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The following message has been sent by the secretary of our plots, he got it from a nearby allotment society. I don't know if anything like this has been posted before.
Recently we contacted the RHS asking for advice about a problem with crops growing on our allotment site. They informed us that the photos sent to then showed classic symptoms of hormone herbicide poisoning and that the suspected agent was the manure that we had recently spread. A herbicide that has recently been developed was suspected to be the culprit. Since then both the RHS and The Pesticide safety directorate have issued warning concerning the use of this chemical.
It would appear that many farmers who buy silage etc. are unaware that a chemical exists that persists in the treated grass for such a length of time and even though the manufacturers instructions state that manure resulting from treated pastureland should not be used for horticulture it would seem that there is no mechanism for passing this information down the supply chain. The farmer who supplied our manure said that he was unaware that a herbicide existed that was as persistent as this is and that although he produces most of his silage himself he does buy is a small percentage from other farms.
On our allotments site 20 plots have been affected and no-one (including the manufacturer) can tell us if any crops that we will be lucky to get form out plots will be safe to eat or not. I do know that some people ate potatoes from affected crops prior to realising what the problem was. Our plot-holders are devastated to see the results of all their hard work and not insubstantial investment in time and money going to waste. One reason for having an allotment is to avoid unnecessary use of chemicals and some of out tenants garden organically - they felt use of manure was a wholesome way to increase soil fertility but it has been all to no avail.
website: Green Lane Allotments - Click Here to ENTER
blog: Green Lane Allotments
Recently we contacted the RHS asking for advice about a problem with crops growing on our allotment site. They informed us that the photos sent to then showed classic symptoms of hormone herbicide poisoning and that the suspected agent was the manure that we had recently spread. A herbicide that has recently been developed was suspected to be the culprit. Since then both the RHS and The Pesticide safety directorate have issued warning concerning the use of this chemical.
It would appear that many farmers who buy silage etc. are unaware that a chemical exists that persists in the treated grass for such a length of time and even though the manufacturers instructions state that manure resulting from treated pastureland should not be used for horticulture it would seem that there is no mechanism for passing this information down the supply chain. The farmer who supplied our manure said that he was unaware that a herbicide existed that was as persistent as this is and that although he produces most of his silage himself he does buy is a small percentage from other farms.
On our allotments site 20 plots have been affected and no-one (including the manufacturer) can tell us if any crops that we will be lucky to get form out plots will be safe to eat or not. I do know that some people ate potatoes from affected crops prior to realising what the problem was. Our plot-holders are devastated to see the results of all their hard work and not insubstantial investment in time and money going to waste. One reason for having an allotment is to avoid unnecessary use of chemicals and some of out tenants garden organically - they felt use of manure was a wholesome way to increase soil fertility but it has been all to no avail.
website: Green Lane Allotments - Click Here to ENTER
blog: Green Lane Allotments
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