JANUARY 2019 SEEDWORLD.COM / 37 TIP and still count on each one to grow into a viable plant that will produce well,” Fredericks says. He especially appreciates that the treated seed targets pests under the ground, reducing the risk to wildlife. “I have seen bald eagles and wildlife in recent years that we never saw here before, and that is a change that has occurred because we have these better tools, like the neonicotinoids, that are safer,” Fredericks says. Read First, Really The one thing that everyone agrees is the most important step toward neonicoti- noid stewardship is to follow the labels. “First and foremost, you have to always follow that label,” Fredericks says. “That’s where the EPA and companies like Syngenta put specific instructions for handling, storing and considerations for use,” McCain says. It’s tempting for farmers, applicators and others who handle products regu- larly to think they are familiar enough with a product to skip reading the label, but research is constantly underway and labels will reflect the most current best practices and safety guidelines. Decide Before You Buy Abbott says stewardship begins before insecticides are even purchased. “We have developed management practices and that starts with scouting before choosing any products,” he says. It’s not about simply following the same formula every year because that’s the way it’s always been done. This is especially true if using treated seed, which can give crops such a tar- geted protection that they may not need a foliar insecticide application later on in the growing season. Fredericks says it’s important to work closely with your seed dealer every year to stay updated on new and improved formulas and practices. “This industry does not stand still. They are constantly improving formulas and better processes to treat the seed,” he says. Application Considerations Thinking about how a product works and any possible interactions is a critical step toward stewardship at the farm level. “Is there a body of water nearby, or any habitat areas? Are there hives that could be impacted? These are questions that are important and part of those best management practices we encourage everyone to follow,” Abbott says. Staying up-to-date on new equipment and additional resources and tools can also promote good stewardship during the planting season. The majority of neon- icotinoids that are used today are applied as seed treatments, which means that farmers, applicators and dealers all need to continue to focus on best management practices for handling treated seed. And, timing is important. “In our situation, many times we can be planting early in the season because we have that protected, treated seed. That means our timing is such that there aren’t a lot of flowers and not a lot of chances for pollinator interaction at all. It’s important to think through those steps and be mindful to make those choices when you can,” Fredericks says. Communication is key, too. “Improving communication will help improve neonicotinoid stewardship, but it’s also about building better relation- ships with each other, really listening to the problems each group is dealing with, and having an open mind and willingness to do the right things,” Abbott says. Research and Improvements One of the most important aspects of stewardship is the safety of the prod- ucts. Syngenta’s Seedcare Institute does extensive research and testing to determine the safest and best way to handle these products, reduce potential exposure to animals and pollinators and ensure extremely low dust-off levels. “There is a great deal of science that goes into these products, and we con- tinue to improve them, specifically in regard to dust off,” Abbott says. Still, the future of neonicotinoids con- tinues to dominate headlines with efforts to completely ban these tools. Thiamethoxam, one of the most widely used neonicotinoids, is often depicted as one of the “bad guys”. However, McCain believes that if neonicotinoids are banned, farmers will simply return to older, poten- tially more toxic methods, which could make things worse for pollinators. “Research has shown seed treatments are one of the safest options we have,” he says. “We need to do our part to make sure we can continue to use them.” SW It’simperativethatasanindustrywetakeaproactiveapproachinprotecting pollinators.operationpollinator.com John Abbott serves as North American regulatory portfolio lead for Syngenta. “I have seen bald eagles and wildlife in recent years that we never saw here before, and that is a change that has occurred because we have these better tools, like the neonicotinoids, that are safer.” — Wayne Fredericks