Qualification details
Title
New Zealand Certificate in Rural Contracting (Level 3) with strands in Crop
Production, Harvesting, and Vegetation Control
Version
1
Qualification type
Certificate
Level
3
Credits
80
NZSCED
Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies > Agriculture >
Agriculture not elsewhere classified
Qualification developer
Infrastructure ITO
Next review
31 December 2020
Approval date
June 2015
Strategic purpose statement
The purpose of this qualification is to provide people with the
knowledge and skills to undertake rural contracting activities
such as crop production, harvesting, and vegetation control; and
to safely and efficiently operate vehicles and equipment for these
operations.
This qualification is targeted at new and experienced contractors.
Graduates of this qualification are eligible for accreditation as a
Qualified Contractor with Rural Contractors New Zealand.
Graduates will be capable of undertaking rural contracting
activities and operate rural contracting vehicles and equipment,
with limited or no supervision.
Graduate profile
Graduates of this qualification will be able to:
-
-
Apply health, safety, and environmental principles, and
industry best practice when undertaking rural contracting
operations
Operate rural contracting vehicles and equipment on and off
road and perform basic routine maintenance.
Outcome Statement
Graduates of the Crop Production strand will be able to prepare
seed beds.
Graduates of the Harvesting strand will be able to prepare for
and harvest crops.
Graduates of the Vegetation Control strand will be able to control
vegetation.
Education pathway
Qualification Reference 2728
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
This qualification can build on the New Zealand Certificate in
Infrastructure Works (Level 2) [Ref: 2522]; and may lead to the
New Zealand Certificate in Infrastructure Works (Site
Supervision) (Level 4) [Ref: 2617].
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Employment pathway
Graduates of this qualification will may be employed as operators
in the rural contracting sector in the following contexts:
- crop production
- harvesting
- vegetation control.
Qualification specifications
Qualification award
This qualification can be awarded by the Infrastructure ITO, or
any organisation with an approved programme or accredited to
deliver a programme leading to the qualification.
The certificate will display the logos of the NZQF; and the
Infrastructure ITO, or the programme owner, or the accredited
provider.
Evidence requirements for
assuring consistency
Core evidence requirements for demonstrating consistency for
the qualification will include:
-
internal and external moderation results relating to the
assessment of graduate outcomes
feedback and actions taken in response to
feedbackProgramme completion data and results
any other relevant evidence.
For more information on evidence for consistency relating to this
qualification, contact the Quality Assurance team at
info@connexis.org.nz; and refer to ‘Guidelines for assuring
national consistency of graduate outcomes for qualifications
listed on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework’ at
www.nzqa.govt.nz
Minimum standard of
achievement and standards for
grade endorsements
Achievement of all of the outcomes in the graduate profile,
including the outcomes for at least one strand.
Other requirements for the
qualification (including regulatory
body or legislative requirements)
None
General conditions for the programme leading to the qualification
General conditions for
programme
Appropriate licences and endorsements must be attained for the
vehicle being operated. Refer to New Zealand Transport
Agency’s latest requirements for licences and endorsements, at
www.nzta.govt.nz.
All vehicles must be roadworthy if working on roads, and be
inspected and maintained according to manufacturer’s
instructions and company requirements before operations.
Qualification Reference 2728
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
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Appropriate traffic management for the level of roads to be
attained, if working on the road corridor.
Tertiary Education Organisations (TEOs) offering programmes
leading to this qualification must maintain currency with
amendments to, and replacements of, relevant legislation,
regulations, rules, and Australia/New Zealand standards.
For more detailed guidelines for programme development
(including recommended unit standards), contact the qualification
developer at: qualifications@connexis.org.nz.
Conditions relating to the Graduate profile
Qualification outcomes
Conditions
1
Must include:
Apply health, safety, and
environmental principles, and
industry best practice when
undertaking rural contracting
operations
-
Credits 17
-
2
Operate rural contracting
vehicles and equipment on
and off road and perform basic
routine maintenance
Credits 13
risks, hazards and weather conditions are assessed and
mitigated
environmental considerations, such as: terrain, noise, dust,
water, noxious weeds, services above and underground,
native trees, animals and people, are assessed and
mitigated
To ensure a quality job outcome, the candidate must follow
best practice principles.
These include:
- understanding client requirements and specifications
- correctly and efficiently operating the correct equipment
for the job (this includes applying correct measurement
and calculations)
- continuous monitoring of the job
- managing fatigue.
Must include:
- inspect, maintain, and operate a wheeled or tracked tractor with
an attached or drawn piece of equipment
- safely get vehicles and equipment to job (including following
road compliance; and making equipment safe for travel before
and after job).
Basic routine maintenance does not include the scheduled
servicing of vehicles and equipment.
3
Crop Production strand
3a
Prepare seed beds
Must include:
Credits 50
-
Qualification Reference 2728
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
crop production principles including seedbed preparation,
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-
crop sowing, growth conditions and maturity
correct tillage for seed
appropriate machine operation e.g. speed, overlap, depth
set machine (calibrate)
load seed
apply seed and monitor seed flow
clean between jobs.
May include application of fertilisers for crop production.
4
Harvesting strand
4a
Prepare for and harvest crops
Must include at least one context from:
Credits 50
-
balage, silage (Forage)
root crop harvesting
combined harvestingc
grape harvesting
food harvesting.
Must include:
-
crop growth and maturity
plan harvest pattern and set machine to harvest
harvest effectively and efficiently ensuring minimal waste
physical awareness of and communication with other
operators onsite
clean harvest equipment.
5
Vegetation Control
5a
Control vegetation
Must include:
Credits 50
-
set machine (calibrate), e.g. setting heights and widths
operate machine appropriate to the job
clean machine and dispose of waste.
May include:
-
roadside mowing
vegetation control in council parks and reserves
tree trimming and removal
stump grinding.
Agrichemical spraying work is not included.
Qualification Reference 2728
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
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Transition information
Replacement information
National Certificate in Agricultural Contracting with optional
strands in Crop Production, Fencing, Harvesting, Land
Development, Mechanical Vegetation Control, Transport, and
Zero Tillage [Ref: 0230]
People currently working towards the replaced qualification may either complete the requirements for that
qualification by 31 December 2018 or transfer to this qualification.
The last date for entry into programmes leading to the replaced qualification is 31 December 2016.
It is the intention of the Infrastructure ITO that no existing trainee should be disadvantaged. Any person
who considers they have been disadvantaged may appeal to the Infrastructure ITO.
Qualification Reference 2728
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
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