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T Levels focus on vocational skills and can help students into skilled employment, higher study or apprenticeships. Each T Level includes an in-depth industry placement that lasts at least 45 days. Students get valuable experience in the workplace; employers get early sight of the new talent in their industry.
This occupation is found in a diverse range of businesses, spanning from small enterprises to international organisations.
Crop* Technicians in the agriculture and horticulture industries serve as the foundation for both food production, viticulture and landscaping.
Their work encompasses various environments, including soil-based systems and container-based systems.
In soil-based systems, crop technicians are likely to operate large, technically advanced machinery in open fields.
Crop technicians working in container-based systems may spend some time outside, but the majority of their work occurs in controlled environments. These environments require constant monitoring and adaptation to suit the growth stage and species being cultivated.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to optimise crop and plant yields through establishment, management, harvest, and post-harvest operations while maintaining and improving the surrounding environment.
They stay up to date with technological advances and may specialise in either soil-based or container-based systems. Soil-based systems involve growing crops in fields, adapting to weather conditions, while container-based systems are managed environments used for horticulture and tree growth.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with the crops they manage. They monitor growth stages, assess health, and address any issues, such as pests or diseases.
They will work with colleagues and supervisors to coordinate tasks, share insights, and work together to achieve optimal crop yields.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for ensuring high-quality sustainable crop production.
Crop technicians will work independently and as part of a team. They need to be self-motivated to complete tasks.
Some routine tasks are automated, requiring technical skills to operate machinery.
They are typically responsible for the efficient use of natural resources such as soil and water. They will also manage plant nutrients and adapt their approach to changing weather conditions and environments.
Crop technicians adopt sustainable practices to minimise environmental impact and adhere to safety protocols when operating machinery or handling chemicals.
*Crop is used as a generic term for what is being grown. For the purpose of this standard, crop could be arable, vegetable, fruit, ornamental or landscape plants, vines and grapes.
| Duty | KSBs |
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Duty 1 Promote and maintain health, safety, hygiene and site security across productive and non-productive areas of the site. |
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Duty 2 Manage digital or paper-based record keeping including crop quality related data, chemical, productivity and legislated financial records. |
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Duty 3 Manage the end-to-end crop production process to ensure compliance with current environmental legislation and ensure economic sustainability. |
K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K15 K16 K19 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S9 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S25 S26 S27 S28 |
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Duty 4 Operate and carry out maintenance on machinery, equipment or technology. |
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Duty 5 Operate and maintain vehicles appropriate to the organisation in line with certified requirements where applicable. For example, telehandler, electric vehicle, all terrain vehicle or forklift. |
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Duty 6 Plan and carry out the end-to-end crop development cycle from receipt, establishment and growth through to harvest and dispatch in accordance with the customer specification and the environment |
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Duty 7 Identify the likely pests, weeds and diseases and create an integrated pest management plan for treatment and storage of relevant materials, chemicals and biological agents. |
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Duty 8 Apply nutrients and irrigation as required by the crop taking in account plant requirements and changes in conditions. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K11 K14 K19 |
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Duty 9 Plan and carry out the harvesting/dispatch operation using appropriate techniques to match crops requirements for condition and quality. |
K1 K2 K3 K6 K9 K11 K13 K14 K19 |
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Duty 10 Plan storage and movement ensuring that crop quality is maintained |
| Duty | KSBs |
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Duty 11 Carry out maintenance of non-productive areas |
K1 K2 K3 K6 K7 K8 K10 K11 K13 K17 K19 |
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Duty 12 Set and monitor machine performance to ensure good seed establishment, planting and plant growth |
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Duty 13 Set machinery to match crop and soil condition and quality requirements during harvest |
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Duty 14 Assess the impact of machinery on soil structure in accordance with current legislation |
K1 K2 K3 K5 K10 K11 K13 K17 K19 S1 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S9 S10 S11 S14 S15 S16 S17 S18 S19 S20 S25 S26 |
Awarding organisation: City & Guilds
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