Group
Unit Group

8422 Crop Farm Workers

Latest release
ANZSCO - Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations
Reference period
2022

8422 Crop Farm Workers

Crop Farm Workers perform routine tasks in producing crops such as cereals, cotton, fruit (including wine grapes), grains, nuts, oilseeds, pulses, sugar cane, rice, vegetables and mushrooms.

Indicative Skill Level:

Most occupations in this sub-major group have a level of skill commensurate with the qualifications and experience outlined below.

In Australia:

  • AQF Certificate I, or compulsory secondary education (ANZSCO Skill Level 5)

In New Zealand:

  • NZQF Level 1 qualification, or compulsory secondary education (ANZSCO Skill Level 5)

For some occupations a short period of on-the-job training may be required in addition to or instead of the formal qualification. In some instances no formal qualification or on-the-job training may be required.

The occupations Cotton Farm Worker; Grain, Oilseed, Pulse and Pasture Farm Worker; Sugar Cane Farm Worker and Vineyard Worker have a level of skill commensurate with the qualifications and experience outlined below.

In Australia:

  • AQF Certificate II or III, or at least one year of relevant experience (ANZSCO Skill Level 4)

In New Zealand:

  • NZQF Level 2 or 3 qualification, or at least one year of relevant experience (ANZSCO Skill Level 4)

In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification.

Tasks Include:

  • patrolling, inspecting and reporting on the condition of crops
  • planting trees, seeds, seedlings, roots, bulbs, tubers, vines and other plants using hand tools and farm machines
  • undertaking soil preparation, cultivation and plant and crop maintenance duties such as thinning, weeding and hoeing row crops, and pruning and thinning trees and vines
  • spraying trees, vines and other plants with pesticides to control weed growth, insects, fungus growth and diseases
  • operating water and irrigation systems for crop growth
  • erecting growing supports such as trellises, and protective structures such as greenhouses, netting and fences
  • selecting and picking fruit, nuts, grains, vegetables and mushrooms according to set requirements, and discarding rotting and overripened produce
  • grading, siloing, baling, sorting, bunching and packing produce and loading it into transporters
  • maintaining and cleaning farming infrastructure and equipment such as sheds, fences, plant, and water supply and irrigation systems
  • operating and maintaining general farm machinery and machinery to cultivate, fertilise, spray and harvest horticultural produce
  • operating data collection and farm technology systems

Occupations:

  • 842211 Cotton Farm Worker
  • 842212 Fruit Farm Worker
  • 842213 Fruit Picker
  • 842214 Grain, Oilseed, Pulse and Pasture Farm Worker (Aus) / Field Farm Worker (NZ)
  • 842215 Mushroom Picker
  • 842216 Nut Farm Worker
  • 842217 Sugar Cane Farm Worker
  • 842218 Vegetable Farm Worker (Aus) / Market Garden Worker (NZ)
  • 842221 Vegetable Picker
  • 842222 Vineyard Worker
  • 842299 Crop Farm Workers nec

842211 Cotton Farm Worker

Performs routine tasks on a cotton farm such as cultivating and fertilising soil, and planting and irrigating crops. May spray pesticides on crops to treat disease and pests.

Skill Level: 4

842212 Fruit Farm Worker

Performs routine tasks on a fruit farm such as cultivating and fertilising soil, and planting, irrigating and pruning crops. May spray pesticides on crops to treat disease and pests.

Fruit Pickers are excluded from this occupation. Fruit Pickers are included in Occupation 842213 Fruit Picker.

Skill Level: 5

Specialisation:

  • Orchard Worker (Fruit)

842213 Fruit Picker

Harvests fruit (including table grapes) and prepares produce for distribution.

Fruit Farm Workers are excluded from this occupation. Fruit Farm Workers are included in Occupation 842212 Fruit Farm Worker.

Skill Level: 5

842214 Grain, Oilseed, Pulse and Pasture Farm Worker (Aus) / Field Farm Worker (NZ)

Performs routine tasks on a grain, oilseed, protein, pulse or pasture farm such as cultivating and fertilising soil, and planting and irrigating crops. May spray pesticides on crops to treat disease and pests.

Skill Level: 4

842215 Mushroom Picker

Harvests mushrooms and prepares produce for distribution.

Skill Level: 5

842216 Nut Farm Worker

Performs routine tasks on a nut farm such as cultivating and fertilising soil, and planting, irrigating and pruning crops. May spray pesticides on crops to treat disease and pests.

Skill Level: 5

842217 Sugar Cane Farm Worker

Performs routine tasks on a sugar cane farm such as cultivating and fertilising soil, and planting and irrigating crops. May spray pesticides on crops to treat disease and pests.

Skill Level: 4

842218 Vegetable Farm Worker (Aus) / Market Garden Worker (NZ)

Performs routine tasks on a vegetable farm or market garden such as cultivating and fertilising soil, and planting and irrigating crops. May spray pesticides on crops to treat disease and pests.

Vegetable Pickers are excluded from this occupation. Vegetable Pickers are included in Occupation 842221 Vegetable Picker.

Skill Level: 5

842221 Vegetable Picker

Harvests vegetables and prepares produce for distribution.

Vegetable Farm Workers are excluded from this occupation. Vegetable Farm Workers are included in Occupation 842218 Vegetable Farm Worker.

Skill Level: 5

842222 Vineyard Worker

Performs routine tasks on a vineyard such as cultivating and fertilising soil, planting, training and pruning vines, and picking grapes.

Skill Level: 4

842299 Crop Farm Workers nec

This occupation group covers Crop Farm Workers not elsewhere classified.

This occupation group includes Horticultural or Broadacre Crop Farm Workers who grow two or more varieties of Horticultural and/or Broadacre Crops.

Skill Level: 5

Occupations in this group include:

  • Coffee Plantation Worker
  • Flower Buncher or Picker
  • Hop Farm Worker
  • Lavender Farm Worker
  • Tea Plantation Worker
  • Tea Tree Farm Worker
  • Turf Farm Worker
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