Elements and Performance Criteria
- Plan for forage conservation
- Determine the resource needs and end use requirements of forage conservation in the farm production system.
- Define forage conservation options and cost benefit.
- Select appropriate paddocks for forage conservation with regard to species selection and target growth stage.
- Select appropriate forage conservation machinery, equipment and personal protective equipment in accordance with manufacturer's specifications, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements and industry practice.
- Ensure safe access to paddocks for harvesting and transport machinery.
- Plan and prepare storage facility/system for selected forage conservation method.
- Identify and minimise potential environmental impacts of forage conservation activities.
- Negotiate contracts and costs including crop inputs, machinery, harvest area and storage sites where applicable.
- Communicate details of work activities with workers and/or contractors where applicable.
- Prepare paddocks for forage conservation
- Oversee forage harvesting operations
- Establish dry matter targets for the selected method of forage conservation.
- Monitor seasonal and current weather conditions to determine optimum time for harvest and to ensure quality.
- Assess condition and dry matter content of the crop throughout the harvesting operation.
- Select harvesting and conditioning machinery based on weather conditions and forage drying targets.
- Ensure that harvesting activities are conducted in a safe, controlled and efficient manner.
- Ensure that baling, wrapping, compacting, sealing and/or storage of forage is in accordance with storage plan.
- Ensure that forage is safely loaded, transported and stored in accordance with OHS and quality requirements and to minimise spoilage and the risk of combustion.
- Complete operation
- Complete records in accordance with quality assurance requirements and industry practice.
- Ensure waste and debris is disposed of to minimise environmental impact.
- Ensure that machinery and ancillary equipment is cleaned and serviced in accordance with manufacturer's specifications, OHS requirements and industry practice.
- Conduct quality checks on stored forage.
- Monitor and minimise environmental impacts of forage conservation activities including concentration of nutrients at field out areas and effluent run-off.