Agricultural Consultant - ANZSCO 234111

SOL | State SOL | Employer SOL| Regional

Description
Advises farmers, agricultural businesses, rural industries and government on the production, processing and distribution of farm products.

Skill Level 1

Alternative Titles
Agricultural Adviser

Specialisations
Agricultural Extension Officer
Landcare Officer

Skills Assessment Authority VETASSESS | Caveats Group A | VETASSESS-FAQ | Your Career | My Future

Caveats No caveats 

Endorsed Correlations to ASCO Occupations
2114-21 Agricultural Adviser

Description
advise farmers, rural industries and government on aspects of farming, develop techniques for increasing productivity, and study and develop plans and policies for the management of forest areas.

Alternative Titles
 Agricultural Adviser

Specialisations
 Agricultural Extension Officer
 Landcare Officer
 Horticultural Consultant*
 Agribusiness Consultant
*Employment as a horticultural consultant may be considered where the focus of the work
relates to provision of advice on the processing and distribution of fruits, nuts and vegetables
but not landscaping and ornamental plants.

Tasks
collecting and analysing data and samples of produce, feed, soil and other factors affecting production
advising Farmers and Farm Managers on techniques for improving the production of crops and livestock, and alternative agricultural options
advising farmers on issues such as livestock and crop disease, control of pests and weeds, soil improvement, animal husbandry and feeding programs
studying the environmental factors affecting commercial crop production, pasture growth, animal breeding, and the growth and health of forest trees
studying the effects of cultivation techniques, soils, insects and plant diseases on animal, crop and forest production
developing procedures and techniques for solving agricultural problems and improving the efficiency of production
managing forest resources to maximise their long-term commercial, recreational and environmental benefits for the community
studying the propagation and culture of forest trees, methods for improving the growth of stock, and the effects of thinning on forest yields
preparing plans for reafforestation and devising efficient harvesting systems
investigating, planning and implementing management procedures to cope with the effects of fires, floods, droughts, soil erosion, insect pests and diseases

Skill Level
Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher 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).

Requirements for Skills Assessment

This occupation requires a qualification which is assessed as comparable to the
educational level an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Bachelor degree or
higher*, in a field highly relevant to the nominated occupation.
Applicants must also have at least one year of highly relevant, post-qualification
employment, at an appropriate skill level completed in the last five years.
If the qualification(s) are not at the required educational level, and not in a highly relevant
field of study, or if the employment has been completed prior to the qualification, then
the applicant will be assessed below the required skill level.
*This includes qualifications assessed at AQF Bachelor, Master and Doctoral level.
A positive assessment of both qualifications and employment is required for a positive
Skills Assessment Outcome.

Qualification
AQF Bachelor degree or higher*
Highly relevant major fields of study include:
 Agricultural Science
 Animal Science and Management
 Crop Science / Agronomy
 Viticulture
 Plant and Animal Production
Qualifications in certain science fields (Horticulture, Biotechnology, Veterinary Science,
Biochemistry, Biological Life Sciences, Botany, Zoology, Soil Science, Environmental
Science) may be accepted on a case-by-case basis if the study programme consists of
sufficient subjects in Agricultural systems, Agronomy, Animal Science, Chemistry,
Grazing systems, Plant cultivation and core subjects in their respective specialised fields.
Major research projects and / or internships are important determining factors.

Employment
In Australia, there are currently no legal requirements for licensing or registration
for the occupation of Agricultural Consultant.
An agricultural consultant generally provides advice to clients as an external
contracted service. Clients may include farmers, growers, landowners, conservation
organisations and public bodies.
As an agricultural consultant, you would usually consult on either technical or
business matters. The consultancy may include advice on agricultural systems, crop
and pasture science, livestock, nutrition / breeding, or improvement of production,
processing and distribution of farm products.