. (Core)
  • Select harvesting techniques taking account of crop condition and quality requirements. (Core)
  • Maintain biosecurity and hygiene practices in line with legislation, regulations and organisational requirements. (Core)
  • Keep harvested crops in suitable conditions to maintain quality. (Core)
  • Maintain soils or substrates to ensure sustainable, efficient and healthy growth. (Core)
  • Sample and evaluate soil or substrate health to determine nutrition requirements. (Core)
  • Comply with health and safety legislation, regulations, guidelines and procedures relevant to own role. (Core)
  • Participate in learning and CPD activities. (Core)
  • Manage own time to achieve tasks to schedule. (Core)
  • Consider different approaches to current working practices, identifying improvements, developments and innovative ideas. (Core)
  • Set and monitor machinery performance to ensure good seed or plant establishment and crop growth. (Soil based)
  • Set machinery and equipment taking into account the crop, environment, soil condition and specification requirements. (Soil based)
  • Maintain non-productive areas. (Soil based)
  • Assess the impact of machinery on soil structure and identify potential damage in accordance with legislation. (Soil based)
  • Identify and mitigate risks to promote and maintain health, safety and security. (Core)
  • Manage accurate paper or digital records within the workplace. (Core)
  • Maintain and operate machinery and equipment in accordance with manufacturer operating instructions. (Core)
  • Maximise economic sustainability by optimising plant growth when carrying out operations. (Core)
  • Establish crops to ensure efficient and sustainable growth. (Core)
  • Operate vehicles in accordance with manufacturer operating instructions. (Core)
  • Control pests, weeds and diseases using integrated pest management. (Core)
  • Apply and store pest management treatments in accordance with standard operating procedures, legislation and regulations. (Core)
  • Carry out plant nutrient application or irrigation tasks required by the crop. (Core)
  • Carry out harvesting and dispatch operations. (Core)
  • Assess and monitor crops for quality, performance and specification requirements. (Core)
  • Select harvesting techniques taking account of crop condition and quality requirements. (Core)
  • Maintain biosecurity and hygiene practices in line with legislation, regulations and organisational requirements. (Core)
  • Keep harvested crops in suitable conditions to maintain quality. (Core)
  • Maintain soils or substrates to ensure sustainable, efficient and healthy growth. (Core)
  • Sample and evaluate soil or substrate health to determine nutrition requirements. (Core)
  • Comply with health and safety legislation, regulations, guidelines and procedures relevant to own role. (Core)
  • Participate in learning and CPD activities. (Core)
  • Manage own time to achieve tasks to schedule. (Core)
  • Consider different approaches to current working practices, identifying improvements, developments and innovative ideas. (Core)
  • Optimise growth conditions for crops, based on the specific needs of the plant relative to the environment. (Container based)
  • Maintain productive and non-productive areas. (Container based)
  • Plan for and carry out the removal of waste materials following harvest or dispatch. (Container based)
  • Evaluate and select different growing mediums taking into account site conditions and production requirements. (Container based)

  Behaviours

  • Promote and adopt a safety culture and apply proactively for self, colleagues and visitors.
  • Act in a professional and ethical manner, with a flexible, positive attitude to work.
  • Demonstrates a strong work ethic, takes pride in own work, pays attention to detail, and acts with integrity.
  • Ability to use own initiative and is aware of limits of responsibility.
  • A willingness to learn and contribute to their own continuing professional development.
  • Act in a way that builds and maintains positive relationships with colleagues, customers and suppliers.
  • Team focused and works effectively with colleagues and others.
  • Committed to keeping up with technological advancements, industry developments and best practice.
  • Promote and adopt a safety culture and apply proactively for self, colleagues and visitors.
  • Act in a professional and ethical manner, with a flexible, positive attitude to work.
  • Demonstrates a strong work ethic, takes pride in own work, pays attention to detail, and acts with integrity.
  • Ability to use own initiative and is aware of limits of responsibility.
  • A willingness to learn and contribute to their own continuing professional development.
  • Act in a way that builds and maintains positive relationships with colleagues, customers and suppliers.
  • Team focused and works effectively with colleagues and others.
  • Committed to keeping up with technological advancements, industry developments and best practice.
• Apprenticeship category (sector): Agriculture, environmental and animal care
• Qualification level: 3; Equal to A level
• Course duration: 24 months
• Funding: £15,000 ; Maximum government funding for ; apprenticeship training and assessment costs.

View more information about Crop technician (level 3) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.