Spraying under Solar panels cost?

[steveR]

8 months later, the O&M Company have asked me to quote to:

• Supply a method, schedule and quotation to dealing with the rushes onsite.
• Schedule and quotation for your proposed management of the site in the forthcoming year.

Bit of a whinge that my quote of last Feb was higher than their contractor, but as I had quoted to patch spray the whole site with Polo as opposed to their preferred option of spot spray with a lance with Roundup, under the panels on weed and reed growth, I am not surprised!!

As always, the spot sprayed site looks a mess, and the weeds will simply move back in the bare areas, especially the creeping thistle...!

Told them that Rushes need topping, then hitting with MCPA, and that nettle and thistle need Polo, but sadly, the prevailing sentiment in the PV industry is Glyphosate everything... Dunno if I can really be arsed now, to start faffing about with schedules and quotes for a task like spraying, that wil by its very nature, be a highly variable one on rates, area and timing!!

I have been asked for:

Additionally to this I will require your H&S RAMS & chemical handling docs / details etc.

What do Farmer contractors do to keep them happy? Is there a standard RAMS template that can be used?

Chem handling can be dealt with an explanation of chemical store and filling of sprayer, I guess? Bit of suitable paperwork can be generated?

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Sounds familiar! They are reasonable clueless ,as it seems are many of the contractors.

Luckily my lot do a lot of this for me so I can dodge the paper work, it’s a PITA and not something everyone wants to get involved with. There’s quite a bit in it for us so it’s worth it though. I think we use pasture under the panels and sheep and to
per for the rest

 

[steveR]

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!

Going back to the possiblity of getting the maintenance contract for the solar park on the farm... Spraying only, as mowing will require a "new" tractor as my ancient tiny compact is not up to the job now.

The new O&M guy has been in touch again and requested a RAMs for the job as part of the informal Tender. No RAMs, no bid! The previous guy was not really bothered, he knew I was already on-site and doing work!!

I have got a copy of a Spraying RAMs, but obviously, it is not for a PV site. Has anyone got a copy of one I could beg steal or copy please? I looked online at the various offerings, but not really of much use without a lot of expense and a lot of work!

 

[Highland Mule]

Going back to the possiblity of getting the maintenance contract for the solar park on the farm... Spraying only, as mowing will require a "new" tractor as my ancient tiny compact is not up to the job now.

The new O&M guy has been in touch and requested a RAMs for the job as part of the informal Tender. No RAMs, no bid! The previous guy was not really bothered, he knew I was already on-site and doing work!!

I have got a copy of a Spraying RAMs, but obviously, it is not for a PV site. Has anyone got a copy of one I could beg steal or copy please? I looked online at the various offerings, but not really of much use without a lot of expense and a lot of work!

@Practical.Farm.Safety could probably help for a small fee.