Contaminated manure warning

Thefunkygibbons

I have an unlimited supply of manure but I guess I had better check now before using it

Larumbelle

Thefunkygibbons wrote: »

I have an unlimited supply of manure but I guess I had better check now before using it

I would...

839 and counting... don't just sign yourself, ask anyone who benefits from your home-grown produce, including family members, neighbours, colleagues, anyone you give it away to. Tell your gardening friends and everyone at your allotment site. Offer to help the less tech-savvy set up an email address and register.

WE NEED YOU! WE'RE ALL DIGGING FOR VICTORY - NOW WE NEED VICTORY FOR DIGGING!!!

SKIPPY54

silvercharming wrote: »

I would...

839 and counting... don't just sign yourself, ask anyone who benefits from your home-grown produce, including family members, neighbours, colleagues, anyone you give it away to. Tell your gardening friends and everyone at your allotment site. Offer to help the less tech-savvy set up an email address and register.

WE NEED YOU! WE'RE ALL DIGGING FOR VICTORY - NOW WE NEED VICTORY FOR DIGGING!!!

Good slogan there silvercharming,:T

come on everyone it only takes a couple of clicks

calleyw

silvercharming wrote: »

Fair dos if you believe that. .

I was not trying to defend farmers who lie or hide things. I was just pointing out that you seem to suggest farmers can do what they like. And tar all farmers with the same brush.

Farmers do have a legal responsibility for keeping chemical records. As with any industry you have some who care and are very careful and there are always a few who do what they like. Which seems to what has happened here.

Never mind I expect you have been eating products with the stuff in it anyway :rolleyes:
as "Aminopyralid has been approved for use on certain food crops in Canada, the United States, and other counties. We are seeking approvals for several food crops in a number of European countries in the near future."

Direct quote from the http://www.dowagro.com

I suspect that would be bigger residue and more worrying than a small amount that was got in to manure.

Love to see what profit you are talking about. As most of the farmers I know would not even make min wage with the hours they put in and the pittance that is paid for there goods. Because the good old british public don't even want to pay the going rate for food and then moan about it all the time. But I don't see may other people rushing in to do the job. That's right the pay ain't high enough the hours are too long.

And I have no idea what you are talking about here "I think your take on it makes the farmers look far worse, doesn't it?! " Ummmmmmmmmm pardon. My take by suggesting that by law they have to keep records makes it look bad.


Yours


Calley

Larumbelle

Look, I'm not bothered about getting into a debate about this, this is the greenfingered board, not discussion time. But I will answer your specific points lest casual readers assume I am out to get all farmers. :rolleyes:

As I previously stated, having to keep a record of what has been sprayed does not mean the same thing as being aware 1) what brands contain aminopyralid 2) what significance the presence of aminopyralid (and the similar chemical clopyralid) has and 3) that by using aminopyralid you have a statutory duty to notify everyone you supply treated materials that they contain it and must not be allowed to enter the food chain. I do not take issue with the fact that the majority work within these rules, and I am not claiming that there is some nefarious plot to contaminate our crops. But the minority who have not done what they are supposed to is sizeable, as evidenced by the fact that contamination is widespread. As I previosly said, aminopyralid is either being used illegally or irresponsibly. Either way it is indefensible and has taken place despite any 'legal responsibilities'. If farmers can not or will not use the chemical so it does not cause contamination, as far as I and many others are concerned this makes continued use of the chemical unacceptable.

Secondly, the food crops which aminopyralid has been approved for are cereal crops, not the vegetable crops that are contaminated in the UK. In the UK and EU use on food crops was declined. In any case, there are many agrochemicals approved for use in other countries including the US and Canada that have been banned outright in this country because they are unsafe. For that matter, New York state has banned the use of aminopyralid and many other states have severely limited its use; federal approval does not mean it is unquestioningly accepted. And it is also banned in other countries - Germany and New Zealand fromt he top of my head.

Thirdly, I never asked for aminopyralid to be put into my food; I and many of us here buy organic or grow our own because we want to know what chemicals our food has been doused in. I don't believe the agrochem industry has the right to decide that for me.

You seem to think I am going all out against farmers. I think you have either misconstrued what I said or else just fancied starting a fight. As a matter of fact I feel pretty sorry for a lot of the farmers; they're basically middlemen as far as aminopyralid is concerned, but they are the ones facing court action and compensation claims over this. I think the British agro scene is in turmoil right now, but I stand by my assertion that many of the recent crises the industry has suffered have been caused or exacerbated by bad practise. I'm not going into the details, as I said, I'm not looking for or getting into a row about this. This thread is to WARN people of the very real threat of contamination and to TELL THEM what they can do if they feel strongly about it. So can we keep it on topic, please?

Mini_JK

Hi all

:j

Just to let you know that the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) who are the Govt Agency responsible have temp banned aminopyralid (got this via an email):

A snippet of the note from PSD:
"Dow have now indicated that they are withdrawing products which contain
aminopyralid from sale and PSD is formally suspending their
authorisations whilst we investigate the options for preventing a
recurrence of this problem. A key issue in our consideration will be
whether the conditions of use regarding manure are sufficient, or
sufficiently well known."


I normally lurk on this forum for money related stuff and hadn't spotted this thread before. Thanks for discussing this on here and rasing awareness, I think the large number of people that have flooded their MPs and MEPs with complaints have actually had an effect! :T

I'm one of the affected home growers having bought lots of a bagged 'Organic' compost product. It devastated my veg patch this year.

But we still need to be aware there could be compost/manure supplies being affected for months - maybe well into next year - and beyond?

This spray has been used right up till now and because it is very persistent the animals grazing on treated pastures will be producing contaminated manure for months yet. Remember also that farmers have been making hay/silage which won't be used until the winter. The amniopyralid in silage will be preserved even when the animals eat then excrete it. So I think we might have problems next spring and maybe beyond (when all the cow sheds are cleared out and loads of manure start arriving on allotments or into compost manufacturers heaps).

I think you get the gist, there will still be affected manure/compost around hopefully in decreasing amounts for a long while, so if you are thinking of getting any - be on your guard and ask lots of questions of the supplier.

John

SKIPPY54

:j GREAT!!!:j

But don't give up on the petition.It's not permanent yet.

One suggestion I can think of for farmers stuck with contaminated manure is to get the manufactures to take it away and dispose of it in a safe and proper way.

Davesnave

And lest you think that chemical giant Dow will rush to assist in order to stem the flow of bad publicity, just spend a few minutes on this site:

http://www.thetruthaboutdow.org/article.php?list=type&type=9

Oh dear, doing my doom & gloom act again! Never mind; you'd really like me if you got to know me socially!

SKIPPY54

Hi,just an update,940 signed so far,:T its not to late to sign, you have untill October 17th.

Keep on telling freinds and family to sign if you have any worries about this.

Keep on shouting as loud as you can to stop awfull products like this contaminating YOUR environment.

Larumbelle

Right peeps, I'm bringing this thread back from the dead. Sorry.

If you haven't yet signed the petition PLEASE DO! We need every signature we can get. Don't forget, aminopyralid has been withdrawn TEMPORARILY. They'll wait until the fuss has died down then quietly reintroduce it. WE HAVEN'T WON YET!

Also begging help with the website if anyone is at a loose end? Proof-readers would be handy if anyone will help - just heard that the NSALG is directing people to it through their magazine, it is out now, didn't think it would be so soon. I'm pretty much begging...