This qualification is for people who work largely unsupervised in the agriculture industry. It is designed to recognise the skills and knowledge that people may already have gained through significant industry experience prior to entry.

This qualification may also be suitable for people who are moving into the agriculture industry from a different industry, who will work unsupervised but who may not necessarily have had a background of agriculture skills. These people often have significant life skills and maturity, and the ability to learn much of the underpinning skills and knowledge at the same time as they are enrolled in this qualification. However, it is recommended that these people first complete one of the qualifications listed in the special notes below.

The Core Compulsory section includes knowledge related to fertilisers and soils. The completion of a farm report covers the skill and knowledge related to all aspects of farming brought together into one project.

The Arable Farming, Beef Cattle Farming, Dairy Farming, Deer Farming, and Sheep Farming strands and their respective elective sections allow people to select standards for skills specific to their own farming situation, and farming sector.

The Beef Cattle Farming Strand contains an optional elective related to calving and calf making.

This qualification leads to the National Certificate in Agriculture (Production Management) with strands in Arable Farming, Cattle Farming, Dairy Farming, Deer Farming, and Sheep Farming [Ref: 1188], the National Certificate in Agribusiness Management (Agribusiness Resource Management) [Ref: 1187], the National Certificate in Agribusiness Management (Business Planning and Financial Management) [Ref: 1186], and the National Diploma in Agribusiness Management [Ref: 0647].