Optimising crop yields whilst cultivating and improving the surrounding environment.
Overview
This Advanced crop technician apprenticeship standard will provide you with a level 3, qualification. This apprenticeship standard was approved on the 19/07/2018 and typically takes 24 months to complete. However, it is important to note that the duration of the apprenticeship standard stated does not include the End-Point Assessment period.
What the course covers
The purpose of this apprenticeship standard is to build practical skills and develop specialist knowledge required to harvest crops successfully. A crop technician will be responsible for optimising crop yields through the development and management of harvest and post-harvest operations. </>
Since many agriculture and horticulture companies have moved towards using automation in several routine tasks, a crucial part of this standard will be the development of technical skills to manage and operate machinery. You may be required to competently and safely operate a large vehicle, so it is essential to keep up-to-date with the latest innovations and advances in agriculture technology.
Crop technicians typically begin work in the early hours of the morning and will be mainly working outdoors, regardless of the weather. You will require self-motivation, focus, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a larger team. As well as learning the core subjects, apprentices have the flexibility to specialise in either ‘soil-based system’ which focuses on crops grown in fields such as cereals, oilseeds and several vegetables or ‘container-based systems’ which focuses on containerised crops such as plants and trees.
Careers and jobs associated
- Farmer
- Farmworker
- Tractor driver
- Horticultural worker
- Horticultural manager
Visit the crop technician apprenticeship standard, on the Institute for Apprenticeships site, to find further information on skills and knowledge learnt, assessment methods and more.
