This time, as reported by Connie Mehmel, WSU Chelan County Master Gardener:
“Compost made with livestock manure is an excellent soil amendment for vegetable gardens. Compost improves soil structure, provides nutrients and helps optimize soil pH. However, gardeners should be aware that cow and horse manure sometimes contains residues that can damage certain plants.
I recently visited the garden of a friend who had noticed discoloration and deformity on tomato and pepper plants after mulching with composted manure she had obtained from a nearby farm. The damage appears to be caused by residual herbicide.
The herbicides of concern are aminopyralid, clopyralid and picloram. These chemicals are used to control broadleaf weeds, including some toxic plants. They are sold under various trade names for use in pastures, commercial turf, residential lawns, grain crops, certain fruits and vegetables, and along roadsides.”
You can read the rest here.
This is never going to end until this stuff is banned.
Here’s a video I did on the topic of Aminopyralids in compost:
Check out my Aminopyralids archive for a lot more information on this dangerous poison.
*h/t Meal Bla for the article.
