Keep Aminopyralid banned.

[Johnboy]

Hi Alan,
But do remember that Dow took over Union Carbide and there is still the matter of clearing up Bhopal in India. They couldn't give a s-it about Bhopal so how far down the list do you think UK is. With a pesticide agency, or whatever their new name is, such a soft touch.
It's rather like a Poacher being responsible for regulating Game Keepers.
A total farce!
JB.

[Monika]

Our MP today forwarded a letter to me which he had received from DEFRA after passing on my letter about aminopyralids. It just repeats the stated "safeguards" about using the weedkiller only on pastures not for forage and only for cow and sheep pastures not for horses. As if farmers keep these two apart! Anyway, cow manure, I think, is much better than horse manure. So we shall certainly have to be very wary about manure in future.

Glallotments, there is a short article about the matter in today's "Yorkshire Post" which mentions your involvement in the opposition to the re-licensing!

[glallotments]

Glallotments, there is a short article about the matter in today's "Yorkshire Post" which mentions your involvement in the opposition to the re-licensing!

I spoke to a reporter Chris Benfield who rang me when they first announced that they may relicence it - hope they quoted me correctly as they are prone not to! Tried to search on the YP online but there is nothing there!

By the way all I have ever got back when writing to my MP is the same email telling me things that I already knew.

[glallotments]

The reporter sent me the link

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/gardening/Weedkiller-back-on-sale-despite.5810451.jp

Interesting that he says that new European legislation may effect a ban. He asked me about this when we spoke on the phone and I siad I didn't know how it would be affected. He said he would look into it. I'll email him to see if he found something out or whether he is just guessing.

[glallotments]

I've checked the statement about the likelihood that ap will be banned under EU legislation and am told by CRD that this is unlikely so I'm not sure where the reporter got that bit on information from.

[JohnN]

I've tried to follow the copious posting on Amino..., but I'm still rather vague on how to avoid it when buying bags of manure. Are all such bags (eg "Rotted horse manure", "Farmyard Manure" by well-known firms like Bowers) a potential risk? I realise the problems of naming such, but can someone name a few to seek out that are not a risk?!

[glallotments]

I think most commercial compost suppliers will now be taking precautions as I have had no recent reports - over the last year - of anyone suspecting newly bought commercial products.

Compost can fail for lots of reasons not just because of being contaminated.

I have a link on my website that we emailed out to try and help people avoid buying contaminated manure see

http://glallotments.co.uk/Documents/contaminated%20manure%20alert.pdf
For more information about the problem try here:
http://glallotments.co.uk/ACManure.aspxand the links from this page.

[glallotments]

Has anyone managed to get any contaminated manure collected yet. Apparently DOW are trying to find farmers local to your area to collect it and I know of at least a couple of people who are still waiting.

I am also told that the person arranging collection is only aware of less than 10 plots in the whole country which seems incredible although I know people on our site have none left as they unfortunately spread it all!

Anyone any more information about this?

[yummyveggies]

not on the subject of removal of contaminated manure - but amazed to hear how long it can remain in the manure. Was talking to our local Defra /Plant Health and Seeds Inspector and he was aware of a case where the muck was left in a cow shed from 2006 , not mucked out until 2008 and it was still contaminated.
keep up the great work Glallotments -

[glallotments]

not on the subject of removal of contaminated manure - but amazed to hear how long it can remain in the manure. Was talking to our local Defra /Plant Health and Seeds Inspector and he was aware of a case where the muck was left in a cow shed from 2006 , not mucked out until 2008 and it was still contaminated.
keep up the great work Glallotments -

'fraid that this is no surprise - if the stuff is not incorporated into soil I guess it can remain there indefinitely. The same applies to stacked manure.

I'd be a bit concerned though if someone hadn't mucked out his cows for two years!!

[yummyveggies]

I can only assume that the cow shed wasn't used for a year or so !!! At least I hope so !!!
And yes - the advice from the PHSI man was if in doubt with muck to spread it in autumn for the soil microbes to start breaking it down well in time for the plants to be growing in the soil .... as otherwise it wouldn't break down...

[Johnboy]

Hi Yummyveggies,
Contaminated manure is not only to be spread but as I understand it 'Dug In!' Perhaps GLA will confirm.
JB.

[glallotments]

Hi Yummyveggies,
Contaminated manure is not only to be spread but as I understand it 'Dug In!' Perhaps GLA will confirm.
JB.

That's correct JB Possibly if it is spread eventually the worms will drag the stuff down into the soil but I guess it would be a long job.

The best advice isn't just to dig it in but to then dig over the soil as often as possible to incorporate air to aid decomposition.

I have a concern too that the DOW Manure Matters website doesn't appear to have important parts updated. I am trying to find out if they intend to update.

[peter]

Sought advice from a friend with farming links on what mechanical means one should used to remove brambles from a dorment Allotment Site, I think when she asked the man with a tractor that she simplified the question to how would you clear a field of brambles and the answer in full was:

"The brambles I would spray off first with Pastor/Forefront and leave 2 weeks before pulling through with a plough/chisel plough or discs."

[glallotments]

OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!