Manure matters, so dig a little deeper!

During 2008 and 2009 we were contacted by gardeners and allotment holders concerned about possible herbicide residues in manure and composts applied to their soils. The active ingredient involved is called aminopyralid.

Where incidents involving alleged damage to some sensitive crops were reported in the UK, it is possible the manure used came from farm animals or horses fed pasture or conserved forage from grassland previously treated with a herbicide containing th active ingredient aminopyrald. These products were sold in the UK as Forefront, Pharaoh and Banish. This manure was unfortunately supplied to some gardenerers and allotment holders and could have caused damage to some sensitive crops.

Manure, from horses or farm livestock, is a wonderful soil conditioner and natural fertiliser, and we do not want gardeners and allotment holders to be afraid of using it. This is why we have created the ManureMatters website - to provide guidance and advice for its future use.

Please select the most appropriate link on the left to find out how this issue may affect you, and how to minimise the chance of any problem occurring.

What is Dow AgroSciences doing?

At Dow AgroSciences we:

Voluntarily suspended sales of all aminopyralid products until we and the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) (formerly the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD)) were satisfied that all is being done to negate these sorts of incidents happening again.
Collaborated with a number of organisations to improve the stewardship of aminopyralid herbicides.
Put an extensive and ongoing information campaign in place to ensure that everyone involved is aware of the potential problem with manure coming from animals fed forage that has been treated.
Removed all unused aminopyralid products from the market.
Developed a strict stewardship programme before re-introducing aminopyralid products.
Restricted the approved uses of products containing aminopyralid to grassland for grazing only.
Restricted the use of any manure that might be produced to grassland for grazing on the farm of origin only.
Placed clear images on every pack depicting where aminopyralid products can and cannot be used.
Re-trained all relevant professional advisors before allowing them access to aminopyralid products.
Re-introduced the supply of aminopyralid products (Forefront and Pharaoh, but not Banish) to restricted geographical areas in the UK.

Please refer to Re-instatement of Aminopyralid Approvals for further details.

Is aminopyralid dangerous?

No. The Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) (formerly the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD)), the Government agency responsible for the approval of pesticides in the UK concludes that there are no ill effects to human or animal health from food grown from land that may contain aminopyralid residues.

Weed killers or killer weeds?

Aminopyralid-based herbicides were developed to help grassland farmers control and eliminate a number of troublesome and potentially dangerous perennial broad-leaved weeds from their fields.

Although some people are worried about the use of herbicides, the weeds they eliminate are also a concern. According to the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) the Weeds Act of 1959 mandates the control of five 'injurious weeds' that threaten grassland health:

Common Ragwort
Spear Thistle
Creeping or Field Thistle
Broad leaved Dock
Curled Dock

Of these five weeds, ragwort and dock also pose a potential threat to livestock (especially horses), as do buttercups. Aminopyralid provides very effective control of docks, buttercups and thistles.

What is the chance that I have bought or supplied manure affected by aminopyralid?

Rather slim. Of the 12 million hectares of grassland in the UK, only 5% is treated with herbicide each year. Of that small percentage, less than one third of that area would receive a treatment containing aminopyralid.

A few incidents of garden or allotment crop damage were reported in 2008 and 2009, to which Dow AgroSciences and the CRD responded immediately.

Aminopyralid has passed Plant Protection Regulations stringent approval requirements.

The following are general facts about aminopyralid-based herbicides, such as Forefront, Pharaoh, and Banish. For more detailed information about your particular area of interest, click on the most relevant link on the left.

Aminopyralid is safe for humans and animals.

Vegetables grown with affected manure are safe to eat.
Milk from cows fed treated silage is safe to drink.

Only a few species of plants are affected

Sensitive crops include peas, beans, potatoes, sugarbeet, carrots, tomatoes, lettuce and spinach.
Affected manure is safe for use on grassland areas and should only be applied to grassland for grazing by cattle or sheep.
Affected manure may pose a risk to flower-rich grassland areas, particularly those designaed as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or those under agri-environment scheme management where the aim is to maintain or enhance the diversity of wildflowers, as it could cause damage to wildflowers.

Aminopyralid breaks down in the soil

Residues of aminopyralid are broken down by soil micro-organisms.
Residues in manure break down if rotovated into the soil and turned frequently.
Do not use where sensitive crops are to be grown. (See list above.)

Contact us

If you believe your manure has been affected or you have further questions, email us at UKHotline@dow.com .