Causing a stink: dodgy manure is back

Manure contaminated with weedkiller is again casing problems in gardens and on allotments, reports The Soil Association and the Organic Growers Alliance (OGA).

Both groups say they’ve seen new cases of crops damaged due to manure containing traces of the herbicide aminopyralid. Symptoms on fruit and veg include twisted and elongated leaves, misshapen crops and reduced yield. In some cases, herbicide contamination is claimed to have led to the death of young plants and poor seed germination. The Soil Association’s Ben Raskin said: “The problem has not gone away and there may still be manure around that contains herbicide from 2008. We urge gardeners to be careful about where they are sourcing their manure from.”

Aminopyralid is believed to have caused problems where it is was used to treat plant material that was later eaten by a horse or cow. It passes through the animal, is stored as farmyard manure, and is eventually applied to a new crop, often on gardens or allotments. After intense lobbying by organic groups, aminopyralid (made by Dow AgroScience) was temporarily withdrawn. However, it was reinstated in September 2009 by the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD), subject to “enhanced stewardship requirements”.