Sprayed fields next to mine

[My equine life]

I’ve come up to the yard this morn and there’s a very strong smell of fertiliser (animal manure) They have crops growing in the surrounding fields next to usand so I’m wondering if the field has been sprayed. They did this before bust the horses were on the other side of the field. Now they are right next to the boundary. I spoke to the farmer and he assured me it was just in insecticide /fungicide that wouldn’t hurt the horses but I know they can. I’m about to go to school so can’t exactly sort out fencing now so I’m a bit worried ? wind levels quite low right now which could help? Should I be stressing.

 

[Red-1]

I have had this too, but usually when I get home from work. I'm afraid I just think it is part of life and ignore it.

If you are worried and it would stop you from stressing, you could fetch them in for the day?

 

[Auslander]

Sounds v odd - insecticide/fungicide wouldnt smell like animal manure, and its a very odd time of year to be doing either, unless you aren't in the UK. How on earth would they get the equipment onto the land when everywhere is so wet!

 

[My equine life]

I have had this too, but usually when I get home from work. I'm afraid I just think it is part of life and ignore it.

If you are worried and it would stop you from stressing, you could fetch them in for the day?

They were in over night and missy hates being in at the best of times

 

[My equine life]

Sounds v odd - insecticide/fungicide wouldnt smell like animal manure, and its a very odd time of year to be doing either, unless you aren't in the UK. How on earth would they get the equipment onto the land when everywhere is so wet!

We are on hills so relatively good draining and on chalk too. Wondering if it is just animal manure this time which am I right in thinking wouldn’t do any harm? I don’t remember it smelling like this last time????

 

[AmyMay]

If it’s manure spreading then it’s not a cause for concern. I’d be doubtful if they were spraying insecticide at this time of year because it’s too wet.

 

[My equine life]

If it’s manure spreading then it’s not a cause for concern. I’d be doubtful if they were spraying insecticide at this time of year because it’s too wet.

Yes I see your point I might just speak to him when I next see him and see if he can warn my when they are spraying dangerous things. Let’s hope it’s just manure.(sure smells like it!)

 

[AmyMay]

Is it a dairy farm?

 

[My equine life]

Is it a dairy farm?

They are in the process of selling so not quite sure who owns what right now but there’s cows on the downs so certainly have access to cow manure.

 

[Tiddlypom]

This doesn’t quite stack up. Chemical sprays such as herbicides etc stink of, well, chemicals, while animal slurry (fertiliser) stinks of slurry. We get both sprayed next door and while they both smell rank, they are distinctly different. It’s part of country life. It’s a very odd time to be spraying anything as the ground is so wet, most farmers are keeping off their land as much as possible atm.

Theoretically spaying should only be done on a still day to minimise drift, but busy farmers don’t always pay as much attention to the regulations as they should do.

 

[Auslander]

We are on hills so relatively good draining and on chalk too. Wondering if it is just animal manure this time which am I right in thinking wouldn’t do any harm? I don’t remember it smelling like this last time????

Lucky you! Id've thought that would be fine

 

[honetpot]

Last night in the fields at the back of my house they were working until at least 1 am,they started about 10am the previous morning, harrowing and seeding under lights. The weather has been so bad this year a lot of crops either haven't been planted, or are getting fungal disease because they have been so wet.
You have to remember that for most people horses are a hobby, for most farmers land is a business and a overdraft they have to pay.

 

[twiggy2]

They got back on the arable land where I am lambing yesterday and they were spraying ready to put crops in, they are desperate to get something in the ground before it is too late this year.

 

[My equine life]

This doesn’t quite stack up. Chemical sprays such as herbicides etc stink of, well, chemicals, while animal slurry (fertiliser) stinks of slurry. We get both sprayed next door and while they both smell rank, they are distinctly different. It’s part of country life. It’s a very odd time to be spraying anything as the ground is so wet, most farmers are keeping off their land as much as possible atm.

Theoretically spaying should only be done on a still day to minimise drift, but busy farmers don’t always pay as much attention to the regulations as they should do.

It smelt of animal manure but with a weird stench that almost stung your throat yunno. Not sure what that is.

 

[Charmer91]

Sounds v odd - insecticide/fungicide wouldnt smell like animal manure, and its a very odd time of year to be doing either, unless you aren't in the UK. How on earth would they get the equipment onto the land when everywhere is so wet!

Whilst I don't know much about maintaining land, I'm in buckinghamshire and ours has dried out very well this last week even with rain at night and our tractors are out and about. I think some areas are ok compared to others.

 

[My equine life]

Should I be worried?

 

[Equi]

I doubt you have anything to worry about. I always find the first spray of the year smells particularly pungent. It may be due to the fact we haven’t had to smell it or because it’s been sitting for 6 months but that first one just really gets you.

 

[PurBee]

Should I be worried?

You said you spoke to the farmer and he said it was ‘just insecticide/fungicide..’....yet youre smelling manure too. I wonder if theyve mixed the slurry with insecticide/fungicide? Weird to do that! But might explain the weird smell of manure and chemicals?
Some manure can be very ammonia-ry....stinging the throat.
Why would farmer not just say ‘spreading manure?’

The horses would smell it if any have drifted and more than likely not graze near the fence if its bad.

 

[honetpot]

You get piped treated sewage which is pumped on to field, and sort of injected, never wanted to get too close to see the end of the pipe. It's a bit pungant. They also have dried 'cake', which doesn't seem to smell so much.
https://www.stwater.co.uk/about-us/environment/biosolids-recycling/

If there is a dairy farm nearby they could be emptying their slurry pit.

 

[Orangehorse]

My OH sprayed our rape crop this week, all 10 acres (should be 60) so farmers are out and about with the sprayer.

 

[hopscotch bandit]

Off the internet:

Pesticide drift is the airborne movement of pesticides from an area of application to any unintended site. Drift can happen during pesticide application, when droplets or dust travel away from the target site. It can also happen after the application, when some chemicals become vapours that can move off-site. Pesticide drift can cause accidental exposure to people, animals, plants and property.

If a farmer chooses to spray when there is low wind speed (preferably early morning or late at night), and he adopts a correct spraying pressure, and operates a lower spray boom height then these considerations can make quite a difference on spray drift.

Manufacturers also produce nozzles that reduce spray drift and drift retardants can also help reduce spray drift.