Research Team: Tracey Baute, OMAF and MRA, Dr. Art Schaafsma, UGRC, Dr. Cynthia Scott-Dupree, UG SES, Dr. Yingen Xue, UGRC, Dr. Victor Limay-Rios, UGRC and Jocelyn Smith, UGRC
A summary of the results from our 2013 field study can be found here: Neonicotinoid Contaminated Dust and Pollinator Exposure during Planting; Results from 2013.
Though this is based on only one year’s worth of data, some of our findings are compelling and support a strong need for growers to implement as many elements of the 2014 Best Management Practices as possible to keep the contaminated dust from escaping the field. The 2014 planting season is an important year if we are to try to reach some kind of balance where neonicotinoid seed treatments can be used without placing pollinators at risk of exposure during planting.