PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION
Safe Handling of Treated Seed Lizabeth Stahl, U of MN Extension Educator – Crops (Revised May 2017)
PRECAUTIONS WHEN HANDLING TREATED SEED A significant amount of seed planted each year has been treated with a pesticide. Care should be taken when handling treated seed, to help prevent pesticide exposure to the handler, nontarget organisms and water resources. The following is a list of precautions to follow when working with treated seed. Always check the seed bag label for specific details on the product(s) you are using.
Do not use treated seed for feed, food, or oil purposes. There is zero tolerance for treated seed in the export market, and a single seed can result in the rejection of an entire load.
Many seed treatments are toxic to birds, mammals and/or wildlife. Do not leave any treated seed that has spilled or that remains on row ends on the soil surface, but instead collect the seed or cover it with soil.
Figure 1. Treated seed is dyed to an unnatural color to prevent use of such seed as food, feed, or oil.
Figure 2. Collect or cover up any spills with soil to prevent consumption by birds, mammals and other wildlife.
For products that are toxic to bees or pollinators (e.g. products containing the active ingredient in Cruiser® or Poncho®), care should be taken to minimize dust drifting onto blooming plants. Refer to seed bag labels for further details.
Treated seed should be stored away from feeds and foodstuffs. Do not allow access to treated seed by children, pets, or livestock.
A minimum planting depth may be specified. For example, 0.5 inches is the minimum planting depth for seed treated with EverGol® Energy and Poncho®/Votivo®, while it is 1 inch for seed treated with Apron MAXX® RTA®, Avicta®, Cruiser® 5FS, and Cruiser Maxx®.
If you experience crop failure or need to replant, check the seed bag label for any plant-back or replant restrictions. Grazing or feeding restrictions may also be listed for the cash crop or for cover crops planted into the cash crop or after cash-crop harvest.
Restrictions may be listed on the seed bag label regarding use of soil or foliar products on crops grown from treated seed.
Protect yourself while working with treated seed. Table 1 lists the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be worn when working with common corn and soybean seed treatments. Avoid breathing in dust or fumes from treated seed and avoid contact with eyes and skin. Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling treated seed.
DISPOSAL OF TREATED SEED:
The best and preferred method is to plant leftover treated seed on fallow ground or on an unused parcel of land. Use an acceptable seeding rate so that the maximum rate per acre of the pesticide(s) is not exceeded and ensure seed is planted at a proper depth. Seeding for wildlife habitat is also a possibility when allowed on the seed bag label.
If seed burial is allowed on the seed bag label, avoid burial next to water sources.
If planting leftover seed is not possible, other potential options include 1) disposal in an approved municipal landfill, 2) use as a fuel source for a power plant or kiln, or 3) incineration by a waste management facility. In some cases, treated seed may be used in ethanol production, but only if by-products are not used for livestock feed and no measureable residues of pesticide remain in ethanol by-products used in agronomic practice. Check the seed bag label as specific guidelines vary by product.
NEVER compost treated seed, NEVER burn treated seed in a stove that is used in the home, farm shop, etc., and DO NOT allow treated seed to enter the food or feed chain.
Table 1: Examples of commonly-used seed treatments in corn and soybean and the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be worn when handling seed treated with the respective product. Always check the seed bag label for the most complete and up-to-date information.*
Seed Treatment
Type of Product(s)
Active Ingredient(s)
Crop
Acceleron® DX-109 Fungicide
Pyraclostrobin
Soybean
Acceleron® IC-609 Insecticide
clothianidin
Corn
ApronMAXX® RTA® Fungicide
Mefenoxam + fludioxonil Soybean
Avicta® 500FS
Nematicide
Abamectin
Soybean
Clariva® pn
Nematicide
Pasteuria nishizawae – Pn1
Soybean
Cruiser® 5FS
Insecticide
Thiamethoxam
EverGol® Energy
Fungicide
Prothioconazole & penflufen + metalaxyl
ILeVo®
Fungicide/ Nematicide
Fluopyram
Lumisena™
Fungicide
Oxathiapiprolin
Poncho®/VOTiVO®
Insecticide & Clothianidin + Bacillus Biological firmus I-1582
Maxim® 4FS
Fungicide
Fludioxonil
Vibrance®
Fungicide
Sedaxane
PPE to wear when handling treated seed Wear long-sleeved shirt, long pants, shoes, socks, and chemical-resistant gloves made of any waterproof material Wear long-sleeved shirt, long pants and chemical-resistant gloves Wear long-sleeved shirt, long pants and chemical-resistant gloves Wear long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and rubber gloves
None for this ingredient, but note PPE listed for additional compounds in seed treatment Wear long-sleeved shirt, long pants and chemical-resistant Corn & Soybean gloves Wear long sleeved shirt, long pants, shoes, socks, and Corn & Soybean chemical-resistant gloves Wear long-sleeved shirt, long pants and chemical-resistant Soybean gloves Soybean
Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirt, shoes, and socks
Wear long-sleeved shirt, long pants, shoes, socks, and chemical-resistant gloves Wear long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and chemical-resistant Corn & Soybean gloves Corn & Soybean
Corn & Soybean Wear long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and waterproof gloves
*Inclusion or exclusion in the table is not an endorsement or criticism of one product over another.
Photo Credits: Liz Stahl, U of MN Extension © 2017 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. University of Minnesota Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this publication/material is available in alternative formats upon request. Direct requests to 612-6240772 or
[email protected]. Printed on recycled and recyclable paper with at least 10 percent postconsumer waste material.
