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ASA disagrees with EPA on seed treatments

The American Soybean Association has publicly commented against the EPA’s conclusions in a recent report about neonic seed treatments.

ASA President Wade Cowan, a grower in Texas, says “soybean producers use neonicotinoid seed treatments where they are needed and effective and don’t use them where they are not.”

Last October, the EPA released an analysis – having compared soybean yields using most neonic seed treatments with using no pest control at all.  The EPA said there were little to no yield benefits using the seed treatments and that alternative insecticides applied as sprays are available and effective.

Cowan commented that “a below-ground insect infestation has no rescue options except replanting and in the northern growing regions – replanting is not often an option.”

He urged the EPA to stick with science-based decision making in evaluating crop protection products.