Irrigated Crop Technician (Level 1) Skill Set

• Demonstrate knowledge of farm’s cropping program
• Demonstrate knowledge of farm equipment & truck road regulations
• Follow safe farm vehicle driving regulations
• Safely use basic hand/shop & equipment servicing tools
• Demonstrate knowledge of seeding machines types and technologies
• Handle anhydrous ammonium fertilizer products during application
• Perform farm site seed treatment
• Safely operate, maintain, service & store:
  • farm tractors
  • trucks & tractors with equipment in tow
  • two & three axle farm trucks
  • cultivation implements
  • seeding equipment
  • granular fertilizer applicators
  • grain augers
  • skid, fork, lift & front end loaders
  • trailers, wagons and other equipment

• Identify signs of weed infestations in fields
• Demonstrate new techniques to minimize introduction of and spread of weeds
• Identify signs of insect pest damage in fields
• Identify signs of damage caused by large and small pests
• Identify signs of suspected crop diseases & disorders
• Carryout routine crop sprayer servicing and maintenance
• Operate sprayers in fields and on roads

• Demonstrate knowledge of health & safety hazards associated with irrigation systems
• Perform pre-season check over & basic servicing of piping and pumping systems
• Inspect & prepare for operation of farm’s main distribution system
• Operate a ditcher to construct fields ditches
• Operate a diker machine to construct field dikes
• Operate a land floater & plane for field leveling
• Demonstrate knowledge of local regulations & bylaws affecting irrigation
• Demonstrate knowledge of the farms cropping plans and irrigation strategies
• Operate a gravity type irrigation system
• Operate a wheel move system
• Operate a pivot system
• Operate & maintain the water pumping system
• Monitor irrigation system during operation & inform supervisor for servicing needs
• Prepare & secure piped systems for winter storage

• Manage your training & continuing education
• Effectively communicate and interact on the job
• Manage time effectively
• Demonstrate knowledge of personal financial principles (Optional)
• Manage your health and safety on the job
• Use a fire extinguisher and combat a small fire
• Perform basic first aid procedures
• Safely handle hazardous farm materials

• Demonstrate knowledge of the farm’s marketing plan or program
• Operate & service a swather on fields & roads
• Determine a crop’s moisture level using testing equipment
• Demonstrate knowledge of combine operation & servicing
• Operate combines in field and in transport
• Operate grain bin aeration systems and equipment
• Prepare grain harvesting equipment for offseason storage
• Prepare crop storage facilities for harvest use
• Operate a grain dryer

• Safely operate and maintain:
  • hay cutting equipment
  • forage harvester
  • square baler (~40kg)
  • round baler
  • hay rake/windrow inverter
  • silage dump wagon
  • silage bagger
  • big bale wrapper
  • silo blower
  • forage additive applicator
  • bale collector
• Prepare forage crop storage facilities
• Store forage harvesting equipment
• Pack bunker silage using a tractor