Spraying under Solar panels cost?

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
Can anyone give me some indication of the likely cost/ac for spraying under panels with a compact tractor or an ATV, please?

The 20ac site was perm grass before the Panels went in, and now has an increasing problem with some areas of nettle and thistle that will touch the panels late in the summer. I graze the area with sheep, so am not interested in more Roundup work being done under the panels, that in all honesty, exacerbates the weed problems as the grass will compete with weed growth and is then grazed down hard.

The herbicide application is for semi-spot treatment with a Boominator style system, that can spray under either side of the machine and be switched on/off as the bad areas are approached. So not a Total spray pass, but not a genuine Spot spray pass. Guesstimate is 15-20% to cover..

Herbicide could be Forefront (expensive) or my preference would probably be a cheap, old fashioned MCPA/2,4 D mix of some sort.
 

Walton2

Member
Once you ask someone to take responsibility for the on/off switch you will undoubtedly have problems down the line.Are the chems you mentioned cleared for Boominator type use? Cost will be down to time and travel so best have somebody local...
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
Once you ask someone to take responsibility for the on/off switch you will undoubtedly have problems down the line.Are the chems you mentioned cleared for Boominator type use? Cost will be down to time and travel so best have somebody local...

Sorry, I was a bit vague writing the OP!

The "local" might be me! I have been asked for a guesstimate on spraying for the PV Management company, who have been less than impressed with some of the operators they have had in the past, insisting on total coverage of selective or Roundup under the Panels (a complete disaster IMO) and based 100+miles away...

A local guy has been showing interest, but I am dubious about his... competence, and I am reluctant to recommend him or pass on details!

On the boom type, I am not sure a Boominator is approved for Forefront! Hence the thoughts of alternatives :)
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
Are you asking to quote or to review others quoting you?
:unsure:
dont kill everything under the panels, you really want grass under there to help compete with weeds. Sheep will prefer it too

Trying to get a handle on costing the job and the rationale of some of the pricing...

An hourly rate + herb costs was the preferred method I used for my small contract spraying jobs when I did paddock work in the past. However, commercial companies want a fixed quote, and I am struggling to see how they can get a sensible one from spray contractors!!

Totally agree on the NO Roundup option. As I mentioned in my OP, the one contract outfit used the stuff and it was a huge mistake. I have persuaded the management company to use targeted selective spraying, and as they know I want to graze sheep, they are interested in my managing the operation, as it should be cheaper AND we get a better job all round...
 

Bury the Trash

Member
Mixed Farmer
Trying to get a handle on costing the job and the rationale of some of the pricing...

An hourly rate + herb costs was the preferred method I used for my small contract spraying jobs when I did paddock work in the past. However, commercial companies want a fixed quote, and I am struggling to see how they can get a sensible one from spray contractors!!

Totally agree on the NO Roundup option. As I mentioned in my OP, the one contract outfit used the stuff and it was a huge mistake. I have persuaded the management company to use targeted selective spraying, and as they know I want to graze sheep, they are interested in my managing the operation, as it should be cheaper AND we get a better job all round...
The ' contractors ' by enlarge seem to be glorified groundworkers or landscapers, with very rare exception do they have the nous of a mixed farmer ;)

Grazonpro is what I've been using up to now.
An ordinary ATV sprayer and lance with either the nozzle that come with it or a bit faster flatfan 04 that I have around.

If theres someone to drive the ATV or tractor then it's a lot better saving
Getting off the seat hassle.
Tried a boom type nozzle but didnt like it, I have still got a big gun type nozzle/ lance ( rather like a handgun than a rifle) but he puts out a lot
more volume, which is more appropriate for big patches of nettles I guess rather than frugal 'spotting' of thistles, so I rarely if ever use him just takes a bit longer.

Add up all your costs and just qoute for the site, which helps if you know that particular site of course.
Or just price a daily rate with the size of a site covered in a day.
Goes without saying Always add on a bit like everyone does when they price a job , to cover unknowns or more than average weed amounts.
Most contractors I have seen involved with the job are just taking the pee actually, nowhere near the value that a resourceful, knowledgeable farmer will give anyway particularly if he owns the site / has the grazing licence for it.(y)
Edit i use a wetter / adjuvant or just a squirt of washing up liquid if nothing else is availiable as well.

Dont forget to remind 'them' of the help anysort of cover gives with water infiltration / preventing runoff and subsequent possible erosion even weed helps with that, just dont want big clumps of triffid like weed shading panels is all ....
......sheep will eat weed as well to a greater or lessor degree, .....like I say all things you know about as a mixed farmer .
 
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steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
The ' contractors ' by enlarge seem to be glorified groundworkers or landscapers, with very rare exception do they have the nous of a mixed farmer ;)

Grazonpro is what I've been using up to now.
An ordinary ATV sprayer and lance with either the nozzle that come with it or a bit faster flatfan 04 that I have around.

If theres someone to drive the ATV or tractor then it's a lot better saving
Getting off the seat hassle.
Tried a boom type nozzle but didnt like it, I have still got a big gun type nozzle/ lance ( rather like a handgun than a rifle) but he puts out a lot
more volume, which is more appropriate for big patches of nettles I guess rather than frugal 'spotting' of thistles, so I rarely if ever use him just takes a bit longer.

Add up all your costs and just qoute for the site, which helps if you know that particular site of course.
Or just price a daily rate with the size of a site covered in a day.
Goes without saying Always add on a bit like everyone does when they price a job , to cover unknowns or more than average weed amounts.
Most contractors I have seen involved with the job are just taking the pee actually, nowhere near the value that a resourceful, knowledgeable farmer will give anyway particularly if he owns the site / has the grazing licence for it.(y)
Edit i use a wetter / adjuvant or just a squirt of washing up liquid if nothing else is availiable as well.

Dont forget to remind 'them' of the help anysort of cover gives with water infiltration / preventing runoff and subsequent possible erosion even weed helps with that, just dont want big clumps of triffid like weed shading panels is all ....
......sheep will eat weed as well to a greater or lessor degree, .....like I say all things you know about as a mixed farmer .

Some great points here, thank you. I liked your commentary on the quality of the "contractors" often used, or teh blokes sent to do the job by the contracting company... I am sure they have their certificates, but I have been less than impressed about their base knowledge.

I note your comments about using a lance sprayer which was my first idea, but with 20ac to cover, it potentially means doubling the acreage by having to travel up each alley twice! Admittedly, large areas are weed free, but will still need checking closely. This was my idea about using a boominator style nozzle, spraying 4-5m out from the nozzle (in theory!)

Rate/hr for a man and machine is easy enough, the problem is I cannot really estimate the likely work rate very easily! Hence the cheating questions in the OP! I have a good relationship with the Maintenace people, so will have an informal chat next week. Trouble is that they re Spanish based outfit, so comms are usually Whatsapp... :)

I have been pushing the importance of cover under the panels, having seen the squodgy mess left after they used Roundup in 2018, then in 2019, the weeds emerged big time... under the panels.

I will suss out and price GrazonPro... I had though a Grazon product might be the answer, as it's lance approved, and works well...
 
We use grazon I think. We modified a small 1000l sprayer to have lance jets used in fruit farms, can spray up to 8 metres at the right application.

we mount jets on front mudguards of tractor to fire under panels (swop sides as you go up and down) with a small boom and 2 side jets to cover the strips between the rays, on the rear. This way you cover the whole inside fenced area, seems daft not doing it when passing by. Over the last few years the combo of sheep grazing and (reasonably) well timed spraying has produced grass good enough to silage! We have to do it in phases though and move sheep from one section to the others whilst the dying of bit is complete.

the commercial rate last year was £40 / acre (same as topping but not topping same area)

we are spraying over 6 times the area of yours, its 80 km of driving from memory, can do it easily in two days. its good money for a few days work.

you can be more competitive because you have no transport costs and can get water easily. See if you can find out what they were paying before and play the, “I want it to look good because I walk the dog by it each day” card. Pride is expensive these days and management companies love showing clients how pretty their investment is each spring so if get a few pics with the sun is out for extra brownie points.

the main arse is the paper work and box ticking you have to do before you can go on site.

for us it’s a bit of pain because it always falls at busy times but the income stream for a few days work makes farming look pointless so i cant bring myself to turn down the job!
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
@Doing it for the kids

I love your negotiating ploy about looking good for the Client. I am not sure a remote German investment company gives a FF, but you never know! I tended to labour the point about noxious weeds a bit in the past too... Happily, no Ragwort....yet! (y)

Your 40/ac is presumably labour only, then chemical, at cost? I was working on around £20-22/hr labour + herbicide but still pondering how long it will take to cover the whole site. Should do easily in a day... but just needs a bit of time with the calculator now I have checked the widths between panels and know the forward speed, so can work out a /acre charge if required.

Happily, they are not seemingly bothered about access issues!! I have keys for access and am in and out a lot... Regularly help out with gate opening to Contractors, unloading wagons etc etc. A good working relationship really...
 
It depends on the investor but ours are pleased to see it, looks good on their website, granted their main focus is Yield.

lightsource were paying £40 / acre at a flat rate last year plus vat, all inclusive of costs and labour. For us that over £4K for under 2 days work, I can’t recall exact figures but we don't spend anything like that.

most contractors will round up more than half a day, if I was you, work out spray and fuel costs, then a days labour and see where it is. Bung in a quote for £1000 and see what they say, being on site you can check wind and get the optimum conditions as well!

they ought to put a lot of value on local relationships, when the security cameras get excited we are the first port or call which for their £5m investment is worth a lot in your case
 

Bury the Trash

Member
Mixed Farmer
Some great points here, thank you. I liked your commentary on the quality of the "contractors" often used, or teh blokes sent to do the job by the contracting company... I am sure they have their certificates, but I have been less than impressed about their base knowledge.

I note your comments about using a lance sprayer which was my first idea, but with 20ac to cover, it potentially means doubling the acreage by having to travel up each alley twice! Admittedly, large areas are weed free, but will still need checking closely. This was my idea about using a boominator style nozzle, spraying 4-5m out from the nozzle (in theory!)

Rate/hr for a man and machine is easy enough, the problem is I cannot really estimate the likely work rate very easily! Hence the cheating questions in the OP! I have a good relationship with the Maintenace people, so will have an informal chat next week. Trouble is that they re Spanish based outfit, so comms are usually Whatsapp... :)

I have been pushing the importance of cover under the panels, having seen the squodgy mess left after they used Roundup in 2018, then in 2019, the weeds emerged big time... under the panels.

I will suss out and price GrazonPro... I had though a Grazon product might be the answer, as it's lance approved, and works well...
we have got a 3m wheeled boom sprayer that will do the avenues in a comfy 2 passes up and down. but the only time ive used him was to glypho off a park in order to reseed it which we successfully did using quite a a diverse seed mix, few wild flowers,Sainfoin, b's FT t'oil and the ubiquitous omnipresent WC :love:.....

anyway the point is i don't like total spraying of BLW 's as it hits them good ones as well, ..BioDiversity is a good selling point these days as well as the aforementioned water infiltration / compaction reduction by natural means :sneaky:

Mind you Through my periods of short supply of sheep keep which happen occasionally :whistle: ....weeds or any thing else thats reasonably green dont stand much of a chance round here ...... (y)
but as a whole,..............

If nothing other than to prove the land area that panels use is not wasted for other practical use or the enhancement of the environment...'

... tbh, tho im not much of a contractor....:oops:
 
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Loftyrules

Member
Location
Monmouth
@steveR I charge £35/hr for spraying on the quad bike, I can cover approx 1 acre in 30-35mins including filling time (dependant on water pressure) chemical cost I charge is approx £30/acre, again depends on the product used
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
@steveR I charge £35/hr for spraying on the quad bike, I can cover approx 1 acre in 30-35mins including filling time (dependant on water pressure) chemical cost I charge is approx £30/acre, again depends on the product used

Thank you for that info, it is really useful as I fine tune my Tender... I know that the O&M Company are keen for my doing the work, so it's just getting a realistic quote in.

What is your preferred inter row broad spectrum herbicide?

I had a walk through the site last week, and may now change the original intention of Grazon, and go for Polo or similiar, as there is a lot of soft rush now. A pass once it warms up, and then some close spot spraying later, will hopefully see the majority of that gone ...
 

Loftyrules

Member
Location
Monmouth
Thank you for that info, it is really useful as I fine tune my Tender... I know that the O&M Company are keen for my doing the work, so it's just getting a realistic quote in.

What is your preferred inter row broad spectrum herbicide?

I had a walk through the site last week, and may now change the original intention of Grazon, and go for Polo or similiar, as there is a lot of soft rush now. A pass once it warms up, and then some close spot spraying later, will hopefully see the majority of that gone ...

Polo is probably the way to go in early spring and then maybe something more specific or tailored later in the year for your spot spraying. Polo would be cheaper too.

If you want a “printed quote” for paper work purposes send me a DM and I’ll send one over
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
Polo is probably the way to go in early spring and then maybe something more specific or tailored later in the year for your spot spraying. Polo would be cheaper too.

If you want a “printed quote” for paper work purposes send me a DM and I’ll send one over


Thanks...

You have a PM :)

Or not... your profile will not allow a personal message! Drop me one with a email addy can you please, and I'll email you back.
 

mountfarm

Member
Can anyone give me some indication of the likely cost/ac for spraying under panels with a compact tractor or an ATV, please?

The 20ac site was perm grass before the Panels went in, and now has an increasing problem with some areas of nettle and thistle that will touch the panels late in the summer. I graze the area with sheep, so am not interested in more Roundup work being done under the panels, that in all honesty, exacerbates the weed problems as the grass will compete with weed growth and is then grazed down hard.

The herbicide application is for semi-spot treatment with a Boominator style system, that can spray under either side of the machine and be switched on/off as the bad areas are approached. So not a Total spray pass, but not a genuine Spot spray pass. Guesstimate is 15-20% to cover..

Herbicide could be Forefront (expensive) or my preference would probably be a cheap, old fashioned MCPA/2,4 D mix of some sort.

We look after a 32ha site. We got paid to initially level out the mess made from the construction period. This was a one off very large invoice. We then got paid for establishing a grass cover again with a individual invoice. The developer supplied the grass seed. From this point onwards we have been paid £1200/month + vat which has to cover spraying (mcpa, metsulfuron methyl and sometimes we add in mecoprop), grass management and hedge cutting. In the early days of the new site spraying was a regular thing so whilst it was profitable it wasn't massively profitable. Now a few years down the line spraying is a few days a year. We tend to do 1 pass between the panels with a 3m boom. 32ha takes 3 days with a 200l tank and 3m boom. Then either 1 or 2 passes under the panels as these are the worst areas but with a jet nozzle which will spray 6m so we make a run up either side of the panel blowing the chemical in. This is a much quicker job and can be done in a day. So really no more than 5 days per year for chemical application. The hedge cutting takes half a day. Then grass management takes about 3 days per year as we'll patch up poor areas of growth or use a topper on bad areas. We have 80 sheep that come and go as required from a neighbour and these have helped establishing grass under the panels. So its become a very good earner now, but wasn't so much in the early days.
We also spray large gardens and pony paddocks with the same set up (99% of the time the 3m boom rather than the jet nozzle setup) though. Same chemical generally though and for this we price each job separately but roughly you are talking about £125/acre job lot all included. The biggest site we go to is 5 acres but now have an order book full in the spring and autumn so it does interfere with field work but pays far far better.
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
Thank you.

The site here is all on PP so the grass was already there and established, and the weed profile reflects that. Rather stupidly Planners required a "wild meadow" mix be put in. An absolute joke really... The headland areas were bear soil on completion of the site, and contractors tried twice to establish wild flowers, again, not a chance!! :unsure:

I used to spray a lot of pony paddocks in about a 20 mile radius, Quite a profitable little enterprise, but I became increasinlgy unhappy at some of the legalities of the job. That is the use of the correct herbicides for the job, and the ability to get recommendations. OK if you are BASIS I guess;) I started to use Amenity usage products for non agricultural areas as I was advised at the time that this was a requirement. The insurance cost kept creeping up too! (no claimsmind )
 

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