Solitary chicken - need advice

[TAJ]

We have had a problem on our allotments - 10 plots have had a problem with any crops planted on manured soil - especially potatoes - they are looking distressed and some even look like ferns.

 

It turns out there was a new weedkiller in the UK in 2005, used to supress weeds on grass fields - it seems it lives on in the grass to suppress the weeds for 2 years. BUT any manure from cows fed on the grass, silage or hay holds the active ingredient for two years - so even if a farmer dosen't use it himself if he buys in hay or silage for winter feed it can still end up in the manure.

 

It has devasted our potato crop and our broad beans - apparently the advice from the manufacturer is not to plant 'sensitive crops' for two years! - these include tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, peas, beans - only sweetcorn and wheat seem OK.

 

That's half the allotment for 2 years as unuseable!

 

Be very aware of using manure.

 

Tracy

[chickencam]

That sounds worrying from the point of view of what were the cows used for ,milk,or meat either way I don't want it. Another good arguement for organic milk and meat

 

Hope your other crops succeed.

[TAJ]

The problem is the chemical lives on in grass - it passes straight through the cow - hence it is still live in the manure. In this case it is a local form that dose not use intensive methods - it seems to be totally related to buying in hay or silage to feed the cows in the winter in this scare.

 

You put manure on instead of using chemical fertilisers only to find this. To be honest it now means unless the manure is stored for at least 2 years before using it can be a problem for anyone buying it.

 

There are at least 10 plots on out allotments affected, and I gather we are not the only allotments that have had the problem.

 

Tracy

[chickencam]

I wonder about horse manure too then?

 

Looks like it will be chicken poo from now on and mushroom compost, but I sometimes worry what might be in that.

[little chickadee]

Goodness I'm glad we never got round to buying any manure. Sorry to hear about your allotment.

[Lesley]

What an awful outcome for the allotments - like you say, try to avoid chemicals and use manure and then to end up with htis result

 

I hope the plots recover........

[ubereglu]

Oh no. I hope that it hasn't caused too much havoc. Anyway, look on the bright side, you at least know what has caused it and it isn't your bad gardening skills.

 

Also think of all that yummy sweetcorn you'll get! Your hens will love you! Also you can't beat freshly picked and cooked sweetcorn as it is so sweet and juicy and delicious.

[TAJ]

I wouldn't dare suggest to hubby the sweetcorn is grown for the chickens I shall wait until he has grown too much then 'discover' the chickens like it.

 

Tracy

[Valkyrie]

My brother's friend had a similar problem. He has a smallholding in Wales with a stream. He thought "brilliant - I can water my own veg by dipping the watering can in." Unfortunately the stream contained herbicides and pesticides that had run off from farmland, so all his seedlings and plants died. Just goes to show what dangers lurk for us all - good job they didn't try drinking it!