How can I get rid of aminopyralid herbicide in my soil, from tainted compost

Question

I got a load of composted horse manure and spread it on my 3000 sq ft garden in February.  Well now things are looking bad, I did the bean test that DOW Chemical suggested and it is a positive that I have an herbicide contamination from the manure.  I have tried to reach the guy I bought it from but he refuses to answer my emails or take my calls to even give me exact info of what I got.  How can I fix my soil,  my plants are all twisted and contorted.  HELP! I am freaking out, I have worked the last 3 years cutting the trees, digging the stumps, getting rid of 200+ big wheelbarrows full of rock in the soil, turning it all over, adding amendments, etc. and now it is ruined.  I am so sad I can't begin to tell you.

Comments

NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER USE MIRACLE GROW OR ANY OTHER SYNTHETIC FERTILIZERS.

THE OVER USE OF DANGEROUS AND DEADLY CHEMICALS PRODUCED BY MONSANTO’S AND OTHER BIOTECH COMPANIES IS WHAT'S DESTROYING OUR SOIL, WATER, AIR, DAIRY, MEAT, AND FOOD SUPPLY, AS WELL AS POISONING AND KILLING ANIMALS AND HUMANS ALIKE!  

BOYCOTT THESE HORRIBLE AND DEADLY CHEMICALS IMMEDIATELY!!  

HUMANS, ANIMALS, FISH, REPTILES, ETC., ARE NOT BUILT OR MEANT TO TOLERATE THESE INSIDIOUS FOREIGN TOXIC CHEMICALS.

NOT ONLY ARE THESE SYNTHETIC CHEMICALS DANGEROUS AND DEADLY TO HUMANS, ANIMALS, REPTILES, FISH, BIRDS, ETC., THERE ARE OTHER EXTREMELY NASTY SIDE EFFECTS FROM USING THEM.

OVER TIME ALL THE BAD INSECTS, BUGS, BEETLES, WORMS, SLUGS, SPIDERS, FUNGUS, DISEASE, ETC., WILL BUILD UP A STRONG TOLERANCE, RESISTANCE, AND IMMUNITY TO THESE HIGHLY DANGEROUS AND TOXIC CHEMICALS, MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO  GET RID OF THEM.  

NOT ONLY DO THESE CHEMICALS POISON OUR WATER, AIR, AND SOIL, BUT THEY ALSO DEPLETE AND ERODE OUR SOIL TURNING IT TO DUST AND  RENDERING IT USELESS FOR GROWING PRODUCE, PLANTS, TREE’S, ETC…..

PLEASE, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS USE ORGANIC FERTILIZERS, POLLINATORS, HERBICIDES, PESTICIDE, INSECTICIDES, RODENTICIDES, ETC., ETC., ETC., AND NOTHING ELSE!

Answer 1

A good many valubales you've given me.

Answer 2

Sorry to hear this. It happened to us too. I have continued to water the plants to observe and because our extension office is helping investigate this (we know it was the horse manure, but not the source that contiminated the  horse manure). Some of the plants have died and some of them appear to be "puliing through", ie. some are putting out new growth that appears normal and some even some fruiting (tomatoe and cukes). However, I cannot bring myself to eat out of the garden... yet. The corn is doing ok, even tho it was in the manure, and I guess this is because it is a grass, but again, it is hard to eat it because of how horrible the plants have looked and knowing this is a hormone altering herbicide.... what are doing to our Mother and our grand children. Would love to hear any solutions you find to this.

Comments

I put about 10 lbs per 100sq ft of activated carbon, and sprayed the field with deer mollasses(for animals licks)  plus about 100lbs of zeolite(available at pool stores)  the zeolite and carbon are natural "sponges" and they helped greatly.  I still lost a bunch of plants but most are doing ok.  I found nothing stating this is a hormone disrupting chemical.  where did you hear that?  would love to know.   thanks, Cary

Answer 3

I  am really sorry for the situation you have. I always wanted to get free manure, but something held me back from doing it.

 When I overdid spraying Concentrated  Round up on about half acre and within 2 weeks I miscalculated the effectiveness time frame  and planted too early the whole area with okra and sunflowers and waited and waited and nothing came from all the investment, seeds & labor. Well I meditaded & said there is nothing that I can do; except wait till the rains and times will slowly do their work to flushout the soil. Meanwhile I Started on the perimeter fence area to do raise beds and containers to make up for lost time and get the plants ready to replant 3 to 4 months after when I knew the soil was safe had been flushed.

I hope my experience which I think is fairly similar to yours can be a bit of help.  To me gardening is sort of a gamble, I have several areas of where I plant in our 1/2 acres different plants, if a pest gets me too much in this corner I still don't lose the whole crop since I have 2 to 3 other patches with the same vegetable. I can be wipe out.    Good Luck

Comments

well this chemical is completely different than roundup.  It will stay up to 7 years in the soil depending on the concentration in the manure.  it doesnt wash away, and even in fully hot composted manure it doesnt break down.   thanks for your comment but the chemicals are different animals!  Mother Earth News and Organic gardening did stories about it (after I had put the manure down) so if you want to see what it actually does, and how DOW got sued and finally pulled some of it off the market, check them out