In 2002 clopyralid was detected in compost for sale at Grab n’ Grow. At that point in time management decided that full disclosure of herbicide detection would be the most responsible course of action. Since then 266 different samples of finished products and feed stocks to make these products have been tested. This represents over $90,000 at the current pricing of $350 per sample. This is lab fees only and does not include management and sampling costs incurred. The result has been clopyralid free composts and soil mixes for our customers.

The herbicide clopyralid is widely used by farmers to help control  star thistle. It can be very effective for this purpose. Hay, wheat, oats, rice, and cotton are only some of the crops it’s being used on. It then finds its way into feed for cattle and other animals and bedding for horses and cows, thus resulting in contaminated manure. Clopyralid will not break down through the composting process so individual tests must be done to all compost ingredients to assure a clean finished product.

In June ,2007 it became increasingly difficult to find cow manure that is not contaminated with clopyralid. Grab n’ Grow has been talking to the Sonoma County Agriculture Commissioner to get some help. They are very responsive but unable to help because there are no laws in the state of California  concerning use of clopyralid by agribusiness.

Many university studies have verified that concentrations of clopyralid as low as 1-3 parts per billion will negatively affect the growth of plants in the nightshade category.  Peas, beans, peppers and tomatoes are some these crops that are affected by clopyralid in soil or compost.

In February of 2008 Grab N' Grow started a petition. Petitioning the Sonoma County Ag Commissioner to act on the request to pursue rules and limitations concerning the result of clopyralid in compost feedstock's.  We have now brought this petition to the web. If you agree that there should be limitations on clopyralid, please fill out the petition. Grab n’ Grow is submitting this information to Congresswoman, Lynn Woolsey because national attention may be the key for a solution.

In a time where reduce, reuse, recycle is  imperative to our future,  we cannot afford to have a chemical like clopyralid hindering our goal of becoming a cleaner, greener planet. Please take some time to review the associated links to websites provided,  a picture will materialize to clarify the scope of this problem. Below you will find links to several articles pertaining to clopyralid and its effects.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Grow-It/Milestone-Herbicide-Contamination-Creates-Dangerous-Toxic-Compost.aspx

 http://www.rachelcarsoncouncil.org/uploads/articles/AGardenerAlerttoKillerCompost11-5-08.pdf

http://www.lavidalocavore.org/diary/2127/herbicides-found-in-composted-manure

  http://slowlysheturned.net/

http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/soilmgmt/Pubs/CloBioassay.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clopyralid 

http://glallotments.blogspot.com/2008/07/learning-from-previous-mistakes.html

 http://www.glallotments.btik.com/p_Contaminated_Manure.ikml

 http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/689566?UserKey=0

  http://www.jgpress.com/BCArticles/2003/020330B.html

 http://ohioline.osu.edu/aex-fact/0714.html

 http://cahenews.wsu.edu/clopyralid.htm

 http://www.alanwood.net/pesticides/clopyralid.html

 https://www.vtpp.ext.vt.edu/index.php/news/main/88/event=view