Herbicide in compost kills many vegetables

[Angela MacLeod]

The aminopyralid issue is nationwide.

I feel that this is a food security issue since this herbicide stunts or kills many of the vegetables home gardeners (and our local organic farmers) want to grow.

Here are a couple excerpts from a current Mother Earth News article plus a link to the full article:

Whatcom County in Washington has been hit especially hard, with losses to community gardens and several organic farms estimated at hundreds of thousands of dollars. Those affected think the source of the contamination was cow manure used to produce local composts.

Gardeners then use the contaminated hay or compost on their crops, bringing a slow death to carrots, lettuces, potatoes, beets, spinach, tomatoes and legumes, including (but not limited to) beans and peas.

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/killer-compost-zmg...