Seed Treatment Questioned

Treating seeds with neonicotinoid insecticides provides little or no benefit for soybean production, says a new analysis by the Environmental Protection Agency. The agency is reviewing this controversial class of pesticides because of mounting concerns that these chemicals are linked with a decline in bee populations. Pesticide manufacturers are disputing the report, saying EPA did not consider all available information. Advocacy groups, meanwhile, say the analysis indicates that the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on soybeans should cease. EPA’s analysis finds no difference in yield, in most cases, when soybeans are treated with neonicotinoids versus when they are not. Today, about one-third of the soybeans planted in the U.S. each year are treated with neonicotinoid pesticides before planting, according to EPA. The two most widely used compounds for this purpose are imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. Pesticide manufacturer Syngenta, which makes thiamethoxam, says neonicotinoid seed treatments protect soybea...