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Plan, price, and manage an agrichemical application pest control programme

Level / 6
Credits / 30

PurposePeople 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

Special notes

1The 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

Territorial authority and/or regional council (TA/RC) requirements;

Manufacturer’s instructions;

Label directions.

Any legislation or other requirement superseding any of the above will apply, pending review of this unit standard.

2Assessment against this unit standard must be based on evidence from a workplace context.

3Personal protective equipment, appropriate to job requirements, is to be selected and used in accordance with company requirements, NZS 8409, and manufacturer’s instructions.

4Definitions

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 requirementsrefer 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

1.1Pests present are identified with reference to all symptoms and signs.

1.2Client needs are determined in terms of agrichemical control of the pests.

Rangeobjectives of control programme, timing of treatments, targets or target areas, target pests, control methods.

Element 2

Identify alternatives to agrichemical control and advise the client.

Performance criteria

2.1Alternative control measures are determined and outlined to the client.

Rangebiological, cultural, mechanical, chemical, integrated pest management.

2.2Alternative control measures are outlined to the client in terms of advantages and disadvantages.

Rangeto the producer, to plants and produce, to the environment, cost-effectiveness, economic threshold.

2.3Future management of targets or target area is clarified with the client in terms of additional and ongoing management techniques.

Rangefertiliser applications, stocking rate, fencing, seeding, withholding periods, classes of stock.

Element 3

Develop the control programme.

Performance criteria

3.1Control programme is planned that meets client requirements, minimises damage to beneficial organisms, and takes account of specific industry spray programmes.

3.2Control methods are chosen that will effectively control the identified pests with minimal risk to people, animals, and the environment.

3.3Programme complies with TA/RC requirements.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – notification, consent, permit.

3.4Agrichemical or agrichemicals chosen are appropriate for the control of the identified pests, and minimise risk to people, animals, and the environment.

Rangelabel directions, hazard schedule rating, drift hazard, compatibility and selectivity, target resistance, withholding period to harvest, destination market requirements, persistence in the environment.

3.5Mixing sites chosen comply with NZS 4809.

3.6Agrichemical application method or methods are chosen that minimise the risk of contamination of off-target areas.

3.7Agrichemical application rates are chosen that comply with the recommendations on the label of the product.

3.8Programme minimises inefficiency and takes account of constraints and contingencies.

Rangeconstraints may include but are not limited to – potential hazards, ground conditions, terrain, access.

3.9Timing of agrichemical application is planned to optimise agrichemical effectiveness.

Rangestage of pest lifecycle, stage of crop or stock growth; may include preservation of beneficial organisms.

3.10Programme 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

4.1Management and labour time costs are calculated in accordance with programme requirements.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – notification of neighbours, consents and permits, target coverage, terrain, hazards, number of applications.

4.2Plant and equipment costs are calculated in accordance with programme requirements.

4.3Agrichemical costs are calculated in accordance with programme requirements.

Rangetarget coverage, application rates, number of applications.

4.4Price 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

5.1Site is evaluated to make final determination of ground conditions, water availability and quantity, hazards, and susceptible crops and livestock.

5.2Management ensures that mixing sites are checked to ensure compliance with NZS 8409.

5.3Management ensures that agrichemical concentrates and adjuvants are mixed in accordance with label directions.

5.4Management ensures that agrichemical concentrate is diluted with no contamination of the water supply.

5.5Management ensures that agrichemical application equipment is checked and is fit for use in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, job requirements, and company requirements.

5.6Management ensures that agrichemical application equipment is calibrated, and calibration information is recorded in accordance with the NZS 8409.

Rangedate of calibration, rates of application, equipment settings, identity of calibrator.

5.7Work 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.

5.8Final 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

6.1Agrichemicals are applied in accordance with NZS 8409, label directions, and TA/RC requirements.

6.2Management ensures that planned work pattern is followed with appropriate adjustments made to suit changing conditions.

Rangeweather, proximity to people, proximity to animals.

6.3Management ensures that targeting and coverage are in accordance with the determined work pattern.

6.4Management ensures that agrichemicals are applied with minimal wastage and no risk of damage to equipment, property, structures, or crops.

6.5Management ensures that safety precautions are observed at all times in accordance with NZS 8409 and client requirements.

Rangeclothing, public notification, public safety, mixing site; may include – signage, vehicle safety lights, traffic, withholding times, stock grazing.

6.6Management ensures that agrichemical application information is recorded in accordance with NZS 8409.

Rangelocation, 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

7.1Management ensures contaminating residues are removed and washings are managed, in accordance with NZS 8409 and TA/RC requirements.

Rangeequipment, protective clothing.

7.2Management ensures any surplus agrichemical mix is managed in accordance with NZS 8409 and TA/RC requirements.

7.3Management ensures lubrication is carried out in accordance with manufacturer's instructions.

7.4Management 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).

7.5Management ensures equipment and machinery are stored in a safe condition and location in accordance with NZS 8409 and company requirements.

7.6Management 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.

Element 8

Ensure reporting requirements are met.

Performance criteria

8.1Management ensures all required reports are prepared or completed in accordance with company requirements.

Rangemay 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 if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.

 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018