Increased attention is being focused on the use of seed treatments and the handling of treated seed in the agricultural sector.  A publication entitled “The Guide to Seed Treatment Stewardship“, jointly released by the American Seed Trade Association and CropLife America, offers an all-in-one resource for all aspects of the application and use of this important pest management tool.

Major subject areas addressed are:

• Safe use, handling, and transport of treated seed;


• Environmental stewardship to minimize exposure to non-target organisms;


• Selection of treatment product based on performance, health, safety, and environmental impacts;


• Quality factors to consider in commercial application of seed treatments;


• Requirements for treated seed tags/labeling that will allow producers to select the best management practices when handling and planting treated seeds;


• Storage of seed treatment products and treated seed;


• Planting commercially-treated seed.

Rather than my summarizing the content of the above items, I encourage you to read this publication in its entirety to get the full benefit of the material.

One subject area that is receiving increased attention is environmental stewardship, or the management of treated seeds after they leave the treatment facility.  The main concerns here are particulate dissemination and exposure of treated seeds that may result when they are planted.  Some points that treated seed users must become aware of and familiar with are:

• Avoid undue abrasion of treated seeds in all handling steps (see previous blog);


• Take precautions to avoid spillage of treated seeds;


• Direct planter exhaust downwards toward the soil surface;


• Consider wind speed and direction when opening and emptying seed containers and seed-containing planter components;


• Avoid excessive use of seed flow lubricants;


• Do not shake any loose material or dust from an empty seed bag or container;


• When filling the planter, avoid proximity to apiaries and flowering crops or weeds that will attack pollinators;


• Follow the labeled planting depth requirement when planting treated seed;


• Cover all treated seeds that may be exposed at row ends and field corners;


• Properly dispose of empty treated-seed containers;


• Securely cover or collect spills of treated seed;


• Properly dispose of spilled or unused treated seed (see previous blog);


• Properly dispose of rinsewater resulting from washing seed treatement and planting equipment;


• Avoid generating dust when handling treated seed, and prevent offsite movement of dust from treated seeds during planting;


• Make note of the proximity of the planted field to managed honeybee hives and plants that attract honeybees, and take appropriate precautions to avoid contaminating those areas with dust from treated seed.

Again, I encourage you to read the entire above-linked article and bookmark it for future reference.  Also, check out Bayer's Bee Health website for additional information.

The MSPB recognizes the importance of the neonicotinoid seed treatments to soybean producers.  Therefore, it is funding a new project entitled "Bee Project--Assessing the Impact of Neonicotinoid Seed Treatments on Pollinators" under the guidance of MSU scientists Drs. Angus Catchot and Jeff Gore.   The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not these seed treatments, at the rates being used in southern agricultural systems, are impacting pollinator health and viability.

Following proper and required actions when using treated seed is a necessary step to ensure the continued availability of this important pest control tool.

Composed by Larry G. Heatherly, Mar. 2013, larryheatherly@bellsouth.net