Two Cumbrian farmers changed to a new fertiliser in 2016 and their livestock began to thrive. became sickBad temper, developed abortions, and their milk yields crashed.
One farmer spoke out to trade publication Scottish Farmer site that chemical analysis of the silage, soil and grass being eaten by his livestock revealed “known carcinogens and toxins”. The substances included paint stripper, rubber tires and brake fluid. They also contained cosmetics, immuno-suppressants, chemotherapy drugs, and brake fluid. According to the report, milk and water samples could also have been contaminated with the chemicals. This could pose a serious threat to the environment and human health.
But little help was forthcoming from “environmental bodies”, he claimed. The Second farmerHe said that he had to do the testing himself.
The Environment Agency stated to ENDS last May that it was only informed of the problems in January 2021. They also promised to hold any polluters responsible.
READ MORE: How toxic chemicals destroyed livestock on two Cumbrian farm farms
However, despite the fertiliser-treated silage being strongly believed to be the cause of the livestock sickness, the agency has since told ENDS that it did not test any samples because “there has been no silage to test”. Nor did it take soil samples because “the farmer considered following the process to designate his land as contaminated to the local authority, but decided not to”, the agency told ENDS. “As such we did not take soil samples.”
Instead, the agency took water samples downstream and upstream of the farm in March to test for b.iochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, ammoniacal nitrogen, total nitrogen, nitrite, suspended solids, chloride and orthophosphate and found “no levels of concern”.
Its investigation into the supply chain for the product is still ongoing, said the agency, “but to date we have not uncovered any evidence to cause us concern or any reason to instigate further testing”.
ENDS was informed by a spokesperson from Cumbria County Council, that the department of trading standards was unable to shed light on the matter due to its ongoing investigation.
