The Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society has received the following communication from Steve Higginbotham of Stewardship Limited.

In the last year, Dow AgroSciences received a number of
enquiries from gardeners and allotment holders concerning
manure that may contain residues of the grassland herbicide
aminopyralid. Though this inclusion of aminopyralid in
manure was the result of users not following the label
instructions, Dow AgroSciences have worked (without
accepting liability) with allotment growers to lessen the
unfortunate situation in which they find themselves.

I have recently been contracted to manage this topic and to
ensure that the manure, composting industry and allotment
societies are fully appraised of the current situation.

One of the main requests from growers is how to analyze
manure for aminopyralid. Unfortunately chemical analysis is
complex and and time consuming. However a simple bioassay
is available which can easily and cheaply be carried out
locally. The dedicated web site, www.manurematters.co.uk
provides this detail and all the relevant information that
you need to know to ensure that the compost or manure is
free of aminopyralid.

Dow AgroSciences are working with the farming and
composting industries to ensure that this situation is not
repeated. To ths end would you please be kind enough to
inform your members of this website.