Kitchen Garden Forum

The ACP minutes have been posted with hardly any mention of AP just

2. Agenda Item 2: Secretary’s report. [ACP 3 (339/2009)]
2.1 The Secretary to the Committee reported on the recommendations made at previous meetings. Members heard that Ministers were considering advice given at the last Meeting on aminopyralid.

So it seems it is now in the government's hands.

I have also just had a phone call from a reporter from the Yorkshire Post -it seems DOW have issued a press release which implies that they are poised to reintroduce AP onto the market.

Can I just say Glallotments that your enthusiasm, commitment
and tenacity in pursuing this topic is amazing. I really hope you
get loads of signatures and publicity so this is banned and such
irresponsibility is not allowed to happen again.

Good Luck - you need some sort of award for all this hard work
keeping us up to date with this.

Best Wishes
Westi

Just call me Jack Russell

but I guess big money will prevail in the end!!!

New! Information on the lifting of the suspension of aminopyralid approvals
Told you so.
Latest on DOWs website

http://www.dowagro.com/uk/aminopyralidsuspension.htm

Dear glallotments and realfood, you couldn't have done anymore then you have.

Lets hope the farmers and agricutural contractors start taking more responsibility with the use of their sprays then.

As a piece of cold comfort - if we hadn't made such a fuss maybe they'd have never improved the stewardship and at least we have publicised the problem and may have saved some gardeners from grief.

It is important to keep publicizing the potential problem of manure contamination to other gardeners who may buy manure from existing stocks of contaminated manure, without realizing the potential problem.
I keep hearing that sacked manure is being peddled around housing estates, and there is always the possibility that it is contaminated.

I agree realfood.

A snippet from the ACP agenda in AOB said "Aminopyralid Letter to Allotment Holders ACP 12 (339/2009)" so I don't know whether they intend sending us all warning letters now! I wonder why they think this is necessary now that use of AP is going to be much better under the new stewardship?

It doesn't help those individual gardeners who use manure but don't have allotments. I shall leave all the information as it is on my website and will also keep a note of anyone who is affected in the future so if you are let me know.

So we will see how things progress!

It is still a worry from my point of view. Yes stewardship will
help but how long will they be so vigilent?

You certainly did your bit but big business wins again but I'm
sure you will keep your ear to the ground for incidents and folk
from this forum will also report things so that might keep them
a bit more honest.

Westi

Check the other thread

http://www.kitchengarden.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=7423

For updates on where we stand so far! I heard via the grapevine that the chemical is likely to be back in news spring 2010

Just read the article by Bob Sherman in the Feb addition of KG mag.
The subject is manuring and liming.

A gold star to him in that he mentioned the need for care when obtaining manure due to the ap issue but I'm afraid one mistake.

He states "Manure from an organic farm will be free of both these hazards"
I'm afraid this shouldn't be taken for granted as contaminated manure has been obtained from organic suppliers.

The other hazard referred to is veterinary products