Crop Spraying

[pelmetman]

Not sure if I have this under the right heading.

We live in rural Lincolnshire in a small village which is surrounded by arable fields. We don't use chemicals ourselves but all the fields grow crops and are continually sprayed.

This afternoon the sprayer came whilst I was weeding in the garden and the wind was in our direction, so all our plants are now covered in pesticides, so angry The smell was dreadful, I quickly got Troy indoors but it really made me feel quite ill, I felt sick and had a headache which came on quickly, something which I do not normally suffer from.

Since living here we have lost 3 of our beloved cats all from various types of cancers and worry that this is all connected.
Sue

Does anyone know any regulations regarding farmers spraying their fields where houses are?

Sue

[MKG]

I feel for you about the cats, Sue. But bad news, I'm afraid. As long as the farmers are spraying approved chemicals in accordance with accepted practice, there's little (nothing) you can do. Maybe things will change in the future. In the meantime, just about the only avenue open to you is to grow a barrier - a thick hedge would do it.

Mike

[pelmetman]

Thanks for your reply Mike,
I must admit I was in the workshop at the front of the house when I noticed the smell, admitedly the smell was very strong, maybe because the wind was in our direction, but it was like breathing pure chemicals.
Makes you wonder if moving to the countryside is the dream you seek

[Millymollymandy]

I have the same problem as my veg patch is right next door to a field. When we moved here the veg patch was already in place but the field was pasture with cows. Now it seems to be maize monoculture and after I had carefully fertilised my veg patch with organic fertiliser one day I came out and thought "what's all this white stuff all over the place?" and realised that Farmer Giles had been out fertilising his field and half my veg patch was covered with granules.

If I grow a hedge I'd lose a lot of precious veg patch space but I need to do something as he's cut down an entire field margin of trees and bushes which has left us even more exposed to the north winds (that won't stop blowing ) so I need to put up ugly green plastic against the wire fence as a screen/wind break. He also weed killed all around the edge of our property which borders his fields which killed some of the wild raspberry that I let grow wild in the chook run - though I will say thank god he didn't do the bit that bounds my veg patch!

It's a different farmer from the one who used to farm these fields when we were first here, who at least crop rotated with wheat and grazing/cows. Just waiting for the chemical spraying machines now.

[becks77]

This is terrible, so sorry about the pets, is there a local MP who you could get involved? they wont stop spraying unfortunately but maybe there could be a good deal more care taken about proximity to your property. Any health and safety issues that could be raised with local authorities?