Early August, 2020
Petition Comments Submitted to EPA
"Help us get Clopyralid off the market" petition comments were submitted to EPA. August 5th deadline was made, a huge success. Thank you to all who took the time to help DEANS fight against this pesticide. Your voice was heard and accounted for!
Late July, 2020
Petition the EPA to ban Clopyralid
Help us get Clopyralid off the market DEANS is receiving public comments to submit to EPA until 8/5/20 at 9:00 pm
Partnership with OSU
We are currently talking with OSU (Oregon State University) to formalize a partnership to facilitate a comprehensive bioassay program for DEANS. These steps are being taken to help insure that the products we sell are safe and free of Pesticides.
FAQs about Clopyralid
Our team has been busy at work assembling information regarding: 1) what this herbicide is, 2) what & how it is used and 3) where it can be found. CLICK HERE to learn more
Late June, 2020
DEANS receives final 3rd consecutive negative lab test result on White Lightning from sample submitted at the end of May (test results take between 2-4 weeks for results).
Early June, 2020
DEANS trust in small farms and organic certificate holders is diminished by this recent event and we are currently dedicating all our resources to pinpoint how a product of this nature can possibly contain trace amounts of an agricultural herbicide? In addition, we are continuing to work with the ODA and look forward to providing you additional information just as soon as we receive it.
Early June, 2020
DEANS develops a new, enhanced White Lightning formulation and submits first batch to laboratory for further nutritive and chemical analysis.
Early June, 2020
DEANS' President contacts all major local media outlets with the following statement:
Early June, 2020
Oregon Dept. of Agriculture publishes a news release concerning the issue:
KOIN News releases a followup story:
Early June, 2020
DEANS temporarily suspends sales of White Lightning product while awaiting a final 3rd consecutive negative lab test result from sample submitted in 3rd week of May (test results take between 2-4 weeks for results).
Early June, 2020
Upon learning of positive result for trace amounts of Clopyralid, DEANS immediately suspends sale of the two products identified by ODA - Fun Guy (mushroom compost) & Stinky Bull (steer manure).
Early June, 2020
Test results from samples taken from customer's growing areas in mid to late May are shared with DEANS by the ODA. While DEANS takes these test results very seriously, questions arise relating to mixing of our product with existing soil and other landscaping products present at the residences. DEANS is continuing to pursue answers relating to this matter.
Early June, 2020
Test results from both ODA and an independent 3rd-party lab returned results on samples submitted in the middle of May (testing time can take between 2-4 weeks to return results).
- Testing for 1 batch of mushroom compost and 1 batch of steer manure returned negative results from 3rd-party lab, however returned a positive result for trace amounts of Clopyralid from the ODA lab testing.
Mid-May, 2020
DEANS takes samples from the same batches as the ODA during their May visit and submits them to an independent 3rd-party testing laboratory for duplicate analysis.
Mid-May, 2020
Per customer request, we invited the Oregon Dept. of Agriculture (ODA) to our facility to take samples of our products to perform laboratory testing.
Late April, 2020
DEANS performed regular testing relating to pH, N-P-K and EC (salts) along with nutrient content on several of our products. Our test results from samples taken in early April show excellent nutrient content, with slightly elevated levels of salt and phosphorous in a few products (testing time can take between 1-2 weeks to return results.)
Our in house growth trials of basil, pumpkin and tomatoes were all performing well - which reaffirmed our confidence in product quality.
Early April, 2020
Customer feedback still is overall good, with a handful of additional comments and concerns received.
Late March, 2020
Great freedback overall, a few customers call us with comments and concerns, nothing out of the ordinary during the early planting season.
Late February, 2020
Spring begins to break through and early planting season is here. Gardens are being prepped, DEANS is busy fulfilling orders for planting mixes for delivery and u-haul.