Prepare planting equipment and plant crops LEGACY

This standard covers the preparation of planting equipment and the planting of crops. You will be able to check that the site is in a suitable condition for planting and that the correct quality and quantity of planting material is available. You will also be able to set up and operate machinery and equipment to carry out planting to meet the needs of the crop and planting specification. When working with machinery or equipment you should be trained and hold current certification where required. When carrying out your work you must consider the impact it will have on the environment. The standard is suitable for those with responsibility for preparing planting equipment and carrying out the planting of crops.

"1. assess the risks associated with the site and the required activity
2. wear suitable clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE)
3. select, prepare, use and maintain the required equipment and
machinery, safely and correctly
4. check that the planting equipment is fit for use and confirm that it
is set up to give the required outputs
5. check that the soil has been prepared and is in a suitable
condition for planting the crop, and take action if it is not
6. transport planting material in a way that avoids damage and
maintains quality
7. position planting material in the soil consistently across the site
in accordance with instructions and specifications
8. maintain hygiene and bio-security, in accordance with business
practices
9. maintain the safety and security of the equipment and machinery
on site
10. clean down equipment and machinery after use and leave it
secure and in the correct condition for future use
11. maintain communication with colleagues and others involved in,
or affected by, your work
12. follow industry and business guidance to minimise environmental
damage
13. process waste safely and correctly, in accordance with relevant
legal requirements and business practices
14. carry out your work in accordance with relevant environmental
and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements,
codes of practice and business policies
15. complete records as required by relevant legislation and the
business"

"1. how to identify hazards and assess risks
2. the type of clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE)
suitable for the activity
3. the importance of carrying out an environmental assessment of
the site before starting work, and the findings that may affect the
planting of crops
4. the requirements, advantages and disadvantages of different crop
production systems
5. the principles of sustainable agriculture and Integrated Crop
Management (ICM)
6. the types of equipment and machinery required for planting crops
and how to prepare, use and maintain these safely and correctly
7. the required outputs of the planting equipment, taking into
account the relevant factors
8. how to set up the equipment and machinery to give the required
outputs, including the use of technology
9. the types of soil and their relationship to crop planting and the
establishment of crops
10. the requirements and purpose of the planting specifications
11. how to check that the soil has been prepared and is in a suitable
condition for planting crops
12. the methods used to prepare planting material and how to
confirm that it is suitable for planting
13. the importance of timing when planting crops and how the type of
crop affects the timing
14. the inter-relationship between density, depth, orientation, plant
spacing and row widths when planting, what is best for different
crops and different sites and why this is the case
15. the factors that must be taken into consideration during the
planting of crops, such as seed treatments, the addition of slug
pellets or fertiliser
16. the sort of problems that may arise during planting and the actions
to take
17. the importance of maintaining hygiene and bio-security when
planting crops and the methods for achieving this
18. why it is important to maintain the safety and security of
equipment and machinery when on site
19. how to clean down equipment and machinery
20. the importance of maintaining communication with those involved
in, or affected by, your work and how this should be done
21. the potential impact that your activities could have on the
environment and the ways in which this can be minimised
22. how to handle, transport, store and dispose of waste in
accordance with legal requirements and business practices
23. your responsibilities under relevant environmental and health and
safety legislation, codes of practice and business policies
24. the records that need to be kept and the importance of completing
them"

"Instructions and specifications:
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drawings/plans
schedules
method statements
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
manufacturer's guidelines
customer requirements
crop requirements
verbal instructions
Planting material:
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seeds
plants
tubers, etc
fertilisers
treatments
Position planting material:
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density
depth
orientation
plant spacing
row widths
Relevant factors:
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soil type and condition
topography
climate
weather and ground conditions
existing structures and systems (e.g. fences, hedges, drainage)
previous use of the site
previous treatments
access
Required outputs:
• plants/ha
• kg/ha
Sustainable agriculture: Meeting the requirements for food production
while maintaining profitability and preserving the environment.
Timing:
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seasonality
soil conditions
weather conditions
environmental conditions"