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Q: Who approves herbicides/weed killers for use in the UK?

All new pesticides are approved for use under the Plant Protection Regulations, which are overseen by the Government's Chemicals Regulation Directorate (formerly Pesticides Safety Directorate).

Stringent requirements must be met to demonstrate a pesticide's safety to the environment, farm and domestic animals, and humans. It must also deliver a level of performance that equates to the claims made on its label.

Pesticides not meeting these stringent standards do not gain approval.

Q: If these products cause problems, why aren't they banned?

For grassland farmers, these products offer the most effective weed control on the market today. Aminopyralid sprays work especially well on difficult to control weeds, such as thistles and docks as well as weeds that are potentially dangerous to livestock, such as ragwort.

These sprays deliver a level of control that frequently removes the need for follow-up treatment, so less herbicide is used overall.

If herbicide users follow the clearly stated recommendations on the label printed on each pack, there is no reason for them to be found in manure in your garden.

Q: What is Dow AgroSciences doing to keep herbicide residues out of my garden or allotment?

In the summer of 2008, there were some incidences involving alleged damage to sensitive crops reported in gardens and on allotments across the UK.

It became apparent that existing labelling and safety measures needed to be further improved. We asked the Pesticides Safety Directorate to suspend registrations of aminopyralid-based products from June 2008, so that we could evaluate the best way forward. Additionally we re-called all product.

We are working with many interested groups to help better inform farmers and their advisers about this issue. We are putting further safeguards in place to reduce the chances of such incidents re-occurring.

Human and Animal Health

Q: Is food from affected crops safe to eat?

Yes.

Assessments reviewed by CRD (previously PSD) indicate that the levels of residues found in affected crops do not have any implications for human health. For more information, see the CRD website: http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/garden.asp?id=2480

Q: Is it safe to drink milk from cows fed treated silage?

Yes.

Assessments of aminopyralid residues in milk are part of the independent approval process; the product could not have been approved without satisfying the regulatory authorities.

Q: Is it safe to allow horses or other livestock into fields treated with aminopyralid?

Yes, but you must follow all labelling and safety literature, including:

• Keep livestock out of treated areas for at least seven days after spraying.
• Where you have been spraying for ragwort, keep animals off the pasture until the weeds have died and become unpalatable or have been removed.

Q: Is it safe to allow pets into fields treated with aminopyralid?

It is safe to allow pets into the field once the spray has dried.

Affected Plants

Q: Will all my plants be affected by aminopyralid residues?

No. Sensitive plants include peas, beans, and other legumes, carrots, sugar beet, potatoes, tomatoes, lettuces and spinach. Dahlia corms and a few species of rose are also affected.

Q: What are the symptoms of aminopyralid damage on sensitive plants?

Symptoms are expressed as cupping of leaves, stunting of plants, and curling of the growing point, giving it a fern-like appearance.

Q: What level of aminopyralid is harmful to sensitive plants crops?

This will depend on the species, but aminopyralid can affect them at very low levels.

Q: I have used manure in my garden, and some of the species listed above have been affected, while others have not. Is aminopyralid the culprit?

If peas, beans, or potatoes (the most sensitive crops) are not affected, it is unlikely that aminopyralid is to blame.

Q: Will my dahlia corm be OK next year if I plant it in an affected allotment?

Assuming that any affected manure has been thoroughly incorporated this year, it should be safe to plant any crop.

Q: How can I test for aminopyralid residue in my manure?

The simplest and quickest option is to ask your manure supplier the following questions:

• Did their animal manure come from a farm or equine business where the herbicide products Forefront, Pharaoh, or Banish have been previously applied? If the answer is no, then the animal manure should be free of aminopyralid .
• Were the animals that produced the manure fed on forage eg Hay, haylage or silage that had been produced from grass treated with Forefront, Pharaoh or Banish? If the answer is no, then the animal manure should be free of aminopyralid.

Another option is to test the manure using a sensitive crop:

• Thoroughly mix manure with a multi-purpose compost in a clean bucket using 1 part manure to 1 part compost. Prepare enough to fill four 5-inch pots.
• Fill another four clean pots solely with multi-purpose compost. These will be the untreated comparisons.
• Place each of the pots in a separate saucer to prevent water from one pot reaching another.
• Water the pots and leave to stand for 24 hours.
• Plant each pot with four broad bean seeds.
• Observe subsequent growth over a four-week period and note any ill effects in the pots containing the manure mix, such as cupped leaves and fern-like growth on new shoots. See photographs for examples.

These symptoms may indicate aminopyralid residue in the manure. Signs of other kinds of damage will most likely indicate other issues such as damping off or bacteria-infected soil, etc.

Q: How is aminopyralid broken down?

Aminopyralid is broken down by soil micro-organisms, which live in damp, well-aerated soil. These conditions are best achieved by watering and cultivating the soil.

Q: I used manure containing aminopyralid in my allotment this year. What should I do?

The best way to reduce the likelihood of a problem next season is to keep the land turned over to aerate the soil which encourages breakdown of the cellulose material in manure. As it breaks down aminopyralid is released into the soil and then broken down rapidly by naturally occurring micro-organisms

Affected Manure

Q. How likely is my manure to have aminopyralid residues in it?

Not very likely. Of the 12 million hectares of UK grassland, only 5% is treated with herbicide each year. Of that small percentage, less than a third will receive a treatment containing aminopyralid.

Q: Can manure containing aminopyralid be used in the garden?

No; we would advise that affected manure is not used where sensitive crops like potatoes, beans, lettuce and tomatoes are likely to be grown.

Q: Does aminopyralid break down in a rotting manure heap?

No. Until the aminopyralid is released from the cellulose and comes into contact with soil dwelling micro-organisms it will be stable. Breakdown will occur only after manure is incorporated into aerobic soil.

Q: How is aminopyralid broken down?

Aminopyralid is broken down by soil micro organisms, which live in well-aerated soil.

Q: How long does it take before muck containing aminopyralid is safe to use?

If manure containing aminopyralid is well-rotavated into the soil after harvest or forked over frequently, you can plant non-sensitive vegetables as soon as the following spring (after about six months).

If properly cultivated, soil which has received manure containing aminopyralid can be considered aminopyralid free after 12 months.

Q: What can I do with affected manure?

The following options are available to you:

• Return to your source of supply
• Supply it to a local farmer for use on grassland or land intended for grass, cereals or maize, as these plants are not sensitive to aminopyralid.
• Contact your local council to see if it can be disposed of in your household waste. Do NOT dispose of affected manure in your green waste.