NZQA Expiring unit standard
16 version 6
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Title
Describe pasture plants and production, and ways to optimise
pasture growth and utilisation
Level
3
Credits
5
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: describe the
importance of pastures to New Zealand agriculture; describe
the relationship between legumes and grasses in New Zealand
farm pastures; identify the structure and growing stages of
pasture plants; describe ways producers optimise pasture
growth and utilisation; and identify major pasture species of
local significance and their general attributes.
Classification
Agriculture > Farming Skills
Available grade
Achieved
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Describe the importance of pastures to New Zealand agriculture.
Evidence requirements
1.1
1.2
1.3
The national economic significance of pasture is described in terms of economic
advantage over other feed alternatives.
This unit standard is
The national economic significance of pasture is described in terms of farmer
income and flow on effects on community incomes.
expiring
The influence of the New Zealand climate on pasture production is described in
terms of comparative advantages over climate types in at least one other
country.
Outcome 2
Describe the relationship between legumes and grasses in New Zealand farm pastures.
Evidence requirements
2.1
The complementary growth patterns of legumes and grasses are described in
terms of balance between pasture production and nitrogen fixing capacity of
legumes.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
2.2
16 version 6
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The recommended ratio between legumes and grasses is stated and justified in
relation to a given situation.
Outcome 3
Identify the structure and growing stages of pasture plants.
Range
grass, clover (legumes).
Evidence requirements
3.1
Pasture plants are identified by structure, parts, and basic function.
3.2
Plant growth is identified in terms of stages, sequence, and seasonal
responses.
Outcome 4
Describe ways producers optimise pasture growth and utilisation.
Evidence requirements
4.1
Methods to optimise pasture growth and utilisation are described in terms of
current industry techniques.
Range
4.2
may include but is not limited to – stocking rates, fertiliser
application, fencing, grazing management, subdivision, selection
of pasture species, drainage, irrigation, topping;
evidence is required for at least two techniques.
Feed conservation is described in terms of basic principles, and reasons for
conservation.
This
standard
is
includesunit
but is not limited
to – hay, silage.
Grazing methods used inexpiring
New Zealand are described in terms of their
effectiveness for optimising pasture growth.
Range
4.3
Range
may include but is not limited to – rotational grazing, intensive
grazing, set stocking, block grazing;
evidence is required for at least two methods.
Outcome 5
Identify major pasture species of local significance and their general attributes.
Evidence requirements
5.1
Pasture grasses and cultivars are identified and described in terms of local
significance.
Range
must include at least five pasture grasses.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
5.2
Common pasture legumes and cultivars are identified and described in terms of
local significance.
Range
5.3
16 version 6
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must include at least three pasture legumes.
Pasture grasses and pasture legumes are described in terms of their
comparative advantages and disadvantages.
includes but is not limited to – seasonal growth characteristics,
response to heavy stocking, response to grazing frequency,
response to fertiliser, fertility tolerance, root growth pattern;
evidence is required for three grasses and three legumes.
Range
Replacement information
This unit standard has been replaced by unit standard
28922
This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by
the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
28 February 1993
31 December 2018
Review
2
29 September 1995
31 December 2018
Review
3
28 February 1997
31 December 2018
Review
4
25 June 2002
31 December 2018
5
23 April 2008
31 December 2018
This
unit
standard
is
Review
6
16 July 2015
31 December 2018
expiring
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0052
Review
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
16 version 6
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Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
This unit standard is
expiring
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016