permaculture

["Jerome Osentowski" <jerome@crmpi.org>]

This is the most important thing I have seen on herbicides.  These 
herbicides are threatening the whole foundation of organic farming and
gardening.  The information in this action alert  (sent as an attachment) is
pretty alarming since most of us rely on mulches and we can no longer
gaurantee that they have not been contaminated with these herbicides.  I
will be testing the mulches in my garden and the mulch sources I have been
using to see if any of these things show up.

Central Rocky Mountain Permacullture Institute has also produced  a video on
natural weed control and will soon have a page up on our web site about the
video.  It is also currently on sale through CRMPI for $14.95.

Jerome
--
Jerome Osentowski, Director
Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute
PO Box 631
Basalt, CO 81621   U.S.A.

Tel/fax (970) 927-4158    E mail: jerome@crmpi.org

For more information, please visit our web site at <<www.crmpi.org>>

From: "Jerome Osentowski" <jerome@crmpi.org>
Date: Sat, Mar 30, 2002, 1:33 PM
To: pvcsawco@rof.net
Subject: FW: STOP the contamination of compost

Ken,   check this out it cuts right to the bone.    I am getting a group  
together to show up 
at town hall  on April l  7:00  at the Gar county weed control meeting  to 
hear what they 
have to say and make sure they know about this.   herbicide is widely  used 
in Colo.  they 
sell Curtail at the coop and will have the other two on the shelves this 
spring.   These are
some of the ones that the county agents give out for free.     could you come 
to the meeting
on Mon.   and bring others who see this as a threat to our organic movement.  
 jerome
--
Jerome Osentowski, Director
Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute
PO Box 631
Basalt, CO 81621   U.S.A.  

Tel/fax (970) 927-4158    E mail: jerome@crmpi.org

For more information, please visit our web site at <<www.crmpi.org>>


----------
From: "Jerome Osentowski" <jerome@crmpi.org>
To: aschendler@aspensnowmass.com
Subject: FW: STOP the contamination of compost
Date: Sat, Mar 30, 2002, 12:57 PM


Auden,  This one cuts right to the bone for organic growers and composters.  
jerome
--
Jerome Osentowski, Director
Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute
PO Box 631
Basalt, CO 81621   U.S.A.  

Tel/fax (970) 927-4158    E mail: jerome@crmpi.org

For more information, please visit our web site at <<www.crmpi.org>>


----------
From: "Jerome Osentowski" <jerome@crmpi.org>
To: "Kathy J. Gunderson" <kathyg@willapabay.org>
Subject: Re: STOP the contamination of compost
Date: Sat, Mar 30, 2002, 5:09 AM


 
Jerome Osentowski, Director
Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute
PO Box 631
Basalt, CO 81621   U.S.A.  

Tel/fax (970) 927-4158    E mail: jerome@crmpi.org

For more information, please visit our web site at <<www.crmpi.org>>


----------
From: "Kathy J. Gunderson" <kathyg@willapabay.org>
To: "Will" <willobrien62@hotmail.com>, "Larry Warnberg" 
<warnberg@pacifier.com>, "Skyler Walker" <tangly@pacifier.com>, "Sally 
Sharbaugh" <ssharbaugh@spscc.ctc.edu>, "Forest Shomer" <inspass@whidbey.net>, 
"Richelle" <Togrowwise@aol.com>, "Michael Pilarski" 
<friendsofthetrees@yahoo.com>, "Jerome Osentowski" <jerome@crmpi.org>, 
"Debbie Moberg" <pegasus_parties@yahoo.com>, <LisaGundy@aol.com>, "Simon 
Henderson" <simonize45@hotmail.com>, "Kirk Hanson" 
<agroforestry@earthlink.net>, "Fern Creek" <chickens@techline.com>, "Roger 
Ellison" <thornbush@rockisland.com>, "Kathleen Dolan" 
<seagarden@hotmail.com>, <dragonstonefarm@whale-mail.com>, "Janann Cohig" 
<janann@whidbey.com>, "Mike Broili" <mbroili@speakeasy.org>
Subject: Fw: STOP the contamination of compost
Date: Fri, Mar 29, 2002, 6:37 PM


Action Alert
Ban Clopyralid in Washington State!

Clopyralid, the active ingredient in 40 different pesticides registered in 
Washington State, is contaminating compost and ruining farms and gardens. 
Send a message to the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) by 
April 24 that you want a ban on this persistent herbicide. It is the only way 
to ensure clean compost and other soil amendments in Washington State.






Clopyralid is an herbicide widely used on lawns and in hay and grain 
production. Clopyralid has been found in compost at all major composting 
facilities in eastern and western Washington. Unlike some other herbicides, 
clopyralid does not break down during composting. Compost contaminated with 
even extremely low levels of clopyralid can kill tomatoes, beans, peas, 
potatoes and many other sensitive plants. This herbicide threatens the 
livelihoods of small farmers who rely on clean compost and manure. 
Contaminated compost and manure have already killed plants in home gardens 
and on farms. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage has been done.

The WSDA recently issued a weak Emergency Rule on the use of clopyralid in 
Washington, which is effective through July 1, 2002. Now WSDA has filed a 
draft Permanent Rule that is even weaker! WSDA's proposal for the Permanent 
Rule will fail to keep compost, manure, straw and fallen leaves clean of 
clopyralid. Damage to crops from clopyralid will continue unless the use of 
clopyralid-containing herbicides is ended. The proposed rules are not 
adequate because:







 Clopyralid would still be widely used on hay and grain farms. This is 
unacceptable because clopyralid residues on hay and grain fed to animals pass 
directly into their urine and manure. Manure is a valuable feedstock for 
compost. Allowing the use of clopyralid in agriculture will result in 
herbicide-contaminated manure. Composters are rejecting the tainted manure. 
This will result in piles of manure collecting on farms and the contamination 
of rivers and streams. Agricultural use of clopyralid must end. 





 Golf courses, schools, parks, businesses, and other nonresidential 
properties would be exempt. The Emergency Rule restricts clopyralid use on 
turf to golf courses. Other exemptions are now being sought that would allow 
the spraying of lawns at schools, businesses, parks, and other sites. 
Although the rule prohibits vegetation from these sites going to composting 
facilities, there is no provision for enforcement. In addition, there is no 
realistic alternative to off-site composting for leaves and tree prunings 
generated at these sites. These exemptions will undoubtedly lead to continued 
herbicide contamination of compost.

Tell WSDA and your legislators that you want clopyralid banned in Washington 
State. Tell them you demand clean compost and responsible organic-waste 
recycling!

Thanks for your efforts.
Send comments by April 24 to:
Cliff Weed
WSDA Pesticide Management Division
PO Box 42589, Olympia, WA 98504
360-902-2036, e-mail: cweed@agr.wa.gov Make sure to cc:
Bill Brookreson
WSDA Acting Director
PO Box 42589, Olympia, WA 98504
360-902-1810, e-mail: brookreson@agr.wa.gov.
Toll-Free Legislative Hotline: 1-800-562-6000




If you are not sure who your local legislators are, visit: 
http://dfind.leg.wa.gov/dfinder.cfm 

Background Information:

Clopyralid is a pyridine carboxylic acid herbicide that has been registered 
by Dow AgroSciences for use in the United States since 1987. Common brand 
names of products that include clopyralid are Confront, Curtail, Transline, 
and others. Clopyralid is used to control dandelions and clover in lawns, as 
well as thistles and knapweed in wheat, mint, timothy hay, corn, asparagus, 
sugar beets, and other crops. Materials such as grass clippings, hay, and 
manure are widely contaminated with clopyralid.

Washington State is a leader in composting organic materials formerly sent to 
landfills. Clopyralid has gotten into compost because residues from this 
herbicide are in grass clippings, hay, and manure, all of which are important 
materials for making quality compost. The problem was first discovered in the 
Washington State University (WSU) composting facility and the Spokane 
Regional Composting Facility in the summer of 2000. In both cases, the 
compost damaged sensitive plants at local gardens and nurseries. The WSU site 
has suffered $250,000 in direct losses because of this contamination. Testing 
done by the WSDA in October 2001 detected clopyralid at every major 
composting facility in Washington. Clopyralid-contaminated compost has also 
been documented in Pennsylvania, California, and New Zealand.

Clopyralid can harm plants in the legume, nightshade, and composite families. 
These include peas, beans, tomatoes, potatoes, chili peppers, petunias, 
asters, daisies, chrysanthemums, and artichokes. Extremely low levels (1 part 
per billion) can cause damage. Clopyralid kills plants by mimicking the plant 
growth hormone auxin. Affected plants have twisted stems and cupped leaves. 
Badly damaged plants will never produce a crop or flower. It is likely that 
many gardeners and farmers have experienced damage in the past and have 
attributed it to something else.

Alternatives to clopyralid exist for both turf and agricultural uses. 
Encouraging a healthy mat of turf with natural lawn care practices 
discourages weeds. For more information on pesticide-free lawn care for a 
healthy environment visit Seattle's Natural Lawn Care website: 
http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/util/lawncare/. Likewise, grain and hay producers 
can control thistle and knapweed by emphasizing cultural practices. Certified 
organic hay and grain is currently produced without herbicides. 

Researchers do not completely understand why clopyralid does not break down 
readily in compost. Microorganisms in soil degrade the chemical. However, it 
can persist in soil for as long as a year. Warm, moist soils encourage 
clopyralid degradation. The higher organic matter content of compost is 
likely slowing the breakdown of clopyralid in some way. Dow AgroSciences has 
known for many years that their herbicide persisted longer in compost and in 
soils rich in organic matter. Current product labels that warn against 
composting treated grass clippings have been ineffective. 

Soils rich in organic matter grow healthier plants, with less disease, less 
need for chemicals and less need for herbicides. Compost is essential to 
building healthy soil with sufficient organic matter. Gardeners and farmers 
alike depend on clean compost for continued chemical-free plant production.

More information about clopyralid is available at these websites:
City of Seattle:


 http://www.cityofseattle.net/util/clopyralid/




Washington State University:
 http://css.wsu.edu/compost/compost.htm




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