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herbicide-tainted compost

toad_ca
13 years ago

Here in Whatcom County, WA, some friends have been talking about how their plants had shriveled and died this season after using a formerly reliable commercial compost. Today this was the lead story in The Bellingham Herald: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/08/01/1549538/herbicide-tainted-manure-wilts.html

Unfortunately it doesn't specifically address how home gardeners (as well as commercial organic farmers) can avoid this problem in the future. Few of us can produce all the compost we need. Would it be best to avoid compost that has any manure in it? Seems the only solution I can think of unless companies can assure us that the manure they use is only from cows fed only on organically produced silage. Any thoughts?

Comments (10)

  • botann
    13 years ago

    I can't imagine the herbicide is coming from the manure. More likely the compost. People put weed treated lawn clippings in the compost to be picked up for compost.
    My neighbor treated his lawn with a broad leafed weed killer and when he mowed the lawn, he fed the clippings to his cows. They died. All three of them.

  • toad_ca
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    Actually, it was coming from the manure. If you read the article (link posted above) you'll see the chain. The manure used in the compost was being taken from several different dairies. The suspect herbicide is aminopyralid. The cows from some of the dairies ate the silage that had grown where that herbicide was used to control weeds. It apparently doesn't hurt mammals, but it passes through them unchanged. So their manure carries enough of the potency to kill broad-leafed plants.

  • jean001
    13 years ago

    It was said "mowed the lawn, he fed the clippings to his cows. They died. All three of them."

    Are you absolutely certain? If so, what was the active ingredient?

  • toad_ca
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    "It was said" ??? What are you referring to?

  • jean001
    13 years ago

    I'm referring to the first response to OP's thread given by botann z8 SEof Seattle

  • botann
    13 years ago

    My neighbor told me he put WeednFeed on his lawn. I suppose it was 2-4-D that killed the cows.
    I should have read the article.

    Yes, I'd be concerned about aminopyralid in the manure. What about the milk? Is it in that too? It wasn't mentioned. I wonder why.

  • Embothrium
    13 years ago

    "The Bottom Line
    Â The best sources for pesticide-free compost are those that have been analyzed and certified.
    Home-made compost is also a good choice as long as you are sure your materials are
    contaminant-free.
    Â Unregulated compost can contain pesticides, heavy metals, and other environmental toxins that
    may be harmful to you and your plants.
    Â If you must have your lawn sprayed with persistent, broadleaf herbicides, be sure to use a
    mulching mower and leave the clippings in place. Do NOT compost them or bag them for clean
    green removal.
    Â Soil testing for heavy metals is crucial for any landscape where plants are grown for human
    consumption"

    Here is a link that might be useful: The Myth of Clean Compost

  • botann
    13 years ago

    My thoughts exactly.
    Mike

  • grrrnthumb
    13 years ago

    One more reason to use real compost, instead of the manure-sawdust or manure-bark mixes that are becoming so common nowdays.

  • buyorsell888
    13 years ago

    I would imagine that many people do put lawn clippings in their yard debris bins when they do use Weed n'Feed products instead of leaving them on the lawn.

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