On Dec. 6, 2013, CropLife Foundation (CLF) released “The Role of Seed Treatment in Modern U.S. Crop Production,” an in-depth report detailing the uses of seed treatments, primarily fungicides and insecticides, and the resulting benefits for growers, consumers and the environment. The report highlights the role of modern seed treatments in producing healthier, more uniform crops; increasing crop value; and allowing growers to plant earlier in the season, all while reducing potential environmental exposure through an increasingly precise application method.
Seed treatment refers to the direct application of crop protection products to the surface of a seed prior to planting. This method of crop protection suppresses, controls and repels pathogens, insects and other pests that threaten to limit seed viability and health from the time that the seed enters the soil through its development. Seed treatment also helps protect high-quality seed that has been enhanced through other agricultural technologies, such as hybrid or genetically modified seed, resulting in added value to growers.
The report covers a broad array of seed treatment solutions for various crop commodities, including neonicotinoid insecticides, which provide excellent control of many insect pests and have also been shown to improve plant health.
For more resources visit:
The CropLife America Seed Treatment website
The Role of Seed Treatment in Modern Agriculture Infographic
The Role of Seed Treatment in Modern Agriculture Video (YouTube)
View The Press Conference (YouTube)