[compost_tea] Re: Herbicide Over Spray Damage

From: seaseal <seaseal_at_got.net>
Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2011 09:22:08 -0700

Dear Sally,

You ask (below) does the date really matter? Yes, it does, as the date
would tell the Ag Commissioner's office the weather conditions. The
weather determines if an application of pesticides or fertilizer can
be made----re moisture content in the air (humidity), wind factors,
rain, fog, mist, etc---all things that would move the application from
the area to surrounding areas.

If you don't have the exact date to report the drift, a determination
will be more difficult. See if you and the witnesses and neighbors can
get an exact date---ask for the name of the company that did the
application, as they will have a record (for billing purposes if
nothing else). Also the person who paid them may have the date on
their check or other payment receipt.

Re what to do to get your plants to recover....here in California,
soil that has been affected by chemical pesticides and fertilizers
must be transitioned with NO applications for three years. Please
check with whoever does Organic Certification near you--contact
several organic farms and ask who certifies them.

Several things happen with chemical applications:

--the soil food web changes as some creatures such as such as
earthworms and nematodes are killed, while other populations of soil
critters micro-organisms thrive; these determine nutritional uptake in
plants so when they are dead, little nutritional exchange takes place;

--the balance of predators to prey is upset, so insect populations,
bird populations, and microbes all change; to bring this complex
series of connections back into balance takes awhile;

--the plants themselves do uptake of chemicals two ways---through
their root systems and through the small openings on the bottom of
leaves. The plants will have absorbed the chemicals if they were moist
and airborne;

--depending on what tests are done, the extent of contamination can be
shown; however, not all tests work and I doubt if extensive testing
will be done unless you hire an attorney who is familiar with drift
cases. Here, up the coast, an organic farmer was awarded $12 million
for drift but it took several years.

Because chemicals don't wash off--or out--I would be cautious about
eating things unless you find out the total composition of the sprayed
materials and then check those against potential problems.

You could get opinions on this drift and the safety of the food from
Ag Extension, any Organic Certifiers, the State College / University
closest to you that teaches organic methods, any local physicians who
treat farm workers, and also perhaps your state's Dept of Ag, Consumer
Rights, and the Attorney General's office.

Cecile
seaseal_at_got.net

Drug Money

Between 1998 and 2008, the pharmaceutical industry protected itself by
spending $1.5 billion dollars lobbying the U.S. government. (That
would give each Senator $15 million dollars, were those monies so
invested!)


RE: Thanks for the reply. I see that in haste, I made an error in
calling
the property downwind - I am the downwind property. I did not know
about the application until my plants showed the damage. The fact that
the application occurred was confirmed by the applicator, the owner, and
a witness. None of them are sure of the exact date, however. Does the
date really matter? Interesting too is that there is some evidence of
over-spray on the property on the upwind adjoining property too. The
state pesticide investigator came out observed the extent of the damage,
and took samples for lab testing. There will be an official report. This
will help be decide what is safe to eat, but how do I best help my
plants recover?

Received on Sat Apr 30 2011 - 18:47:04 EDT

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