[Community_garden] Herbicide in Manure

[Keith Tidball]

Round up Ready alfalfa exists as well, a hay crop and forage for horses.

See http://westernfarmpress.com/news/9-29-04-roundup-ready-alfalfa/

Best,

KGT

Keith G. Tidball
 
Extension Associate     
Initiative for Civic Ecology
Dept. of Natural Resources
Cornell University
 
101A Rice Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
 
Campus phone 607-254-5479
Home Office phone 315-568-9710
Mobile phone 202-288-0299
 
http://www.dnr.cornell.edu/people/ra/profiles/tidball.htm
http://www.civicecology.org
 
 

"Don't worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good,
you'll have to ram them down people's throats."

-- Howard Hathaway Aiken, physicist and computer pioneer


-----Original Message-----
From: community_garden-bounces at list.communitygarden.org
[mailto:community_garden-bounces at list.communitygarden.org] On Behalf Of Mike
McGrath
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 3:01 PM
To: gordonse at one.net; community_garden at list.communitygarden.org
Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Herbicide in Manure

I think you're misunderstanding how these GM crops work.
    The only herbicide involvement I know of in the Frankenfood world is the

"Round-up Ready" gene. This is bred into corn, cotton, and especially 
soybeans to make them super-resistant to that nasty frog killing herbicide, 
allowing the fields to be soaked with vast amounts of Round-Up--at levels 
that would wipe out a 'normal' crop (or any non Round-up Ready plant).
    No herbicide is actually bred into crops; that wouldn't make any sense. 
(Not that GM crops make sense, but...)

                                        ---Science Geek McG
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <gordonse at one.net>
To: <community_garden at list.communitygarden.org>
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 1:42 PM
Subject: [Community_garden] Herbicide in Manure


> We have a tricky situation here and would appreciate any advice.
>
> Our gardens have access to a horse manure source again.  In the past we
> have read of animals being fed herbicide treated gmo grains as part of
> their diet.  The herbicide on the grains makes it through the animal and
> into the manure.  The herbicide also survives the usual composting
> process.
>
> We  would like to use the composted horse manure if we can, so we asked
> the horse farm if there are gmo grains in the grain blend they feed their
> horses as a treat.  (Horses are mostly on pasture.)  The horse farm didn't
> know, but gave me the name of their supplier.  The supplier didn't know
> and said they would have the people that blended their horse feed mix call
> me.  In the meanwhile we have waited two more weeks for an answer.  (Will
> follow up as necessary.)
>
> Here I should probably note that we have a mix of gardeners on the
> gardening organic spectrum.  Many won't be using the composted manure
> since it's not organic.  Others will use it if it "just" has pesticide
> residue and not herbicide residue as they spray their own garden food with
> pesticide.  Some don't mind the herbicide if it's no longer active as they
> spray herbicides on their own food gardens.  However no one wants to use
> it on their food beds or rows if it still contains some active herbicides.
>
> If we can't get an answer or it turns out that there is gmo feed in the
> mix, we have several questions:
> 1) Is there a likely state group who can test for herbicides in the manure
> for free or frugally?  (Have already asked master gardeners and they
> didn't know)
> 2) Is there a national testing service that is good and frugal?
> 3) Is there a canary type test we could use in the garden such as growing
> a highly sensitive plant in a mix of our soil and the composted manure?
> If so what soil-manure ratio should we use and which annual vegetable
> plants are the most sensitive to the herbicides?
> 4) If it does contain active herbicide residue, how much additional or
> total composting time is it likely to take to break down all the
> herbicide?
>
> Sharon
> gordonse at one.net
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of 
> ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and 
> to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org
>
> To post an e-mail to the list:  community_garden at list.communitygarden.org
>
> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: 
>
http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.commu
nitygarden.org
>
> 



_______________________________________________
The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's
services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find
out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org

To post an e-mail to the list:  community_garden at list.communitygarden.org

To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription:
http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.commu
nitygarden.org