06.29.08
Persistent herbicide destroying crops in UK
Is the US next? Kirk Murphy’s post at Firedoglake discusses that possibility. He begins:
In today’s Observer, Caroline Davies describes how this year British gardeners find their fruits and veggies are stunted, deformed, and dying. The culprit: Dow Chemical’s persistent herbicide aminopyralid sprayed on grazing land or fodder. The herbicide stayed in the plants the cattle ate, stayed in the cattle (and horse) poop, stayed in the compost produced from the poop, and came out the other end of the process all ready to kill food crops and home gardens.
Problems with the herbicide emerged late last year, when some commercial potato growers reported damaged crops.
[snip]
[T]he herbicide has now entered the food chain. Those affected are demanding an investigation and a ban on the product. They say they have been given no definitive answer as to whether other produce on their gardens and allotments is safe to eat.
It appears that the contamination came from grass treated 12 months ago. Experts say the grass was probably made into silage, then fed to cattle during the winter months. The herbicide remained present in the silage, passed through the animal and into manure that was later sold. Horses fed on hay that had been treated could also be a channel.
It can’t happen here?…
Continue reading. Apparently it’s not a good idea to apply poison to your crops and cropland.
Diana Lowndes said,
29 June 2008 at 2:48 pm
I recently purchased 14 tonnes of Rolawn Topsoil for beds and borders to fill 9 raised beds which I intend to use for growing vegetables. Having sown a variety of vegetable and herb seeds including, parsley, coriander, basil, spring onions, lettuce, radish, brocolli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, peas, onions, carrots parsnips, french beans, beetroot and spinach, initial germination was good.
However subsequently the plants have remained stunted, turned yellow and in a number of cases died.
I have approached Rolawn who are looking into the matter but, on reading the Observer article I was alarmed that the symptoms shown by plants in the case of the contaminated manure are worryingly similar to mine.
I was told by the Rolawn supplier in Southampton that the topsoil came from washed sugar beet roots. I looked at the Dowagro website and discovered that chemicals called clopyralids – sounding very similar to the aminopyralids referred to in the Observer article – are used to treat sugar beet.
If that is the case and the chemicals are as toxic it might be that significant residues are also present in the Rolawn topsoil.
I would welcome comments from anybody who has any knowledge that might help me get to the bottom of the problem.
7rlog said,
30 June 2008 at 9:32 am
Another great article!
I have experienced some rather strange Strawberries that the wife and I decided to grow this year. I purposely avoid any “miracle grows” or pestacides, but this year grew them in compost purchased from our local farm shop. Coincidence? Maybe, but these strawberries of mine have taken on some rather strange shapes.
kirk james murphy, m.d. said,
30 June 2008 at 5:06 pm
LeisureGuy, thanks for posting the FDL piece.
Diana and 7rlog, thanks for describing your experiences. I’d be grateful if you could send me emails fully setting out what you have learned and observed. (If you have any pics to include that would be great, too.)
If possible, I’d like to write a follow-up at FDL.
WRT similar mechanisms shared by aminopyralid and chlorpyralid, Diana, you are absolutely correct. Both chemicals are pyridinecarboxylic acids.
(from the Pesticide Database at PAN North America )
Should both of you have the time, Bryn Pugh, legal consultant at the National Society of Allotments and Leisure Gardeners (see Observer article cited in FDL piece) would also find the info re clopyraids most helpful.
Thanks to you both for your comments and concern.
Green Lane Allotments said,
11 July 2008 at 7:24 am
Our web page explains our experiences and those of others suffering form this problem. It also gathers together all the information that a group of us have managed to find about the problem and advice on what to do etc.
Also we have lots of photos showing typical damage – don’t assume that if your plants aren’t growing well it is down to herbicide damage. Herbicide damage has specific symptoms
LeisureGuy said,
11 July 2008 at 9:40 am
Very useful link. Thanks.
Diana Lowndes said,
3 May 2009 at 4:26 pm
(Diana Lowndes)
I know im like 10 months behind the article but I wanted to stress that when you purchase top soil and put it in a raised bed it is important that you mix it thouroughly with your native top soil. So you should dig out beneath the bed, set aside, put some of the non native soil in then some of yours etc etc..then till it all together.
The reason for this is soil microbes are very important for nitrogen fixation and about 1000 other things some of what we know some of what we dont know. Much of the purchased “top soil” is steril or “dead”. Much of this stuff comes from subdivision sites or a biproduct of washing vegies on an industrial scale.
I would recommend flushing your raised garden with water to try and rid yourself of any contamination. Then try to incorporate some of your native soil and add some of this.
http://www.johnandbobs.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=31&gclid=CMKEm_mkoZoCFSMgDQodMyRE9A
Also note that the yellowing of plants is sometimes an indicator of root rot from over watering or lack of microbes that keeps the roots healthy.