I've just read an article about the fact manure containing the previously banned aminopyralid herbicide, which is used to control grassland weeds, has once again been found in gardens and allotments only months after its use was reinstated.

Although Dow AgroSciences say the manure containing the herbicide has not come from this season under the new controls, it does make me question whether it's use should have ever been reinstated  in the fisrt place as it's use is restricted to only a small part of the country and the consequences can be quite severe.

 I don't think it's use does too much for the imagine of farming, as if the public are exposed to it's consequences and have plants and vegetables destroyed by contaminated manure then they could be easily influenced by people such as Georgina Downs who campaigns for banned use of pesticides and herbicides on the grounds for human health.

 What do others think on this matter, should it have been reinstated?

I wish I could get hold of it (brand-name starting Fore ending front), but UAP were only selling in certain areas and circumstances when I last checked.

I hope the article makes it clear the reason for the problem is that the instructions were not followed correctly, not an inherent problem with the product? 

I'm for full reinstatement but making it absolutely 100% clear, for those one or two hermits who may not have heard, that the grazing/cropping period must be adhered to and the consequences of not.

ogwi:

I hope the article makes it clear the reason for the problem is that the instructions were not followed correctly, not an inherent problem with the product?

Indeed. People should read the label. Silage , hay or haylage must stay on farm and manure from said beasts spread only onto agricultural grassland. Thats a label statement, so not following the label on sprays is naughty; those at fault need tracing, naming and shaming. Its a very good product and for it to be released properly for all those chimps who are not reading the label need a dose of the birching rod in the town square.

Infact, the statement on the label is in the big square box, so not doing it iirc can mean a prosecution?

I see the Soil Association has called for it to be banned. One of the SA's advisers has told the press: "The fact that this hormone weed killer is still causing significant problems for growers despite industry attempts to prevent damage means that it should be immediately banned by the government."

Another minority group seeking to foist its beliefs on the alread red-tape-bound majority. Cant they cope with the wonderful concept of letting farmers have the choice of how to manage their own land? Damned eco-fascists.

 I think the whole point is that farmers having the "choice of how to manage their own land" have severely damaged gardeners and professional horticulturists (including SA certified organic ones) by not following the requisite precautions for using aminopyralids.

If, as an industry, we screw up, we have to take the blame, not insult those who call us to account. If we continue to screw up, it is our fault if our toys (or tools) get taken away.

gavinwheeler:

farmers

Individual farmers not following the label should be punnished. If only to the extent that their names are published so others who manage perfeclty well to follow the instructions can throw steaming cowpats at them the follow year at Cereals.

Why would SA Organic horticulturalists be taking muck from a conventional grower?

Punnishing large groups for the inappropriate actions of one or two members of that group is typical knee-jerk Daily Mail rubbish and misses the point. Next thing will be the re-banning of the chemical, only to find that miraculously farmers have stockpiled it and hidden it in the corner of the shed then used it and the same thing happens again.

Anyone dammaged by the fault of a farmer who didnt follow the label has a remedy in law which is designed to fully compensate them for any loss. They (the blameworth farmer) should be held to account in a public court and the FW should then publish their names if they loose. There are adequate remedies already before the SA start trying to remove a useful chemical tool to fit their warped agenda.

TeslaCoils:

Why would SA Organic horticulturalists be taking muck from a conventional grower?

 Why shouldn't they? I'm referring here to cases such as people who have bought (e.g.)  composted manure  from a garden centre and used it in good faith. Nothing in SA regs prohibits that, and it should be safe assuming the supplier(s) of the manure have followed all appropriate guidelines.

If a particular chemical is regularly leading to  problems such as those we have seen with aminopyralid, than withdrawing that chemical is a perfectly reasonable action for the government to take. As an industry it is for us to show that we can all use such chemicals responsibly or do without them.

Being an agronomist an in an area which has been allowed to use aminopyralid again, we are going to great lengths to explain the situation to farmers and get them to sign the appropriate paper work on recieving the chemical. If they can't follow the simple advice and/or read the label then they deserve to loose this very usefull chemical. However, I am very worried that aminopyralid is available over the counter from, in this area at least, two well known agricultural stores with no agronomist to advise abd prescribe it.

The new stewardship system is quite complicated, and all too easy to flout. I can see us loosing it unless it is supplied responsibly. To be honest, the hastle to get the product onto farm and the potential ramefications if it goes t*ts up, is almost more than it's worth.

As for the SA, I fear they would take any opportunity to bash conventional farming regardless of the subject or significance. I tend to switch off when they pipe up.

the cornish ba#t*rd:

However, I am very worried that aminopyralid is available over the counter from, in this area at least, two well known agricultural stores with no agronomist to advise abd prescribe it.

The question has to be asked then; why the fek are the chemical cos allowing them to sell it!?!  Surely they realise it will end in tears

ogwi:

the cornish ba#t*rd:

However, I am very worried that aminopyralid is available over the counter from, in this area at least, two well known agricultural stores with no agronomist to advise abd prescribe it.

The question has to be asked then; why the fek are the chemical cos allowing them to sell it!?!  Surely they realise it will end in tears

Well quite! This was the point we made at the first Dow training session on Forefront/Pharoe, and we really laid it on pretty thick, but our cries fell on deaf ears. I wonder if the want it to fail to put an end to the hassle. Like I said, the rules are a little too strict but a little too easy to flout.