Problems on manured land?

[glallotments]

Has anyone had any problems with land that they have recently manured? BY recently I mean at the end of last season. Several of us on our allotment site have had problems with potato crops after manuring the land last year.
At first we thought of potato leaf curling virus, but everyone had bought different potatoes and only the plots that had used manure from a particular source is affected. It could be co-incidental but just wondered if anyone else has had problems. Pictures of potato crops are available on our blog Green Lane Allotments: Strange potato growth - any ideas?

[glallotments]

Just an update on the above posting. I have been in contact with the RHS and they have confirmed that our potato growth problem is classic herbicide damage. It is most likey due to residual chemicals being present in the manure that we have used. I have posted their advice on our blog so rather than type everything out again - if you are interested - then visit Green Lane Allotments: Dodgy Muck! RHS information
Many of us on our site will think twice before ordering any more manure!

[glallotments]

If you have used manure which has contaminated your crops please email our website as we are collating experiences.
Symptoms are mainly showing up in potato and tomato crops with some beans also suffering. Contaminated crops have upward curling edges to their leaves forming a spoon like shape.
Read more here http://ossettweather.com/glallotment.../acmanure.html

[paul]

Hi Gallotments,

There was quite a small write up in the back of the Sun newspaper regarding the manuare that you have used. Apparently, it has been problamatic country wide. I used my manure off a horses field that has not been sprayed with anything and have had no problems,.

[glallotments]

Paul,
Just be aware that the manure could be contaminated through the bedding chain. Horses and cattle don't have to eat the stuff - bedding for obvious reasons is in the manure too. Some people have bought manure from organic farms and been hit.
The RHS issued a press released last week and today there is a big piece in the Observer.

[Rosemary]

Last year I bought bags of well rotted manure from B&Q. Admittedly it's not the fresh manure that you spread on allotments but could these pre packed bags be affected? I haven't bought any this year and I don't think I will in the future.

[glallotments]

Rosemary
One of the people who has emailed me has said they suspect a bag of compost bought this year. When investgating the supplier told him that the main ingredient was grass. So I suppose that the answer has to be rule nothing out!

[glallotments]

I guess everyone's read the Observer?

[Rosemary]

The bagged compost is a great concern as I use a fair bit and will not be able to make enough of my own garden compost as I only have a small garden.

[paul]

Hi Gallotments,

Thanks for the advice. Fingers crossed, everything that I have gown is doing very well at the moment. I will let you know if anything goes a bit pearshaped.

[glallotments]

Update from PSD say it is safe to eat affected veg - visit link below.
Regulatory Update - Further information about aminopyralid in manure

[Lesley Jay]

There is an online petition at Downing Street to halt the use of Aminopyralid weed killer which has caused this problem. If you have a spare minute please sign it. Thanks!

Petition to: halt the use of Aminopyralid as a weed killer in british agriculture.

[glallotments]

Just to update you in case you haven't heard.

Quote from Tim Woolas in the Hansard:

The manufacturer has indicated that they are withdrawing products which contain aminopyralid from sale and PSD is formally suspending their authorisations while they investigate the options for preventing a recurrence of this problem. A key issue in their consideration will be whether the conditions of use regarding manure are sufficient, or sufficiently well known.

The petition is going great guns and many of us have had MPs and MEPs on the case and pestered everyone we can think of. It's been a real team effort so well done anyone who has played a part. It is a great advert for the Internet and forums such as these as in the past we would have been on our own! So good for people like Lesley and others like her who organise forums (or is it fori?)!

Keep signing the petition though, pestering away and if affected reporting it to the Pesticide Safety Department! The wording of the speech implies that this isn't the end of the story but it is a really good start!

[glallotments]

UPdate from Pesticide Safety Directorate Aminopyralid - Results of Analysis of Contaminated Manure, Soil, and Damaged Crops

[Lesley Jay]

How can it be that the treated soil samples didnot contain Aminopyralid but potatoes and tomatoes grown in the soil did contain traces of Aminopyralid?

[glallotments]

Sorry for the delay in a reply but I've been on holiday.

The problem with aminopyralid is that it is only released into the soil once the plant matter in the compost/manure breaks down so in effect it is trapped in the manure. Once it is released after decomposition the soil bacteria breaks it down further into carbon dioxide and water. This takes about three weeks (so I am told although some reckon that it could take longer). During the time that the chemical residue is released into the soil and is 'active' it can be taken up by plants and preseumably stays trapped there until those plants decompose! If the aminopyralid hasn't been released I guess it doesn't show up in testing - or it could have been released and already been broken down.
We still have large chunks of manure that haven't decomposed so it looks as though this problem may persist into next year - can't see much happening over winter.

Any chance anyone gets to warn people about to buy manure for spreading now please tell them to be extremely careful over where they get it from. As for us - manure is not on the menu.


Hope that isn't too gibberish

[Lesley Jay]

Here is the governments response to the petition to stop the use of Aminopyralid.

Number10.gov.uk » Aminopyralid - epetition response

[PlantingJoe]

I have a few friends who got lucky and weren't affected too bad back then on their lots, still a horrible thing though.

[glallotments]

Just to remind everyone that the problem of contaminated manure has not gone away as I have had emails form people affected this year Manure 9
Gardeners are still acquiring manure oblivious to the problem and farmers and stable owners are still supplying manure also oblivious to the problem.

It would seem that the product is being considered for relicensing see Manure 5

Please tell any gardener, stable owner or farmer that you come into contact with about the problem.

Also has anyone noticed the symptoms of herbicide contamination in potatoes planted in areas not treated with manure. Manure Menu for photos

[Canucksintheuk]

Thanks for this info - I had read a couple of weeks ago that bags of manure were indeed affected - there was a recall at one major store - didn't pay much attention to detail, as I didn't buy any bags at all this year, and wasn't a member. My allotment had just been covered in manure a while back before we got it two weeks ago, seems to be lots of couch (sp?) grass growing in it - I've been pulling roots out by the yard, so hopefully that's a good sign that it's okay!