Course description
A Crop Technician is responsible for optimising crop/plant yields through establishment, management, harvest and post-harvest operations, while maintaining and improving the surrounding environment. This standard offers the option of specialising with two pathway options: Agriculture (soil-based system) or Horticulture (container-based system).Businesses within the industry range from small enterprises through to international organisations. Work in soil-based systems involves operating large, technically advanced machinery in the open fields. Working outdoors, means there is variety and challenges to overcome. Similarly Crop Technicians working in container-based systems may work outside but for many the majority of work will be in controlled environments, which need monitoring and adapting to suit the growth stage/species growing.
Upcoming start dates
Suitability - Who should attend?
- Apprentices who do not hold maths & English L2 or GSCE grades 4 (C) will need to complete these prior to Gateway
- You must have secured a position with an employer and be ready to start working with them before you can begin your apprenticeship course.
- If you already have an employer and they have agreed to put you through an apprenticeship, contact the Apprenticeship team and we'll get you started.
Training Course Content
- Promote and maintain health, safety and security
- Manage accurate records within the workplace
- Maintain and operate machinery and other equipment to allow safe and efficient operation
- Prepare seed bed/growing medium for maximum growth potential
- Carry out relevant establishment of crops for efficient growth
- Competently operate (to the equivalent of a certified level) a relevant vehicle used in the business
- Control of pests, weeds and diseases including safe use, application and storage of chemicals
- Carry out plant nutrient application and/or irrigation tasks if applicable to aid growth of crop
- Carry out harvesting operations including assessment of timing and quality
- Store crops in suitable conditions to maintain quality
- Soil/substrate maintenance tasks to ensure efficient and healthy growth of the crop/plant including sampling and acting
upon results as appropriate to ensure nutrition is correct
If you choose the agriculture pathway, you will also learn:
- Correctly set machinery and monitoring machine performance for good seed establishment and crop growth
- Correctly set machinery to match crop and soil condition and quality requirements during harvest
- Maintenance of non-productive areas
- Impact of machinery on soil structure and potential damage
If you choose the horticulture pathway, you will also learn:
- Optimise growth conditions for specific crops, based on the individual needs of the plant relative to environment
- Maintenance of productive and non-productive areas
- Plant removal
- Difference growing mediums and their impact/relevance to production on site
Course delivery details
Delivered one day a week in College at Lackham campus during term time only, in the workplace and/or remotely with a visit from your tutor every 10-12 weeks.
As part of the apprenticeship programme, you’ll need to record a minimum of 6 hours per week ‘off-the-job’ training time. This can include college attendance, work shadowing, training, workshops, online learning, tutor sessions, revision, webinars, industry visits – anything that supports your learning on the apprenticeship and supported by your dedicated assessor.
You’ll complete a number of assessments, including online multiple choice test, practical demonstration and professional discussions in the workplace as part of your EPA. You’ll gather evidence for your portfolio and your tutor will arrange college lessons covering both theory and practical learning as required throughout the course in preparation for EPA.
Why choose Wiltshire College & University Centre
96% of students go onto further study, training or employment
98.8% overall pass rate for Level 3 courses
1,089 courses to choose from
Continuing Studies
You could progress to the Level 4 Assistant Farm Manager or Level 5 Horticulture & Landscape Technical Manager Apprenticeship.
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Wiltshire College & University Centre
Wiltshire College & University Centre is the main provider of further and higher education in Wiltshire and is fast on its way to becoming outstanding having achieved a good Ofsted grade in November 2022. Based across four main campuses, Wiltshire...