How did you learn that you had been affected by this?

The way to verify such contamination is with an easy bio-assay anyone can do.

See the info from WSU
http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/soilmgmt/Clopyralid.htm

The info is in the 32rd link on the list.

Here is a link that might be useful: bio-assay and more

Thanks Y'all
Over the last 2 months I have tested and verified heavy herbicide contamination in my soil and compost piles. I tested using store bought tomato plants which I'm told are extreamly sensitive to selective herbicides.

The message I want to send is that it is a crap shoot to bring in horse/cow manure and or hay in sheet or bin compost for vegetable mulch.

One might ask if the feed had been sprayed and with what when they pick it up. Sometimes the supplier won't know, but sometimes they will and it won't hurt to ask.

I know what I spray my wheat with so I know the chemicals in question aren't being used. I don't do manures and these long lasting chemicals are not authorized for use by homeowners in Canada so I won't get any significant amounts overall.

It's certainly not fair to try to do the correct thing and end up with a contamination issue. IMO suppliers of manures etc. ought to consider their 'waste' may become someones nightmare and govern themselves accordingly.

Lloyd

gardengolfer, terrible news from you. I'm a Georgian also, so really concerned.

I use baled wheat straw. Buy it from same source each time. Now wondering what to do. Hope you'll continue this discussion and share further links as you come upon them. Have you found out if this herbicide is still used in GA? Of course, I don't know where my wheat straw is being shipped from. Will ask at Northside Landscape or whatever it's called, on PIB in Sugar Hill.

What are you going to do with your contaminated areas? My reading indicates that it persists for several years! Yikes!

Hope you'll cross-post this to Soils Forum and Organic Gardening Forum here on GW.

Rosie

I thought I was in GAGarden forum rather than Soils. Hope you'll post to GAGarden also.

Rosie

It was asked "What are you going to do with your contaminated areas? My reading indicates that it persists for several years!"

Not several years. Only one. (Yes, I do realize that's not fun.) Read the info at the link for WSU I provided above.

jean, I've spent 30 minutes looking for the articles I read yesterday which I thought told of residuals from clopyralid persisting for 2 - 3 years or more, in some cases. Haven't the time now to keep reading, but perhaps I can provide.