PA6

[Highland Mule]

Actually I think you'll find that section 10.3 of the Red Tractor assurance requires all organic farmers "MUST have current and up to date qualifications for using knapsack equipment - being organic is not an excuse!"

Look it up

I’ll take your word for it - I’m not FA, and don’t intend to ever be.

 

[Zippy768]

I’ll take your word for it - I’m not FA, and don’t intend to ever be.

Nah, I made it up ??.

 

[v8willy]

Jeepers!
Last “council” gang I saw was leaning out of the passenger window of a moving Transit van wafting a lance around with very fine mist. Supposedly doing the verge, no doubt glyphosate.
I’d say it was illegal never mind extremely bad practice.
I have never seen anyone spraying the verge and thought they were doing a reasonable job.

Was in a housing estste a few weeks ago, was a pissing wet day soaked by lunchtime kinda day when it never stops.

Was a gardner type working from a van with all the wet gear on him spraying away.

 

[Y Fan Wen]

I'm waiting to do my PA2f probably in April. Seems to be harder to get that course than just PA2.
So far I have PA1, 6 + injection, dipping, transport, atv and cross cutting.
I quite enjoy these courses as something different from the daily grind.
Not sure I actually 'learn' anything but they are a valuable refresher.

 

[Gav]

I'm waiting to do my PA2f probably in April. Seems to be harder to get that course than just PA2.
So far I have PA1, 6 + injection, dipping, transport, atv and cross cutting.
I quite enjoy these courses as something different from the daily grind.
Not sure I actually 'learn' anything but they are a valuable refresher.

I’ve only ever done Pa2f courses on request, probably 2-3 a year so very much a small demand course and usually done on the trainees own premises with their machine. Seem to do more Pa1 and Pa6a courses than anything else currently but do have another rare one coming up - Pa6g for putting slug pellets on by hand held spreader, even the nursery stock industry have assurance schemes making them do these courses.

 

[Barleymow]

what qualification does a watering can need?

 

[case 5140]

Has anyone done the weed wiper test?,yes pa2 dont cover it!, dont know what pa no. it is

 

[TripleSix]

Jeepers!
Last “council” gang I saw was leaning out of the passenger window of a moving Transit van wafting a lance around with very fine mist. Supposedly doing the verge, no doubt glyphosate.
I’d say it was illegal never mind extremely bad practice.
I have never seen anyone spraying the verge and thought they were doing a reasonable job.

Saw someone spraying around the base of a new hedge and trees on the new bypass with a knapsack.

It was almost blowing a gale...

 

[Gav]

Has anyone done the weed wiper test?,yes pa2 dont cover it!, dont know what pa no. it is

Pa2f, used to be covered by Pa2a but the goalposts got moved a few years back.

 

[Oat]

I did my PA6 about 15 years ago. I remember that I had calculate how much water I would need to spray a test area, and then put in extra litre of water. This way you couldn't tell my the weight or 'sloshing' how much was left, and at the end of the test you then had to empty out what was left, and hope it was close to 1 litre. The test area I sprayed was concrete, and it was a dry day, so I could easily see what had or hadn't been sprayed and follow the edge of the previous pass to stay straight. At the end of the test, it didn't really matter if you had a lot or a little of water left, you just had to explain that next time you would walk a little slower or faster.

I also have PA2, which I did with a mini tractor and manual control sprayer, PA9 (mistblower) which I did while it was blowing a gale , and PA11 (seed treatment).

 

[Kidds]

I did my PA9 while sat in the kitchen having a brew and never went within 5 miles of the sprayer.
The “examiner” was happy to tick off as many as we wanted at £50 a tick.

 

[Y Fan Wen]

Pa2f, used to be covered by Pa2a but the goalposts got moved a few years back.

I'm hoping I don't need to do Pa2a in order to do my Pa2f. I presume you are able to answer that question?

 

[Cowcorn]

I think it’s bull sh!t. If I have pa2 it should automatically get me pa6. It’s all the same.

Yep its a load of cobblers i used to have grandfather rights and when the first were abolished i done all the modules and was completly under whelmed by how relevant the were. At 200 quid a pop its more jobs for the boys methinks .

 

[Gav]

I'm hoping I don't need to do Pa2a in order to do my Pa2f. I presume you are able to answer that question?

No, just do the assessment for Pa2f, no need to hold Pa2a first.

 

[Y Fan Wen]

No, just do the assessment for Pa2f, no need to hold Pa2a first.

That's a relief, thank you.

 

[Zippy768]

Did the PA6 this week and i am now a fully qualified knapsack user ???.

I did indeed learn a few things and the day doing the course was fine.... however.....

...the test is too simple, and tbh I think it's more of a joke to have to go through the course and gain a certificate, than not having one at all!
It just reinforces the whole paper trail thing of it all.

When one has the correct qualification to undertake something it should actually mean they are qualified and fit to do said task. In this instance the whole thing just smacks of buying the qualification for £200+.
I know that wouldn't come as a surprise to all RT members ?