Hay and Forage Merchants
In the past year, the inadvertent use of manure containing aminopyralid has led to a small number of incidents involving alleged damage to sensitive crops being reported on allotments and gardens in the UK.
The manure possibly came from farm animals or horses that had eaten pasture or conserved forage from grassland treated with a herbicide which contains a small amount of aminopyralid.
Here are some facts about aminopyralid for anyone selling hay and forage to horse owners or livestock farmers.
What is aminopyralid?
Aminopyralid is the active ingredient in products such as Forefront, Pharaoh, and Banish. These herbicides are among the most effective for controlling and eliminating many deep-rooted perennial weeds found in grassland, including docks, thistles, nettles, and ragwort.
Ragwort control is especially important to equine, sheep, and cattle farmers, as it can be deadly if eaten by their livestock.
When grassland is sprayed with aminopyralid, it kills the target weeds but does not affect the grass. However, when this grass is eaten by animals, either out in the field or as conserved feed such as hay, haylage or silage, a small amount passes out with the resulting manure.
How does this affect me?
You must find out whether your suppliers have treated their grassland with an aminopyralid-based herbicide before cutting it for conserved forage.
If they did, you must tell your customers about the restrictions for any subsequent manure produced from the animals that eat the treated forage.
It is advisable to keep treated and untreated forage separate.
From 2010 aminopyralid must only be used on grazing grassland. No hay or silage is permitted to be made from any treated grassland.
Where can I get more information?
Link to the following sites for more information about the use and effects of aminopyralid:
Chemicals Regulation Directorate:
http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/garden.asp?id=2480
Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs:
