FDFWGG3011A
Perform shed nursery activities

This specialist unit has been developed for the wine grape growing stream of the wine sector. It covers the skills and knowledge required to treat and prepare vine cuttings and freshly dug rootlings for sale or planting in the vineyard.

Application

This unit includes preparation for plantings, treating and callusing cuttings, care of rootlings and preparation for transfer and transportation.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

Prepare cuttings for callusing

Cuttings are counted, bundled and labelled according to instructions as required

Cuttings are chemically treated according to instructions

Cuttings are stored according to instructions

Prepare and maintain callusing environment

Sand bed or callusing room is prepared according to workplace procedures

Cuttings are placed into callusing environment according to instructions

Optimum callusing environment is maintained

Prepare rootlings for customer or planting

Rootlings are trimmed, graded, packed and stored according to instructions

Waste is collected and disposed of according to workplace procedures

Problems and anomalies are recognised, rectified and/or reported

Work is conducted in accordance with workplace environmental guidelines

Record information

Workplace information is recorded in the appropriate format

Required Skills

Required skills

Note: The following required skills should be applied as appropriate to the equipment and processes that are used in the particular winery or workplace.

Ability to:

Access workplace information to identify nursery requirements

Select, fit and use appropriate personal protective clothing and/or equipment

Liaise with other work areas and customers

Count, bundle and label cuttings as required

Treat cuttings as required prior to callusing. This may include:

fungicide treatment

re-hydration

scoring

root promoter treatment

cutting just below basal bud

assimilation after cool storage

Store cuttings. This may include maintaining and monitoring cold storage facilities

Prepare sand bed or callusing room. This may include:

packing sand or vermiculite

lining boxes

ensuring heaters and ventilators are working correctly to required temperature

Plant or place cuttings in callusing environment. This may include:

feeling into ground or sand

packing into boxes with vermiculite

watering in

correct number of cuttings per box

spacing (e.g. not too tight)

correct way up (e.g. basal end at bottom)

arranging according to variety, clone and source

labelling and mapping of beds

adding hormone mixes

Maintain optimum callusing environment. This will include consideration of:

temperature

relative humidity

moisture levels of growing medium

weed and pest prevention

Trim rootlings (top growth and roots) ready for planting

Grade rootlings according to workplace or customer requirements and standards

Pack rootlings. This should include consideration of:

customer requirements

maintenance of rootling health

minimisation of vine damage

mode of transport

destination time

storage time and method

prevention of dehydration

Recognise problems and anomalies with vines, equipment and materials

Take corrective action in response to out-of-specification results, activity or non-compliance

Report and/or record problems and/or corrective action

Identify, rectify and/or report environmental non-compliance

Collect, sort, grade, treat and/or dispose of waste as required

Handle cuttings or rootlings to minimise damage

Select and operate equipment as required

Select and use materials as required

Maintain work area to meet housekeeping standards

Clean equipment as required

Prepare and mix chemicals as required

Conduct routine maintenance of equipment according to enterprise procedures

Use oral communication skills/language to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and seeking advice from supervisor

Work cooperatively within a culturally diverse workforce

Required knowledge

Note: The following required knowledge should be applied as appropriate to the equipment and processes that are used in the particular winery or workplace.

Knowledge of:

Common features of healthy vine cuttings or rootlings. This may include:

thickness of original cane

no evidence of pests and diseases

number, strength and distribution of new roots

number, maturity and distribution of shoots

visually complete and robust graft union

Common features of unhealthy vine cuttings or rootlings. This may include:

galls on stem (e.g. crown gall)

galls on roots (e.g. nematodes)

no shoots or roots

damaged or destroyed buds

excessive disease staining or spots on canes

immature wood

shoots on incorrect nodes

faulty or broken graft unions

too few or unevenly distributed root development

Pre-callusing treatment requirements

Purpose and benefit of treatments

Storage requirements of cuttings prior to callusing

Preparation requirements of callusing environment

Callusing options (e.g. features, pros and cons)

Optimum callusing environment and its effect on the vine cutting

Common problems that occur during callusing and how they should be resolved (e.g. uneven callusing or evidence of dehydrated cuttings on arrival)

Preparation requirements for rootlings and procedures for sales or transfer to vineyard

Package or storage requirements and procedures for rootlings ready for sale or transfer

Factors that influence how a cutting should be graded and why

Reasons for specific requirements, for example:

rootling preparation

packing preparation

packaging and storage requirements

Waste disposal requirements and procedures

Reporting and recording requirements and procedures

Safe handling of chemicals

Equipment operation requirements and procedures

Occupational health and safety (OHS) hazards and controls

Procedures and responsibilities for reporting problems

Environmental issues and controls

Cleaning requirements and procedures for work area and equipment. This should include additional considerations when cleaning between batches and varieties

Safe preparation and mixing of chemicals

Routine maintenance procedures for equipment where relevant

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Assessment must be carried out in a manner that recognises the cultural and literacy requirements of the assessee and is appropriate to the work performed. Competence in this unit must be achieved in accordance with food safety standards and regulations.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of ability to:

use personal protective equipment, MSDS and follow other specified OHS procedures

conduct cutting and callusing activities

monitor the health of and tend rootlings

prepare for, implement and monitor nursery activities

prepare vine rootlings for transport

maintain nursery environment to optimise plant health

complete documentation.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must occur in a real or simulated workplace where the assessee has access to:

personal protective clothing and equipment as required

work procedures, including advice on company practices, safe work practices, food safety, quality and environmental requirements

instructions, information, specifications and schedules as required

equipment, services and corresponding information as required

products and materials as required

internal and external customers and suppliers as required

cleaning procedures, materials and equipment as required

documentation and recording requirements and procedures.

Method of assessment

This unit should be assessed together with other units of competency relevant to the function or work role.

Guidance information for assessment

To ensure consistency in one's performance, competence should be demonstrated on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities, and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Policies and procedures

Work is carried out in accordance with workplace procedures, licensing requirements and legislative requirements

Workplace information

Workplace information can include:

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

specifications

production schedules

instructions

routine maintenance schedules

work notes

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

manufacturer instructions

verbal direction from manager, supervisor or senior operator

Rootlings

Rootlings may include:

those developed from cuttings in a sand bed or callusing room

those freshly dug from a field nursery

Equipment

Equipment may include:

secateurs

personal protective clothing and/or equipment

bins

boxes

spades

trowels

watering or irrigating equipment

heating equipment

packing machine

counting machine

Materials

Materials may include:

string

labels

chemicals

sand

wax

Problems and anomalies

Problems and anomalies may include:

evidence of nematodes, crown gall, dehydration, infection, physical damage and graft union failure

Facilities

Facilities may include:

cold storage

callusing room

hot beds

sand storage bins

water

fungicide treatment areas

storage bins or tanks

soakage tanks

glasshouses

Work hazards

Work may involve exposure to:

chemical, dangerous or hazardous substances


Sectors

Unit sector

Wine operations


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.