Earl Yandall

Hinkler Park Plantation, QLD

HILA Employment Category: Production Horticulturist

Occupations such as Production Horticulturists have become increasingly important for horticulture businesses and are in strong and growing demand. For Earl Yandall, being the Production Horticulturist at Hinkler Park Plantations in Bundaberg, Queensland, requires a wide range of skills. Earl’s job involves a lot of pest and disease monitoring, plant nutrition and watering. For approximately 3,000 hectares of macadamia trees, he is responsible for implementing the integrated pest and disease management, as well as nutritional programs and testing, such as soil and leaf testing. Working both indoors and outdoors, Earl also oversees the irrigation scheduling for the farm managers.

Core tasks

  • Ensure that all land preparations are done as per established procedures.
  • Train / monitor operators where required to ensure tasks are done as per standard procedures
  • Prepare working programmes daily / weekly / monthly to facilitate implementation of respective tasks
  • Assess quality of work and take corrective actions where applicable
  • Ensure that all material inputs are adequate for respective operations
  • Ensure the upkeep of all tractors and implements
  • Liaise with Farm Operation Manager / Agronomist/ Maintenance Manager where required
  • Operate various tractors and implements
  • Identify and report unusual disease or plant pest signs
  • Operate pressurised irrigation systems
  • Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases
  • Coordinate horticultural crop harvesting
  • Fumigate soil
  • Manage, install drainage systems
  • Monitor and manage nursery plants
  • Operate spreading and seeding equipment

Study pathways

  • Certificate II in Production Horticulture – AHC20320
  • Diploma of Horticulture – AHC50416
  • Certificate III in Production Horticulture – AHC30616
  • Certificate III in Horticulture – AHC30716
  • Certificate II in Production Nursery – AHC20716

Training Recommended

  • Chemical certificate
  • Irrigation training
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