Article from a journal. The following text is reproduced from Grow Your Own magazine. it was passed to me as a cut out from a photocopy.
Article follows:-
AMINOPYRALID IS BACK ON THE MARKET. The reintroduction of aminopyralid - a powerful weedkiller used on farmland pasture - has sparked fierce debate across the industry. Dow AgroSciences voluntarily suspended the herbicide from the market in 2008 after it was found that the treatment can damage crops and pose a human health risk if it contaminates manure. However, it has since been re-released.
The Soil Association warned that aminopyralid remains an active threat, even after the treated crop has been eaten by a cow, passed through the animal, is stored as silage, and eventually used as domestic or agricultural manure. "Manure contaminated with this herbicide is no longer a valuable resource for gardeners but a toxic waste... It should be immediately banned by the government," said Ben Raskin, horticultural advisor to the organisation. However, Dow AgroSciences explained that the reintroduction of aminopyralid comes with stringent restrictions; sales are limited to Scotland, South West and Northern Ireland, and it can no longer be used on grassland intended for silage or hay.
Despite this, there have been reports of aminopyralid residues making their way onto allotments and into gardens this year. "Although of small comfort, we would reassure anyone that this contaminated manure has not come from use this season under the new controls. It is a reflection of manure generated from past treatment," said Andy Bailey, Principal biologist at Dow AgroSciences.
Symptoms exhibited by crops that have
been exposed to aminopyralid residues include twisted, cupped or elongated
leaves, misshapen fruit, reduced yield, death of young plants and poor seed
germination.
End of article.
Well now ain't that just fine and dandy?
Accordingto its website - "Dow combines the power of science and
technology with the Human Element to passionately innovate what is
essential to human progress."
Roughly translated that means they ride rough shod over anyone and anything in
pursuit of maximum profit just like all big businesses and particularly
American ones.
You won't hear a peep out of Mr Big Gob Obama on this one though.
So the company has put "stringent restrictions" on it's use. If you believe
that that will stop farmers putting it on their hay field if they have a weed
problem - particularly if its a Ragwort problem, then you must be in serious
need of help. In any case, as I read it, they can still use it on meadows used
for grazing and it doesn't say anything about cerials for animal feed. This
means that:-
1) Cattle for meat production will be eating it.
2) Cattle for milk production will be eating it.
3) Farmyard manure from dairy farms will still be contaminated.
4) If it's used on wheat or similar crops for animal feed then the feed may or
may not be contaminated but the straw certainly will.
5) I the case of (4) above then chickens and the like may possibly be fed it.
If straw is contaminated in the Southwest it doesn't stop it being transported here for use as stable bedding and getting into horse manure (which is where my personal contact with the filthy stuff came from) quite appart of the continued possiblity of contaminated feed in one form or another as outlined above.
Webmaster 28/08/2010
