Some time ago I signed a petition asking for the withdrawal of Aminopyralid. I received an email yesterday pointing me to this. The Government’s response.

It will take years to get rid of the muck that is already contaminated, current thinking is that contaminated manure will take four years to break down and become safe to use. There will be gardeners up and down the country cursing the company that released this product and the government that authorised it for a very long time. We, as in allotment holders are crossing our fingers every time we order muck. I put off ordering muck last year when the news of this broke, my ground is desperate for a load of muck this year so I have ordered, as carefully as I can. Even when you buy muck that has come from horses/cows that have eaten organically and been ranged on fields that have never been treated with Aminopyralid, there have been instances where a farmer has had to buy in straw for bedding for his livestock and this has been treated, therefore contaminating the muck.

Even if every farmer has full knowledge and understanding that this product has been withdrawn from use and this in itself is doubtful, how many, bearing in mind we are all, even farmers, on a budget, will just use up that last full container, rather than buying a different product, which would then mean that it is still being used up next year.

The good news is that the government listened and they reacted and for that we have to be grateful.