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JUNE 2016 SEEDWORLD.COM 25 Pedersen agrees. Foliar appli- cations efficacy may be depend- ent on environmental conditions. Seed treatments are in the plant itself so it doesnt matter if its hot or cold or windy or rainy. Its going to work he says. Chemical Volumes Providing a targeted approach also means fewer chemicals are needed per acre. For soybeans depending on the product and application the amount of active ingredient used per acre could be 60 percent less when compared to a foliar appli- cation according to an example provided by Pedersen. With a seed treatment youre only talking about using one-third of an ounce or 10.5 grams per acre. Thats why farmers love these products they are so accurate and so precise he says. For corn the difference is even more noticeable since a foliar prod- uct must be used with a granular product to get similar efficacy increasing chemical volumes and application costs even more. Safety and pollinator health Increased safety is also significant. Humans animals and beneficial insects such as honeybees benefit. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is completing risk assessments for neonics such as imidacloprid. Final results are not yet available but an agency spokesperson says risk mitiga- tion will be proposed if and where appropriate. Runoff of pesticide from the planting of treated seeds is usu- ally reduced compared to foliar or soil applications in part because overall application rates for seed treatments are usually lower and because seeds are in the soil reports the spokesperson noting that concern for birds or mammals who eat treated seeds could be of greater concern. In addition exposure to residues in the plant would generally be less from treated seed than from a foliar treatment. Data show that residues of one neonicotinoid imidacloprid in the pollen and nectar of seed treated crops are lower than residues from foliar and soil applications to those same crops according to the EPA spokesperson. Only pests who bite into the seed or the plant itself are going to be impacted Nowak agrees. A few beekill incidents involving treated seed have been reported but were related to pesticide dust released during planting. EPA rec- ommends treated seeds be planted consistent with the EPA-approved label using best management prac- tices. If instructions are followed the potential for exposure is limited. Perfectingagriculturalpracticeswhilemanagingenvironmentalimpactsis key.Seedtreatmentsplayanimportantrole.operationpollinator.com TIP Remember once treated that seed goes in the ground so accidental exposure to pollinators is very unlikely. We arent dealing with wind or dust or drift or any of those concerns if the seed is in the ground Pedersen says. McAllister agrees that a targeted approach is safer both for humans and for beneficial insects. The potential for environmental and handler expo- sure is much less for seed treatment than for cor- responding foliar treatments that would be targeted against the same pest problems he says. This targeted application also guards against pesti- cide resistance a growing concern. Were trying to avoid that build up in the system and looking for sustainability by keeping beneficial insects around and reducing over-exposure Nowak says. Other environmental effects to consider include increased carbon emissions and fuel consumption. Foliar applications require farmers to drive across the field more times not only when applying the treatment but also for routine checks before application begins. An Essential Element Seed treatments are an important part of an overall pest management plan. They arent a total replace- ment for other insecticide applications. Pedersen says farmers need a variety of options in their arsenal. Seed treatments are only intended for early-sea- son protection against pests and diseasesthe critical first four to six weeks to help seeds and seedlings get off to a healthy start he says. Late-season infestations can only be treated with foliar products. McAllister agrees foliar applications of other insec- ticides help handle pests that are not susceptible to seed treatments as well as pest problems occurring later in the season however seed treatments could make later season issues less severe. Early season protection by a seed treatment gives the crop a healthy head start and increases its toler- ance to pest attacks coming later he says. Overall its hard to imagine a world without neoni- cotinoids now that farmers have come to depend on their many benefits. With the worlds population growth expected to increase food production needs by nearly 70 percent by the year 2050 perfecting agricultural practices while managing environmental impacts is key and seed treatments play an important role in those efforts. SW Ray McAllister senior director of regulatory policy for CropLife America PHOTOCROPLIFEAMERICA.