Requirement when using Treated Corn / Soybean Seed

16 August 2023
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Dust generated during the planting of neonicotinoid treated corn and soybean seed may be harmful to honeybees and other pollinators. The requirement is to use a dust-reducing fluency agent to help reduce seed dust during planting.

When using a seed flow lubricant for planting corn and soybean seed treated with neonicotinoid insecticides (containing the active ingredients clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam):

• Use only a dust-reducing fluency agent.
• Talc and graphite are not permitted.

Exceptions:

• Planting machinery that does not currently require the use of a seed flow lubricant.
• The use of graphite may continue as a mechanical lubricant in finger pickup or mechanical type planters only (in other words, non-pneumatic equipment).

Use of dust-reducing fluency agents

• Carefully follow the use directions on the dust-reducing fluency agent label.

Help protect bees and other pollinators

• Follow all label instructions - both on the pesticide label and the fluency agent label.
• Do not load or clean planting equipment near bee colonies, and avoid places where bees may be foraging, such as flowering crops or weeds.
• When turning on planting equipment, avoid engaging system where emitted dust may contact honeybee colonies.
• Spilled or exposed seeds and dust must be incorporated into the soil or cleaned up from the soil surface
• Refer to the complete guidance Protecting pollinators when using treated seed - best management practices on the Health Canada's pollinator protection web page on Canada.ca.
• Report bee mortality incidents suspected to be related to pesticide exposure.

For more information

Consult Health Canada's pollinator protection web page. To contact Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency, email the Pest Management Information Service at pmra.infoserv@hc-sc.gc.ca, or call 1-800-267-6315 toll-free.