Preventing seeds treated with pesticides and other chemicals that improve plant health from mixing with grain intended for consumption or export is critical to the continued robust U.S. trade of corn, sorghum and barley.

While the United States generally has a positive reputation among exporters for issues of quality, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and other agriculture organizations are calling on farmers, grain handlers and others throughout the value chain to be mindful of all foreign material, including treated seed, that could inadvertently enter export channels this crop season.

Like farming itself, there is a science to using treated seeds successfully and appropriately.

The U.S. grains industry has produced several resources to help farmers and others in the grain value chain understand how to properly store, label, apply and, if necessary, dispose of these seeds.

These include:

• The American Seed Trade Association and CropLife America offer a “Guide to Seed Treatment Stewardship,” an industry wide initiative to promote the safe handling and management of treated seed. The Guide provides farmers and seed companies with up-to-date guidelines for managing treated seed effectively. It is available here. 
• The Center for Integrated Pest Management’s Pesticide Environmental Stewardship section offers guidance on disposal of treated seeds, available here. 
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also offers guidelines and directions related to treated seed, available here. 

Treated seeds have garnered the attention of many agriculture control officials in export markets and, while not a widespread problem, are problematic to U.S. grain shipments when found.

The Council’s staff, operating globally out of offices in 10 countries, continue to work with exporters on a wide variety of quality issues to ensure customers receive the grains they desire.