Plans, organises, controls, coordinates and performs farming operations to grow fruit and nuts.

Skill Level

1

Specialisations

• Market Gardener (Fruit) (Aus)
• Olive Grower
• Orchardist

Unless you are exempt in very limited circumstances, you are required to have a positive Skills Assessment to apply for the visas listed above.

Skills Assessment authority for Skills Assessment authority for Fruit or nut grower is Vocational Education and Training Assess (VETASSESS). To have a positive skills assessment, you must meet the following criteria:

• Three pathways for skills assessment by SSSI
  • Pathway A – Qualification(s) assessed at AQF Bachelor degree or higher degree with a highly relevant field of study and at least one year of post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years;
  • Pathway B – Qualification(s) assessed at AQF Bachelor degree or higher degree with an additional qualification at least Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Diploma level in a highly relevant field of study and at least two years of post qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years;
  • Pathway C – Qualification(s) assessed at AQF Bachelor degree or higher degree without a highly relevant field of study and at least three years of post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years;

plan, organise, control, coordinate and perform farming operations to grow crops.

Tasks

• planning and coordinating the production and marketing of crops, such as grain, cotton, sugar cane, fruit and nuts, vegetables, turf and flowers, from soil preparation to harvest taking into account environmental and market factors
• selecting and planting seeds, seedlings and bulbs, and grafting new varieties to root stocks
• maintaining crop production by cultivating, de-budding and pruning, and maintaining optimal growing conditions
• organising and conducting farming operations, such as collecting, storing, grading and packaging produce, and organising the sale, purchase and despatch of produce
• directing and overseeing general farming activities such as fertilising and pest and weed control
• maintaining farm buildings, fences, equipment and water supply systems
• maintaining and evaluating records of farming activities, monitoring market activity, and planning crop preparation and production to meet contract requirements and market demand
• managing business capital including budgeting, taxation, debt and loan management
• may select, train and supervise staff and contractors

Skill Level

Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification. At least five years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

Occupations in this Group

• 121211 Cotton Grower
• 121212 Flower Grower
• 121213 Fruit or Nut Grower
• 121214 Grain, Oilseed or Pasture Grower (Aus) / Field Crop Grower (NZ)
• 121215 Grape Grower
• 121216 Mixed Crop Farmer
• 121217 Sugar Cane Grower
• 121218 Turf Grower
• 121221 Vegetable Grower (Aus) / Market Gardener (NZ)
• 121299 Crop Farmers nec