Topic: Looks like aminopyralid is back

[Digeroo]

We are having issues with our manures again.  It was odd that that
pile did not steam during the winter.  It was odd that there were no
worms in it. But one batch of beans are not happy and some rhubarb
looks miserable.    

As before very patchy.  Apparently it is broken down by bacteria
so giving yoghurt a whirl.   Tap water seems to make effects worse so
will have to hope for a steady supply of rain.

I hate Dow and a hate the people who yielded to pressure and
Allowed it to return.  It is impossible to trace where the
contamination enters the chain.

[Ellen K]

I've got it this year too, first time.  It's already very obvious on the spuds I planted in a sack in the greenhouse and a row of broad beans raised in pots and planted where the heap sat over winter.

Manure from a guy who supplies us every year without any problems up until now.

If the heap I got is representative of what he is delivering now, a lot of us are in trouble on our site.  One tenant who has just taken on a half plot has spread out two full loads over most of his planting area. 

Bum.

[Digeroo]

It tends not to be so bad if spread.  Burying it is a big problem.  Can take some time to break down
  They say a few weeks but my experience a few years is more like it.  I just thought I was finally clea.  Mixing in soil and air helps.  Hard water makes it worse
I found a paper which said that it takes longer to break down in some soil
but unfortunalely did not state which.  I suspect alkaline soils.
so try band keep manured areas acidic.

I hate Dow.  Time this stuff was banned.  I intend to do some experiments with
worms to see if they are avoiding it or if it kills them off.

Not clear why it stops the heating up and rotting down process.

Sweet corn does not mind.  Brassicas and squashed more tolerant.
but ate affected if it is strong.

[Ellen K]

Robin Hood Dwarf Broad Beans - Raised in pots then planted out about a month ago :-(

[galina]

Gosh, that's awful Ellen, such a sad sight.  Horrible stuff.   

[Digeroo]

I suggest you move your beans wash off all the soil and plant in manure free area they might recover.

I have one batch of broadies suffering have replaced with sweet corn.

It is such a pain last years manures was excellent.   Farmer does not use AP so must come in of bought in feed.  There is no way of tracing it.

I will know next time the manure heap stays cold.

[Jayb]

Those beans look horrid and like you say they may just be the tip of the iceberg on your site so to speak.
Sorry for you both, what a nightmare. I thought safeguards had been introduced to make sure it didn't happen again?

[Redalder]

Have a look at the link - looks like controls are slack and it has been back for some time. The article by George Monbiot was written in 2011.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/georgemonbiot/2011/jul/15/vegetables-disease-aminopyralid-pesticide

DowAgro's site is just chilling - its up to users to control this stuff

http://www.dowagro.com/range/aminopyralid_stewardship.htm

[Digeroo]

I have read all the stewardship stuff but you cannot see it on feed stuffs. It was bound to come back.

Does attitude before was very poor.  Cannot understand why it is not banned.  The people on the panel who agreed to it even blocked their email addresses.

[bluecar]

Digeroo and Ellen,

Whilst it will not help now, you should inform DowAgro and the CRD of the problem and of the farmer that supplied you with the manure. Make sure you have photographic evidence of the problem and details of people who can confirm the situation. Dows should be supplying the CRD details of any complaints that they receive. Only by reporting the problem, can we hope to get some government action and track down where it is coming from.

Regards

Bluecar

[Digeroo]

The information suggests you can use contaminated manure on wheat crops.  What no one seems to know is whether if that is used for fodder whether that becomes contaminated as well.  We certainly had problems with compost made from unaffected crops.

Squashes are not on the list of affected crops but we had problems.

It is certainly worth testing all manure as a precaution.  A few broad beans will soon show it up. The leaves start to curl upwards.

[Digeroo]

I have just come across a reference to it having a half life of between 30 and 533 days in soi.  Which means on the worst case scenario 1/4 is still there after three years!!!!

Best breakdown seems to happening sunlight.  Hence of applied to surface and turned it will go sooner. 

Dow say it is safe and passes through mammals unchanged.  I do not care I don't want it.

[Ellen K]

The broadies are toast but the spuds in a bag are growing through it.  Lady Crystl and just starting to flower.

The spuds in the ground which got a lot of the manure don't look too bad, a bit curly but you could convince yourself that there was nothing to see until you compare with the look of the potatoes of neighbours who didn't have the manure.

Had a walk round the site for evidence that others are affected - saw a few affected plants but not the widescale devastation we might have seen.  But it is still early in the year yet.