Production Horticulturist

10 November 2021

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