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Plan, price, and manage an agrichemical application pest control
programme
Level
6
Credits
30
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: assess client needs in
terms of agrichemical control; identify alternatives to agrichemical control and
advise the client; develop the control programme; price the control
programme; manage on-site preparation for agrichemical application;
manage agrichemical application; ensure post-operational procedures are
carried out; and ensure reporting requirements are met.
Subfield
Rural Contracting
Domain
Agrichemical Application
Status
Registered
Status date
25 June 2007
Date version published
25 June 2007
Planned review date
31 December 2012
Entry information
Open.
Replacement information
This unit standard replaced unit standard 6250 and unit
standard 6251.
Accreditation
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and
industry.
Standard setting body (SSB)
Infrastructure ITO
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference
0101
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Special notes
1
The following legislation and requirements apply to this unit standard:
Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996;
Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992;
Resource Management Act 1991;
NZS 8409:2004 Management of agrichemicals (NZS 8409), available from
http://www.standards.co.nz;
Territorial authority and/or regional council (TA/RC) requirements;
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Manufacturer’s instructions;
Label directions.
Any legislation or other requirement superseding any of the above will apply, pending
review of this unit standard.
2
Assessment against this unit standard must be based on evidence from a workplace
context.
3
Personal protective equipment, appropriate to job requirements, is to be selected and
used in accordance with company requirements, NZS 8409, and manufacturer’s
instructions.
4
Definitions
Adjuvant – an ingredient added to a herbicide formulation or spray mixture to aid or
modify the action of the herbicide, or the physical characteristics of the mixture.
Agrichemical – any substance, whether inorganic or organic, man-made or naturally
occurring, modified or in its original state, that is used in any agriculture, horticulture,
or related activity to eradicate, modify, or control flora or fauna.
Company requirements refer to all policies, procedures, and methodologies the
candidate’s organisation has in place including but not limited to those relating to
health, safety, environment, quality, and operations.
Manufacturer’s instructions may include specifications, installation, handling, use, and
maintenance instructions and safety data sheets.
Pests refers to one or a combination of – pest plants, plant pests, plant disease
organisms, animal disease organisms.
Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Assess client needs in terms of agrichemical control.
Performance criteria
1.1
Pests present are identified with reference to all symptoms and signs.
1.2
Client needs are determined in terms of agrichemical control of the pests.
Range
objectives of control programme, timing of treatments, targets or
target areas, target pests, control methods.
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Element 2
Identify alternatives to agrichemical control and advise the client.
Performance criteria
2.1
Alternative control measures are determined and outlined to the client.
Range
2.2
Alternative control measures are outlined to the client in terms of advantages
and disadvantages.
Range
2.3
biological, cultural, mechanical, chemical, integrated pest
management.
to the producer, to plants and produce, to the environment, costeffectiveness, economic threshold.
Future management of targets or target area is clarified with the client in terms
of additional and ongoing management techniques.
Range
fertiliser applications, stocking rate, fencing, seeding, withholding
periods, classes of stock.
Element 3
Develop the control programme.
Performance criteria
3.1
Control programme is planned that meets client requirements, minimises
damage to beneficial organisms, and takes account of specific industry spray
programmes.
3.2
Control methods are chosen that will effectively control the identified pests with
minimal risk to people, animals, and the environment.
3.3
Programme complies with TA/RC requirements.
Range
3.4
includes but is not limited to – notification, consent, permit.
Agrichemical or agrichemicals chosen are appropriate for the control of the
identified pests, and minimise risk to people, animals, and the environment.
Range
label directions, hazard schedule rating, drift hazard, compatibility
and selectivity, target resistance, withholding period to harvest,
destination market requirements, persistence in the environment.
3.5
Mixing sites chosen comply with NZS 4809.
3.6
Agrichemical application method or methods are chosen that minimise the risk
of contamination of off-target areas.
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3.7
Agrichemical application rates are chosen that comply with the
recommendations on the label of the product.
3.8
Programme minimises inefficiency and takes account of constraints and
contingencies.
Range
3.9
Timing of agrichemical application is planned to optimise agrichemical
effectiveness.
Range
3.10
constraints may include but are not limited to – potential hazards,
ground conditions, terrain, access.
stage of pest lifecycle, stage of crop or stock growth; may include
preservation of beneficial organisms.
Programme specifies documentation for health and safety, pricing, site
management, and any other purposes to meet requirements of the contracting
work.
Element 4
Price the control programme.
Performance criteria
4.1
Management and labour time costs are calculated in accordance with
programme requirements.
Range
includes but is not limited to – notification of neighbours, consents
and permits, target coverage, terrain, hazards, number of
applications.
4.2
Plant and equipment costs are calculated in accordance with programme
requirements.
4.3
Agrichemical costs are calculated in accordance with programme requirements.
Range
4.4
target coverage, application rates, number of applications.
Price presented to the client takes into account all calculated costs and includes
payment milestones and/or terms of trade.
Element 5
Manage on-site preparation for agrichemical application.
Performance criteria
5.1
Site is evaluated to make final determination of ground conditions, water
availability and quantity, hazards, and susceptible crops and livestock.
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5.2
Management ensures that mixing sites are checked to ensure compliance with
NZS 8409.
5.3
Management ensures that agrichemical concentrates and adjuvants are mixed
in accordance with label directions.
5.4
Management ensures that agrichemical concentrate is diluted with no
contamination of the water supply.
5.5
Management ensures that agrichemical application equipment is checked and is
fit for use in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, job requirements, and
company requirements.
5.6
Management ensures that agrichemical application equipment is calibrated, and
calibration information is recorded in accordance with the NZS 8409.
Range
date of calibration, rates of application, equipment settings, identity
of calibrator.
5.7
Work pattern is determined to ensure systematic and complete target coverage,
to ensure that under and over-application is minimised, and to take account of
potential hazards.
5.8
Final check ensures compliance with TA/RC requirements in terms of
agrichemicals that can be used, consents and/or permits required, and spraying
distances from watercourses, and ensures all required documentation is
available.
Element 6
Manage agrichemical application.
Performance criteria
6.1
Agrichemicals are applied in accordance with NZS 8409, label directions, and
TA/RC requirements.
6.2
Management ensures that planned work pattern is followed with appropriate
adjustments made to suit changing conditions.
Range
weather, proximity to people, proximity to animals.
6.3
Management ensures that targeting and coverage are in accordance with the
determined work pattern.
6.4
Management ensures that agrichemicals are applied with minimal wastage and
no risk of damage to equipment, property, structures, or crops.
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6.5
Management ensures that safety precautions are observed at all times in
accordance with NZS 8409 and client requirements.
Range
6.6
clothing, public notification, public safety, mixing site; may include
– signage, vehicle safety lights, traffic, withholding times, stock
grazing.
Management ensures that agrichemical application information is recorded in
accordance with NZS 8409.
Range
location, times, targets, agrichemicals used, quantities, application
rates, additives used, equipment used, weather conditions, ground
conditions, withholding period.
Element 7
Ensure post-operational procedures are carried out.
Performance criteria
7.1
Management ensures contaminating residues are removed and washings are
managed, in accordance with NZS 8409 and TA/RC requirements.
Range
equipment, protective clothing.
7.2
Management ensures any surplus agrichemical mix is managed in accordance
with NZS 8409 and TA/RC requirements.
7.3
Management ensures lubrication is carried out in accordance with
manufacturer's instructions.
7.4
Management ensures any faulty, damaged, or worn parts are identified, and are
repaired or replaced in accordance with company requirements and
manufacturer’s instructions (where applicable).
7.5
Management ensures equipment and machinery are stored in a safe condition
and location in accordance with NZS 8409 and company requirements.
7.6
Management ensures application records are made in accordance with NZS
8409 and TA/RC, company, and client requirements, and are stored in
accordance with company requirements.
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Element 8
Ensure reporting requirements are met.
Performance criteria
8.1
Management ensures all required reports are prepared or completed in
accordance with company requirements.
Range
may include but is not limited to – incidents, production, costs and
variations, compliance.
Please note
Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated
authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against
unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register
credits from assessment against unit standards.
Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards
must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this
standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The
AMAP 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.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact Infrastructure ITO askus@infratrain.co.nz if you wish to suggest changes to
the content of this unit standard.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016