Agriculture or horticulture professional adviser (level 6)
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Information about Agriculture or horticulture professional adviser (level 6)
Consult with and provide technical advice to farmers and growers to help them support their crop husbandry, based on latest scientific thinking, environmental requirements and in line with legislation and policy.
- Knowledge, skills and behaviours
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View knowledge, skills and behaviours
Knowledge
- Crop husbandry and management of controllable variables and awareness of non-controllable variables (e.g. climate, season and weather)
- Current and future research and development related to crop husbandry
- Health and Safety and risk analysis, product purpose, label interpretation and application approach
- How to minimise the impact of farming operations on water quality and wildlife, protect against soil erosion and understand the necessity to protect field margin habitat for biodiversity in line with policy and legislation from relevant Government departments
- Legislation regarding storage and transport of crop protection materials, containers and their disposal in line with policy and legislation from relevant Government departments
- The potential impact of changes in political stance (national and international)
- How to network and interact with all relevant professional bodies
- The current national economic and environmental climate and local area and community influences and demands
- Customer and stakeholder needs and expectations and the potential risks associated with the provision of advice
- Scope and frequency of advice appropriate to the relationship and role
- Internal systems that hold information and data, data filtering processes and GDPR regulations on the storage and use of information
- Internal and external customer service standards and complaint management procedures which ensures continued customer engagement
- Interpersonal techniques for effective interactions and positive outcomes
- Current organisational strategy in relation to customer service, customer loyalty and the legal rights of customers making purchases
- Range of communication media (verbal, non-verbal, written, digital) and appropriate interpersonal skills needed for each which meet farmer, grower or colleague preferences or expectations
- Outcomes of planning in short, medium- and long-term cycles (strategy) and what is required to implement them (tactics)
- The range of organisation, prioritisation, planning and time management techniques available to ensure personal efficiency, including impact of own time management and organisation on others
- Own development plan and alignment with company training policy and the changing standards or policy that may occur within the sector
- Skills required to be an effective adviser and enhancing own learning style and communication preferences
- Mentoring and/or coaching that is available from within the organisation and engaging with all opportunities for personal development
- Coaching and mentoring approaches and models to use with others
- Business culture, values and standards and the example to be set, their impact on the business and the need to operate to those values
- Scope of the potential customer base, the systems available which hold information and data and filtering data according to need
- Networking opportunities and the range of influencing factors on customer decision making
- Product offer and its measurement against competing products
- Chemical and non-chemical intervention methods and application approaches as described in BASIS-FSTS syllabus
- Farming specific legislation and regulation (e.g. pesticides, product withdrawals, protection zones) and other associated legislation and regulation (e.g. drinking water directive)
- Commercial business management requirements for running a typical farming enterprise aligned to Farmer or Grower yield potential and expectations across a range of situations
- Precision farming methods, equipment and software tools, their advantages, limitations and suitability for farmer or grower needs
- Experimental approaches to evaluate new products, varieties and techniques which may be suitable to local Farmers or Growers
- Risk assessment(s) and required action(s) to correct both existing and potential problems or threats
- Product manufacture, availability and stock according to seasonal requirements
- How to manage personal workload pressures (high:low) associated with a seasonally influenced role
- Research and Discovery processes for new active ingredients plus industry stewardship schemes to preserve their efficacy and longevity
- Weed, insect and disease life cycles of the major pests that threaten UK agricultural or horticultural crops and their management or treatment to minimise yield loss or crop quality reduction
- Pesticide resistance mechanisms that arise in weeds, insects and diseases and the techniques or alternative treatments which can be introduced to overcome or alleviate their impact when they occur
- Crop husbandry and management of controllable variables and awareness of non-controllable variables (e.g. climate, season and weather)
- Current and future research and development related to crop husbandry
- Health and Safety and risk analysis, product purpose, label interpretation and application approach
- How to minimise the impact of farming operations on water quality and wildlife, protect against soil erosion and understand the necessity to protect field margin habitat for biodiversity in line with policy and legislation from relevant Government departments
- Legislation regarding storage and transport of crop protection materials, containers and their disposal in line with policy and legislation from relevant Government departments
- The potential impact of changes in political stance (national and international)
- How to network and interact with all relevant professional bodies
- The current national economic and environmental climate and local area and community influences and demands
- Customer and stakeholder needs and expectations and the potential risks associated with the provision of advice
- Scope and frequency of advice appropriate to the relationship and role
- Internal systems that hold information and data, data filtering processes and GDPR regulations on the storage and use of information
- Internal and external customer service standards and complaint management procedures which ensures continued customer engagement
- Interpersonal techniques for effective interactions and positive outcomes
- Current organisational strategy in relation to customer service, customer loyalty and the legal rights of customers making purchases
- Range of communication media (verbal, non-verbal, written, digital) and appropriate interpersonal skills needed for each which meet farmer, grower or colleague preferences or expectations
- Outcomes of planning in short, medium- and long-term cycles (strategy) and what is required to implement them (tactics)
- The range of organisation, prioritisation, planning and time management techniques available to ensure personal efficiency, including impact of own time management and organisation on others
- Own development plan and alignment with company training policy and the changing standards or policy that may occur within the sector
- Skills required to be an effective adviser and enhancing own learning style and communication preferences
- Mentoring and/or coaching that is available from within the organisation and engaging with all opportunities for personal development
- Coaching and mentoring approaches and models to use with others
- Business culture, values and standards and the example to be set, their impact on the business and the need to operate to those values
- Scope of the potential customer base, the systems available which hold information and data and filtering data according to need
- Networking opportunities and the range of influencing factors on customer decision making
- Product offer and its measurement against competing products
- Macro and Micro nutritional crop requirements and application approaches as described in BASIS-FACTS syllabus
- Farming specific legislation and regulation (e.g. pesticides, product withdrawals, protection zones) and other associated legislation and regulation (e.g. drinking water directive)
- Commercial business management requirements for running a typical farming enterprise aligned to Farmer or Grower yield potential and expectations across a range of situations
- Precision farming methods, equipment and software tools, their advantages, limitations and suitability for farmer or grower needs
- Experimental approaches to evaluate new products, varieties and techniques which may be suitable to local Farmers or Growers
- Risk assessment(s) and required action(s) to correct both existing and potential problems or threats
- Product manufacture, availability and stock according to seasonal requirements
- How to manage personal workload pressures (high:low) associated with a seasonally influenced role
- Formulation and manufacturing processes of Macro-nutrient fertilisers and Micro-nutrient products and foliar treatments
- Chemical and physical properties of soil (e.g. pH, cationic exchange, sand, silt, clay or fraction) and their impact on nutrient availability to crops
- Nutrient deficiency symptoms exhibited by crops and their methods of correction using appropriate Macro and/or Micro nutrient treatment
Skills
- Demonstrate clear communication skills with the ability to convey complex information objectively in both verbal and written forms
- Utilise up to date information and evidence to challenge views based on outdated or biased rationale
- Undertake critical analysis incorporating environmental knowledge with agronomic data to support decision making which creates solutions that meet farmer or customer needs
- Calculate any associated cost implications of husbandry advice
- Interpret and advise on implications of policy, legislation and best practice
- Carry out appropriate risk analysis and provide necessary reports
- Maintain accurate and up to date records setting out information relating to customer contact, advice and recommendations and store records in a manner that complies with GDPR principles
- Produce reports in a comprehensible format and timely manner
- Facilitate (and chair if necessary) meetings to deliver the required outcomes and decisions, adopting the best choice of media for the content being shared with the participants
- Comply with Health and Safety regulations and follow farmer and customer protocols and conduct own activities in a manner that protects self, others and the environment from potential harm
- Recognise their own working style and the preferred working style or approach of the farmer or customer, adapting own approach to match their needs with the requirements of the activity involved
- Build internal and external relationships that are durable, ethically sound, trust-based and where information and advice is shared in a professional and appropriate manner
- Build a network of grower contacts and industry stakeholders to gather information and knowledge to enhance own professional development
- Utilise time management techniques to organise self, others and activities to maximise personal efficiency and enhance timely delivery of services to the farmer or customer
- Evaluate changes to legislation and policy, calculating risks and impacts for Farmers or Growers including logistical and financial implications
- Be solutions-focused by recognising the expectations of Farmers or Growers and their key decision-makers and aspire to exceed expectations when opportunities arise
- Create and maintain a CPD plan to support learning and development both for themselves (and colleagues for whom they may be managing)
- Share good practice or best practice in a way that empowers colleagues and Farmers or Growers to succeed
- Analyse, record and present information to produce customer advisory recommendations or to provide customer analysis and business insight
- Use data (from own notes or records, Precision Farming sources or 3rd party sources) to analyse and solve farmer or grower problems
- Implement and comply with complaints procedures and protocols as stipulated by the business or the farmer or grower
- Employ active listening, questioning, summarising and influencing techniques to ensure relevant information and views are understood in order to determine an optimal solution for the farmer or grower
- Deal effectively with client, customers and colleagues at every level of the organisation as required by the role
- Engage and network proactively with farmer or grower decision-makers and colleagues, including senior management as required, to deliver business outcomes in appropriate time-frames
- Conduct effective communication using the best match of style and medium (face-to-face, phone, email, report) when seeking to meet the farmer or grower needs
- Align activities against expected outcomes after objectively assessing own capability
- Effectively coach and/or mentor others in their personal development and use of effective methods
- Review own progress against targets and re-prioritise when required, to ensure service delivery is on target and own short- and long-term goals are being achieved
- Effectively manage demands or pressures that could distract from the priorities of the business, the customer or the individuals own personal health and well being
- Use a balanced and objective approach with Farmers or Growers when providing advice and through negotiations, by understanding their needs and the value they assign to agronomy and nutrition services, support and advice
- Assess fields and crops in a programmed approach, complying with all necessary legislation and crop protocols to provide accurate input recommendations to the Farmer or Grower in a timely and precise manner
- Apply an Integrated Pest Management or Integrated Farm Management approach when determining how best to control the weeds, insects and diseases which occur on a Farmer or Growers crops or land
- Assess the application of a Farmer or Growers crop protection treatment(s) through a hydraulic sprayer to confirm even and accurate application and provide subsequent calibration support or nozzle choice advice to the sprayer operator as may be required
- Engage with the sprayer operator of each Farmer or Grower client (as part of NPTC’s operator training requirement to earn CPD points) and share the rationale about the recommendations and inputs made which the sprayer operator subsequently applied to the crops
- Demonstrate clear communication skills with the ability to convey complex information objectively in both verbal and written forms
- Utilise up to date information and evidence to challenge views based on outdated or biased rationale
- Undertake critical analysis incorporating environmental knowledge with agronomic data to support decision making which creates solutions that meet farmer or customer needs
- Calculate any associated cost implications of husbandry advice
- Interpret and advise on implications of policy, legislation and best practice
- Carry out appropriate risk analysis and provide necessary reports
- Maintain accurate and up to date records setting out information relating to customer contact, advice and recommendations and store records in a manner that complies with GDPR principles
- Produce reports in a comprehensible format and timely manner
- Facilitate (and chair if necessary) meetings to deliver the required outcomes and decisions, adopting the best choice of media for the content being shared with the participants
- Comply with Health and Safety regulations and follow farmer and customer protocols and conduct own activities in a manner that protects self, others and the environment from potential harm
- Recognise their own working style and the preferred working style or approach of the farmer or customer, adapting own approach to match their needs with the requirements of the activity involved
- Build internal and external relationships that are durable, ethically sound, trust-based and where information and advice is shared in a professional and appropriate manner
- Build a network of grower contacts and industry stakeholders to gather information and knowledge to enhance own professional development
- Utilise time management techniques to organise self, others and activities to maximise personal efficiency and enhance timely delivery of services to the farmer or customer
- Evaluate changes to legislation and policy, calculating risks and impacts for Farmers or Growers including logistical and financial implications
- Be solutions-focused by recognising the expectations of Farmers or Growers and their key decision-makers and aspire to exceed expectations when opportunities arise
- Create and maintain a CPD plan to support learning and development both for themselves (and colleagues for whom they may be managing)
- Share good practice or best practice in a way that empowers colleagues and Farmers or Growers to succeed
- Analyse, record and present information to produce customer advisory recommendations or to provide customer analysis and business insight
- Use data (from own notes or records, Precision Farming sources or 3rd party sources) to analyse and solve farmer or grower problems
- Implement and comply with complaints procedures and protocols as stipulated by the business or the farmer or grower
- Employ active listening, questioning, summarising and influencing techniques to ensure relevant information and views are understood in order to determine an optimal solution for the farmer or grower
- Deal effectively with client, customers and colleagues at every level of the organisation as required by the role
- Engage and network proactively with farmer or grower decision-makers and colleagues, including senior management as required, to deliver business outcomes in appropriate time-frames
- Conduct effective communication using the best match of style and medium (face-to-face, phone, email, report) when seeking to meet the farmer or grower needs
- Align activities against expected outcomes after objectively assessing own capability
- Effectively coach and/or mentor others in their personal development and use of effective methods
- Review own progress against targets and re-prioritise when required, to ensure service delivery is on target and own short- and long-term goals are being achieved
- Effectively manage demands or pressures that could distract from the priorities of the business, the customer or the individuals own personal health and well being
- Use a balanced and objective approach with Farmers or Growers when providing advice and through negotiations, by understanding their needs and the value they assign to agronomy and nutrition services, support and advice
- Assess fields and crops in a programmed approach, complying with all necessary legislation and crop protocols to provide accurate input recommendations to the Farmer or Grower in a timely and precise manner
- Conduct in-field assessments of soil structure, composition and condition, and collect representative soil sample(s) for laboratory analysis (e.g. nutrient status, organic matter level, presence of contaminant)
- Assess the application of a Farmer or Growers crop nutrition treatment(s) through a granular spreader to confirm even and accurate application and provide subsequent calibration support to the operator as may be required
Behaviours
- Maintain a professional approach to all business dealings and sets an example
- Understand the principles, culture and values of associated businesses or organisations - as well as their own - and adjust personal behaviours in line with them
- Have considered and understand the impact of the decisions made and factored these in to their own approach
- Take an evaluative stance, seeking out a range of relevant information to inform decisions and formulate recommendations
- Take responsibility for self and actions, understand own levels of authority and recognise when appropriate to escalate or seek support and assistance
- Are open to new developments, research and breakthroughs and are proactive in seeking out information
- Endeavour to always share good practice amongst colleagues
- Utilise wider knowledge from within the organisation and from outside sources to enhance business relationships
- Self-reflect, analyse successes and evaluate areas for improvement and take corrective action where appropriate
- Embrace diversity and always demonstrate a fair and ethical approach
- Seek feedback as part of continuous personal development and the desire to improve outcomes for customers and are prepared to flex approaches when appropriate
- Understand the role of both internal and external relationships, recognise boundaries and follow protocol in order to maintain strong, trusted relationships
- Demonstrate punctuality, reliability, trustworthiness and personal responsibility
- Personally commit to and take ownership of problems in order to resolve customer issues, bringing satisfaction to the customer and the organisation
- Are conscientious and continually seek to deliver on commitments made, managing any expectations of others where service or delivery is in question
- Demonstrate objectivity in the provision of advice, input and support to ensure they always deliver a benefit to the farmer, grower or client
- Maintain a professional approach to all business dealings and sets an example
- Understand the principles, culture and values of associated businesses or organisations - as well as their own - and adjust personal behaviours in line with them
- Have considered and understand the impact of the decisions made and factored these in to their own approach
- Take an evaluative stance, seeking out a range of relevant information to inform decisions and formulate recommendations
- Take responsibility for self and actions, understand own levels of authority and recognise when appropriate to escalate or seek support and assistance
- Are open to new developments, research and breakthroughs and are proactive in seeking out information
- Endeavour to always share good practice amongst colleagues
- Utilise wider knowledge from within the organisation and from outside sources to enhance business relationships
- Self-reflect, analyse successes and evaluate areas for improvement and take corrective action where appropriate
- Embrace diversity and always demonstrate a fair and ethical approach
- Seek feedback as part of continuous personal development and the desire to improve outcomes for customers and are prepared to flex approaches when appropriate
- Understand the role of both internal and external relationships, recognise boundaries and follow protocol in order to maintain strong, trusted relationships
- Demonstrate punctuality, reliability, trustworthiness and personal responsibility
- Personally commit to and take ownership of problems in order to resolve customer issues, bringing satisfaction to the customer and the organisation
- Are conscientious and continually seek to deliver on commitments made, managing any expectations of others where service or delivery is in question
- Demonstrate objectivity in the provision of advice, input and support to ensure they always deliver a benefit to the farmer, grower or client
- Apprenticeship category (sector)
- Agriculture, environmental and animal care
- Qualification level
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6
Equal to degree - Course duration
- 30 months
- Maximum funding
-
£14,000
Maximum government funding for
apprenticeship training and assessment costs. - Job titles include
-
- Agronomist
- Nutritionist
- Consultant
- Crop consultant
- Environment specialist
- Environmental specialist
View more information about Agriculture or horticulture professional adviser (level 6) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.