Aminopyralid/manure question

[Rabidbun]

I'm thinking of putting some manure on my three one metre square raised beds (and indeed of using it in my tomato pots), so have ordered some Levington's Organic Blend Farmyard Manure this year. However, I am understandably nervous of putting it on the beds, as if it ended up being contaminated, well, that's me out of veg growing, as I don't have room for any more beds, or any more garden to dump such a lot of soil...

Does anyone know the contact details of Levington (to email them and ask all those questions about the manure that were advised in older threads/links here)? Or indeed has anyone already asked them and got a response? Or are the odds a bit better to avoid contamination this year? Not panicing, honest!

Alternatively, if the risk is too large I could just bin it I suppose and hope that the bokashi thing (just started, not quite sure yet, lol) will work out to just dig it straight into the beds under crops and revitalise the soil. Kinda wishing I had room for a composter.

Edit: Actually, should I worry about the compost I am getting - Miracle Gro, which states "this composts exclusive mix of natural organic and peat free ingredients mixed with organic fertiliser, which feeds plants for up to 6 weeks, makes this the ideal compost for growing fruit and veg organically and 100% free of chemicals." I guess natural organic means poo...

[Aberdeenplotter]

New regulations have been introduced which make it illegal for manure produced on a farm which uses amino pyrolids to be removed from the farm. Commercial composts should therefore be ok

[Rabidbun]

Thanks, I hadn't heard and that is definitely a comfort!

[FIREMAN627]

BIG disaster !!!! it would appear that my local supplier of muck has the dreaded aminopyralid contamination , finding out too late (it is spread and rotavated into the ground). due to the condition of tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, peas, beans, sweetpeas, all affected not much i can do other than remove what i can of the muck, i have some tomato plants to put in pots and hope for the best . dow chemicals that make this herbicide withdrew it last year because of all the probs countrywide but have now reintroduced it this year , so to anyone out there unless your muck supplier can tell you where ALL of his feed ,silage ,straw ,fodder or where his animals graze is free from any form of weedkiller dont put it on your ground.

[zazen999]

BIG disaster !!!! it would appear that my local supplier of muck has the dreaded aminopyralid contamination , finding out too late (it is spread and rotavated into the ground). due to the condition of tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, peas, beans, sweetpeas, all affected not much i can do other than remove what i can of the muck, i have some tomato plants to put in pots and hope for the best . dow chemicals that make this herbicide withdrew it last year because of all the probs countrywide but have now reintroduced it this year , so to anyone out there unless your muck supplier can tell you where ALL of his feed ,silage ,straw ,fodder or where his animals graze is free from any form of weedkiller dont put it on your ground.

Snap!

Whereabouts are you - just in case others have the same problem?

I am getting mine removed in the next few weeks; and have spent many hours raking and digging it out/off of my beds - after spending many hours putting the stuff on!

Be careful Grapes, be very careful.....

[BigShot]

I just had nightmare visions. It occurs to me that I only checked about forage where I got my manure. I didn't ask about feed and straw.

Well, it's in now, I'll just have to wait and see... and hope like hell.

[grandmaster00]

you wont get rid of it it will have contaminated the soil already.
as for it not being in any commercial composts i have to strongly disagree. i have bought compost from various large name suppliers this year and all has been affected - only very slightly but once you have seen the effects of this disgusting chemical then you can spot it a mile off. friends and family of mine who dont garden who were all kept updated during my major aminopyralid contamination last year could even spot the very slight effects it had on my bean seedlings this year from the shop bought composts i had used for germination!!!

i think my best advice and this is from someone who has dealt with the effects already is to learn to live with the stuff i dont think we have much option _ seriously read about this stuff find gl allotments (green lane allotments) web sit and take it from there

good luck

[Sanjo]

I'm thinking of putting some manure on my three one metre square raised beds (and indeed of using it in my tomato pots), so have ordered some Levington's Organic Blend Farmyard Manure this year. However, I am understandably nervous of putting it on the beds, as if it ended up being contaminated, well, that's me out of veg growing, as I don't have room for any more beds, or any more garden to dump such a lot of soil...

Does anyone know the contact details of Levington (to email them and ask all those questions about the manure that were advised in older threads/links here)? Or indeed has anyone already asked them and got a response? Or are the odds a bit better to avoid contamination this year? Not panicing, honest!

Levingtons Horticulture: 01697 351881
I telephoned Harrington & Jessop last year, suppliers of composted organic stable manure, and a very fed up sounding lady assured me that it was OK. I used it after testing it and it seems fine.
However, I shall retest before I use any new stock that I buy.
They apparently ask their manure suppliers to sign a disclaimer to the effect that they do not use aminopyralid based products, but that is relying on other people's honesty. As one supplier back in 2006 said in the article I read, he has 27 stables and it would be a nightmare for him to dispose of all the manure if he can't get it collected because of fears of contamination.
Multiply that all round the country and it's mind boggling.
Might it not be a good idea for all grapes on here to take a sort of collective responsibility for new people making enquiries regarding tackling new plots.
I often see helpful comments to newbies about covering the ground in cardboard and then obtaining free manure and piling it on and leaving it, with no following warning that they have to be careful about contamination.
It's only when someone is affected by aminopyralid that it is ever mentioned again but in the meantime we may well have newbies happily contaminating their plots with loads of muck they got from people desperate to get rid of it.

[Sanjo]

Just out of curiosity, was something wrong with the above post as I noticed Zazen edited it at 07.11? Or am I just seeing it differently?

[FIREMAN627]

zazen999 im in dorset near sherborne, the farmer who supplied me came to see me yesterday to confirm he has not used any of the herbicide and will contact his supplier of straw (the only thing he buys in) to make sure ,but the question then is if the straw is clear could it be in my potting compost? but no that would not have affected my potatoes,just to follow on from this i had a phone call from a consultant working on behalf of dow chemicals to see what assistance he could give, had a long chat, watch this space!

[zazen999]

Just out of curiosity, was something wrong with the above post as I noticed Zazen edited it at 07.11? Or am I just seeing it differently?

It wasn't quoting properly.....so I added the / quote in [] that was needed - otherwise people don't know where the original post ends and your response begins....

[Sanjo]

Ah thank you. That will explain it.

[FIREMAN627]

a further comment i should have mentioned re the contaminated muck is on dows advice all plant material should be disposed of buy burning or at your local refuse tip( but not in the garden waste area) it has to go to landfill, the amount of chemical still in that plant material is small but could still damage crops .

[zazen999]

zazen999 im in dorset near sherborne, the farmer who supplied me came to see me yesterday to confirm he has not used any of the herbicide and will contact his supplier of straw (the only thing he buys in) to make sure ,but the question then is if the straw is clear could it be in my potting compost? but no that would not have affected my potatoes,just to follow on from this i had a phone call from a consultant working on behalf of dow chemicals to see what assistance he could give, had a long chat, watch this space!

Apparently, my supplier/farmer only bought in straw as well.

He supplies straw all over the village and neighbouring villages to people with horses - so I can see them having problems next year.

It's all such a mess! Nobody knows where it is or who has it and until you get it, there is no way of knowing as all these farmers seem more than willing to sell this stuff on with no comeback.

[glallotments]

It's really strange that aminopyralid problems are suspected of affecting straw as in theory straw shouldn't be affected as it is from cereal crops and ap isn't licensed for use on food crops. Hay is a different matter as it is produced from the grass.

If straw is contaminated then it would seem that the herbicide has been used illegally.