The contamination of Manure with Aminopyalid Hormone Weed Killer is widespread, cases like mine involving contaminated Compost are far rarer.
The following information should be read by all who suspect this type of Poisoning.
it is a Q and A document from the Frankenstein Lab that creates the Beast.
Q. Can I eat the affected crops?
A. The Pesticides Safety Directorate is an agency of the Health and Safety Executive. One of its duties is to ensure the safe use of pesticides for people and the environment. The procedure for approving pesticides for use in the UK is rigorous, each approval requiring scrutiny of extensive safety testing. All of Dow AgroSciences' herbicide products which are offered for sale in the UK are approved by the Pesticides Safety Directorate and we should be happy to provide further information about the approved use and application of our products.
Dow AgroSciences’ pasture products are not authorised for use on food crops and should not be used on such crops. If you think that any damage to your crops is potentially associated with manure or compost containing any of DowAgrosciences’ pasture products, the amount of product residue present should be very low. Based on our research studies, consumption of trace levels of such product residues in a range of crops should not cause an unacceptable risk to human health.
As a general rule, we suggest damaged produce (however this is caused) should not be consumed. Stressed crops are unlikely to produce a harvestable yield and that which can be harvested may also be affected by pest or disease damage.
While we cannot offer general advice given the range of circumstances and possible causes of crop damage, if you are concerned about damage to your crops, or that any manure used on your food crops may have contained residues from products not designed for use on food crops, in our view it would be prudent not to harvest the crop and wait till next year before replanting in the affected area.
Q. How do I deal with the affected areas to help remove the risk of plant damage for future years?
A: In our view, rotavation is by far the best practice. This incorporates plant tissue into soils where it will decompose and allow the associated chemicals to be degraded by soil microbes. Once degraded, the chemicals should pose no further risk to crops. Ideally, thoroughly rotavate, or fork over several times as soon as possible, then repeat in late summer/ early autumn. Plant tissues generally break down most rapidly in warm, moist soils.
Q. What do I do with any remaining manure?
A: If you believe that the manure or compost you are using may contain herbicide residues, it should NOT be spread on ground intended for food crops. Sensitive crops include peas, beans and other legumes, sugar beet and fodder beet, carrots potatoes, tomatoes, lettuce and a number of other food crops or edible plants.
Q: Can I replant this season?
A: We would not recommend replanting this year. The ground needs to be thoroughly rotavated and plant residues given time to break down.
Q: Why does your chemical last so long?
A: Our products work by binding strongly to plant tissues, as do other herbicides.
Once plant tissues decay, breakdown of active ingredients in soil should happen very quickly under normal conditions.
Q: How do I avoid this happening again?
A: Before accepting any farmyard manure for use in your garden or allotment, it is always important to ask the supplier for confirmation that it does not come from livestock which has grazed on fields, or been fed fodder, that has been treated with herbicides bearing restrictions on the use of subsequent manure. Any Dow AgroSciences’ product with potential to cause such an effect (e.g. those containing a substance known as aminopyralid) carry warnings on the product label and specific directions as to appropriate conditions of use. If your supplier’s livestock were fed with grass, hay or silage produced elsewhere, then you should trace back to the original grower to obtain this information.
We strongly recommend that you do not accept farmyard manure for use on your garden or allotment unless you can verify its source and your supplier can provide the confirmation outlined above.
