I live next to a hay field near Pastorius Reservoir. Earlier in the year, I was told by my landlord they would be spraying the nearly 2 dozen acres with an herbicide designed to kill weeds but doesn't kill the grass. After the initial spray, I planted my container garden in my greenhouse next to the field. I then found out from the hay farmer that they were going to spray the field two more times this year, and that they were spraying the field with 2,4-D. This is a toxic herbicide and was an ingredient in Agent Orange.

They told me to cover up the greenhouse, so the herbicide didn’t contaminate my garden. After doing some research, I learned how 2,4-D can spread and contaminate neighboring crops. It's not just direct contact with the spray that you have to worry about. The vapor coming off the field can also contaminate neighboring crops - and neighbors - as well. It is called volatilization drift.

They sprayed the field again last week and even though my house was sealed up tight, I could smell the toxic vapor coming directly into the house. I had to leave my home and camp for the last week just to escape the nasty smell, which has also exacerbated my chronic bronchitis because of Long COVID-19. There is nothing more important than my health. There should be laws out there protecting people from being poisoned by neighboring farms.

Eric Gay

Durango