Neonicotinoid Soybean Seed Treatments Provide Negligible Benefits to US Farmers

Shawn P. Conley, Soybean and Wheat Extension Specialist, Department of Agronomy

In summary:

    • Across the entire region, the maximum average observed yield benefits due to fungicide (FST = fungicide seed treatment) + neonicotinoid use (FST+NST) reached 2 bu/ac.
    • Specific combinations of management practices minimally increased the effectiveness of FST+NST by 0.2 to 3.3 bu/ac.
    • Across the entire region, a partial economic analysis showed inconsistent evidence of a breakeven cost of FST or FST+NST.
    • These results demonstrate that the current widespread prophylactic use of NST in the key soybean-producing areas of the US should be reevaluated by producers and regulators alike.

Read the full article at: https://coolbean.info/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/09/2019_Soybean_neonics_FINAL.pdf

Read the full article at: https://coolbean.info/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/09/2019_Soybean_neonics_FINAL.pdf