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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To worry about the smell of whatever they're spreading on the fields?

99 replies

MrsWinnibago · 08/07/2014 23:01

We live on the outskirts of the countryside and our route to school is down a long country lane bordered by farms.

The lane is about 2 miles long...for the last two days it's smelled really badly...it's not muck...as in manure...it's something else but I don't know what...something more pungent and I keep worrying about what it IS exactly? Can you tell me? Could it be toxic? How can I find out?

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 08/07/2014 23:23

Do they still spread human muck I thought that was stopped

iamsoannoyed · 08/07/2014 23:23

the council probably won't be able to tell you (unless the keep an inventory of what each farm is using on each individual field, which I don't think they do- at least not up here). Even if they did, they aren't likely to be able to if you can't tell them the name of the farm and which field it is which concerns you.

BTW using human waste (as long as it's been treated properly) is actually allowed. Treated waste can smell awful- quite "chemically" I believe. As can some insectisides, but you'd be surprised at the smell of some of the animal waste and fermented silage is beyond description. So it may not be a chemical based product at all.

The vast majority of farmers would not deliberately put toxic waste on their land, so I think you are probably worrying about nothing.

GreeboOgg · 08/07/2014 23:23

My first question was going to be 'is it grim yet sweet smelling?' 'cause, aye, that's Nature's Finest PigShit at it's best.

But burnt smelling and chemical smells? Are you sure it's something that's been spread on the fields (really just muck spreading atm) and there isn't a farm or yard near the road burning off a load of old tires and shite? Stinks to high fuck and not really allowed, but probably won't kill you or the DCs during the school run.

EBearhug · 08/07/2014 23:24

Silage effluent is a vile smell. Slurry can be quite bad, too - it's not the same as manure. Of course, lots of people don't like manure, either. Pigs are worse than cattle. If it's more chemically, it's probably more likely to be fertiliser or herbicide, fungicide, or pesticide. I'd expect something -cidal at this time of year, but it does depend a lot on what it is.

Original poster
MrsWinnibago · 08/07/2014 23:24

Thanks all.....I will let you know!

OP posts:
Patrickstarisabadbellend · 08/07/2014 23:24

Are you near helsby? The farmers on those parts spread human shit from septic tanks. It's treated with chemicals first so be careful with your pets .

Original poster
MrsWinnibago · 08/07/2014 23:25

Green I DID see a small fire...in the distance but it really was small...

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsWinnibago · 08/07/2014 23:26

Patrick not far....not far at all!

OP posts:
iamsoannoyed · 08/07/2014 23:27

I should probably say that Environmental health department in the council can find out for you- but they are unlikely to know without asking the farmer. If you don't know which farm/field you are asking about it may make the process very slow though....

Patrickstarisabadbellend · 08/07/2014 23:27

Elton? That's where I live.

Original poster
MrsWinnibago · 08/07/2014 23:28

Nope! Not Elton! Grin I'd rather not say if you don't mind.

OP posts:
Patrickstarisabadbellend · 08/07/2014 23:29

Certain farmers have already been warned about what they've been spreading by environmental health.

It's also food waste from factory's.

GreeboOgg · 08/07/2014 23:30

The 'burnt hair' bit seems to me more like a yard/farm fire, burning off waste etc.,? Burning tires and other rubber bits can sometimes smell a little like burnt hair... hard to say without sniffing it myself! Grin If it is a muck heap with extras added that's being burned off then you won't see a big fire, they smolder (sp?) rather than blaze.

Patrickstarisabadbellend · 08/07/2014 23:30

I don't mind Grin

Just try to avoid fields, local dogs have been ill lately.

Original poster
MrsWinnibago · 08/07/2014 23:30

Oh right! Thank you v much Patrick (great name by the way!) I am definitely calling EH tomorrow! I just don't like the way it smells....I've always lived in this kind of area...semi rural...and I'm used to farmy smells...this is different somehow.

OP posts:
Patrickstarisabadbellend · 08/07/2014 23:31

Don't forget the compost place near the motorway . That adds the the smell too and the rat population.

DannyShouldHaveChosenRizzo · 08/07/2014 23:33

It could be digestate from an anaerobic digester. That smells rank.

taxi4ballet · 08/07/2014 23:35

Burning muck-heap? They have a smell all their own, and can overheat and spontaneously catch fire in warm weather.

newfavouritething · 08/07/2014 23:44

At this time of year the strongest lingering smells are likely to be caused by cow/pig/sheep/chicken muck being piled in fields ready to spread post harvest but you've ruled that out.
Oilseed rape can also start to be stinky now/soon depending on whereabouts you are. It has a rotten egg/mouldy cabbage smell, especially after rain and it's quite a 'heavy' lingering smell.
Fertilisers (liquid) have virtually no smell and not likely to be applied now, and most pesticides will have already been applied to arable crops and don't tend to have lingering smells anyway as the amounts applied are very small.
Some horsey people seem to think that it's ok for them to burn there muckhills - it stinks for days and has a smokey poo aroma that hangs in the air and the back of your throat for ages. That's my guess!

member · 08/07/2014 23:45

Meth Lab?

GreeboOgg · 08/07/2014 23:49

taxi4ballet I was thinking more of a burning stack of tires/other shite with a bit of piss-wet straw chucked over to 'make it a muck heap' than an actual muck heap Smile

whois · 09/07/2014 00:07

Slurry? That's pretty bad.

IamRechargingthankYou · 09/07/2014 00:08

Really you should just ask the 'farmer' - or the 'workers' that spread it. Just pop-in to the 'farmyard' and ask. To clarify - somewhere in those fields will be a place that the implements, bags of shitty smell etc. will be kept. I understand that humans are still involved, so you might find one.

I know what you mean though, sometimes I go into a city and wonder what on earth is that horrible smell, and then I realize there are so many yukky smells that it's just a great big stink.

One day I might understand how city-folk can just literally walk-over another human being lying destitute and broken on the pavement as they march onwards towards their very important lives. But probably I never will understand that.

So, if you're wondering about stinky-country smells, just ask a human, unquestionably keeping any 'I know better than you thoughts to yourself until you actually do'.

Patrickstarisabadbellend · 09/07/2014 00:22

Try popping into the local farmers farmyard who's spreading around here and you'll be told to piss off.

He's not the nicest of farmers. He's a get orrff my land type of guy. He sprayed Irish travellers full of shit when they came onto his fields. That's just an example of how friendly they are.

IamRechargingthankYou · 09/07/2014 00:42

Yep- some farmers are really pissed-off unfriendly people, having come across a few myself. I have always found a way round this - not sure if anyone here would like to know how they can do it too. The best way is work it out for yourself - imagine you are them and if you were them - why on earth would you be so horrid. Then the answer unfolds.