Published Feb 19, 2014

Neonicotinoid Seed Treatments and Pollinator Issues–a companion piece
By Stefan Gailans

Neonic article snip

In our Winter 2014 issue of The Practical Farmer (our quarterly newsletter) we featured an article, “Neonicotinoid Seed Treatments and Pollinator Issues.” Neonicotinoids (neonics) are insecticides commonly found in corn and soybean seed treatments. Recent concerns regarding the potential negative effects of neonics on honey bees and other pollinator insects were discussed at the Practical Farmers of Iowa Cooperators’ Program annual meeting in December 2013.  More on these concerns, the discussion that ensued at the meeting, and a brief profile of the project Wendy Johnson will be conducting on her farm can be read about in the article, linked here and above. Also, since that article went to press, Dick Sloan, who farms near Rowley, Iowa, and Bob Lynch, who farms near Gilmore City, Iowa, have agreed to conduct similar trials to the one Wendy will be conducting. Look for results from these trials in a future research report from our Cooperators’ Program.

To learn more about neonicotinoids and issues with pollinator insects, you can find more information from popular press and research articles linked below. Also, feel free to continue the conversation about neonics by commenting on this post.

Popular press articles:

Adams, L.D. 2014. Corn dust research consortium: Preliminary report. Available at http://www.pollinator.org/PDFs/CDRCfinalreport2013.pdf (verified 4 Feb. 2014). Pollinator Partnership, San Francisco, CA.

AgProfessional. 2013. Pioneer offers neonicotinoid-free corn, soybean seed in Canada. Available at http://www.agprofessional.com/news/223447931.html (verified 3 Feb. 2014). AgProfessional, Lexena, KS.

Hodgson, E. and C. Krupke. 2013. Insecticidal seed treatments can harm honey bees. Available at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/CropNews/2012/0406hodgson.htm (verified 3 Feb. 2014). Integrated Crop Management News. Iowa State Univ. Ext. Ames, IA.

O’Neal, M. and E. Hodgson. 2013. Bee health in the news. Available at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/CropNews/2013/0508onealewh.htm (verified 3 Feb. 2014). Integrated Crop Management News. Iowa State Univ. Ext. Ames, IA.

Rice, M. 2004. New seed treatments: the neonicotinoids. Available at http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/icm/2004/5-3-2004/neonic.html (verified 3 Feb. 2014). Integrated Crop Management News. Iowa State Univ. Ext. Ames, IA.

Research articles cited by Matt O’Neal during his session at the Practical Farmers of Iowa Cooperators’ Program annual meeting on Dec. 5, 2013:

Krupke, C., G. Hunt, B. Eitzer, G. Andino, and K. Given. 2012. Multiple routes of pesticide exposure for honey bees living near agricultural fields. PLoS ONE 7(1): e29268. Available at http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0029268 (verified 10 Feb. 2014).

Szczepaniec, A., M. Raupp, R. Parker, D. Kerns, and M. Eubanks. 2013. Neonicotinoid insecticides alter induced defenses and increase susceptibility to spider mites in distantly related crop plants. PLoS ONE 8(5): e62620. Available at http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0062620 (verified 10 Feb. 2014).