General Farm Worker Apprenticeship (Agriculture) – Level 2

This apprenticeship would suit anyone wishing to specialise in Livestock or Crop. This Apprenticeship Standard takes a core and options approach. All apprentices will complete the core and must select the one most appropriate option to their role: Livestock Worker or Crop Worker.

Topics may include:

• Duty 1 Undertake “safe and effective” activities as instructed and actively record daily activity. For example, cleaning machinery, monitoring and recording livestock (livestock checks)
• Duty 2 Operate within strict bio-security practices. For example, implementing visitor policy
• Duty 3 Maintain a satisfactory environment for the animals such as ensuring clean bedding, water and shelter
• Duty 4 Restrain and handle animals in a safe and appropriate manner
• Duty 5 Operate agricultural vehicles relevant to the business safely, legally and in line with current legislation
• Duty 6 Recognise environmental risk and carry out operations to minimise environmental impact, such as avoiding pollution of soil, air and water courses. Check and maintain field boundaries
• Duty 7 Prepare and maintain crop/forage storage as instructed. Including monitoring pests and vermin in crop or bulk bins and temperature monitoring
• Duty 8 Monitor and maintain farm infrastructure, machinery and non-production areas as instructed. For example, checking oil in farm machinery, maintaining fences, general building maintenance
• Duty 9 Implement effective storage and disposal of waste in accordance with regulation; such as chemicals, sharps, organic and non-organic waste.

Optional duties may include:

• Duty 10 Carry out routine health and welfare checks on livestock and report on health and production performance when this is abnormal. This includes administration of routine treatments, under supervision and engaging with third parties such as vets
• Duty 11 Monitor and select grass for either grazing or forage production – recognising and reporting on the growth, health and maintenance of a chosen grassland sward.
• Duty 12 Feed Animals as per instruction and ensuring fresh water is always accessible
• Duty 13 Monitor animals prior to, during and post parturition, assisting with associated husbandry tasks
• Duty 14 Perform relevant stock breeding related tasks under instruction; selection of animals, identification of signs of heat, assisting with service duties

Crop worker duties may include:

• Duty 15 Perform crop and or forage operations as per instruction. For example, combining, plate meter reading
• Duty 16 Recognise and record (verbally and written) the growth and health of crops
• Duty 17 Assist with preparation and planting of field scale crops
• Duty 18 Safely load, unload and transport harvested crops in accordance with legislation and codes of practice
• Duty 19 Recognise good and poor quality in growing, harvested and stored crops.

Working in the outdoors looking after animals on the region’s best farms make this an incredibly rewarding apprenticeship programme. Tuition and guidance from assessors with over 40 years industry experience who have a passion for learning and agriculture.