Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 Hi! Was reading yesterday's paper (!) whilst eating by breaky this am & found this - has anyone seen it and/or been affected? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1069379/Plants-gardens-allotments-Britain-dying-The-reason-surprising-disturbing-.html Is nothing sacred? Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 I've seen this highlighted in a few places, esp the RHS web-site. I think there they were suggesting that it should not continue in the soil for more than a season or two, and that not all plants are affected - tomatoes, potatoes, etc are, but brassicas, for instance, are not (becuase is a selectice weedkiller). Is still terrible, though. I don't think the product has been misused: it's been used according to manufacturers' guidelines etc so it isn't fair to suggest that farmers etc should be prosecuted. Whihc is actually more worrying, really: is perfectly legal etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 7, 2008 Author Share Posted October 7, 2008 Just reinforces the thought that chemicals are most def not the way to go! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 I'm glad I only use my own compost. Must be devastating for those that rely on the veg to feed their families! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 I posted about this earlier in the season - our allotments were one of the first to identify the problem back in April/May. The product is clearly labelled that any manure from cows grazed on such sprayed fields should only be sold farmer-to-farmer for use on non-susceptable crops & should not be sold to the general public. Unfortunately some farmers didn't take the warning seriously and sold their manure on knowingly. Others, like in my village, never used the chemical themselves - all he did was buy in winter feed (sileage) for his cows - there is nothing to stop that happening and he didn't ask the question. On our allotments 16 plots were contaminated - including ours. we lost all our broad beans and potatoes, others lost beans, tomatoes, raspberries & you cannot grow susceptable crops for 2 years - the cabbage family & sweetcorn are not affected, so we had lots of sweetcorn planted and will have to do the same again next year. It is really bad and we certainly would never by manure again - we shall stick to our chicken poo! Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 7, 2008 Author Share Posted October 7, 2008 Gosh how awful, classic case of left hand not knowing what right hand is doing I suppose, but very naughty of the first farmer to knowingly pass on his silage without any warning. Gives the others further down the line a bad name, through no fault of their own. Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
