On Jul 13, 2008, at 10:36 AM, Bob Harrison wrote:
> Did you use corn seed which had a tag which said "pesticide treated  
> seed" Richard? Did you look or like most farmers do and simply pour  
> into the planters. Many farmers we have spoke with have never  
> noticed the tag and if they did only thought the tag was meant the  
> seed was treated to prevent some kind of pest damage while in the bag.

It was my understanding that, in fact the pesticide used was in the  
treated seed coating to prevent weevil damage that will occur when  
ALL corn is stored.  I hate to question folks that probably have a  
whole lot more information than I do, but I'd find it difficult to  
get a neonictinoid into a plant from the contents of a seed.  Now  
maybe a bug killing gene for a GMO product, that is not a neonic.   
After a many weeks of growth, I would imagine that if left unsprayed  
they plant coming from a seed with such a coating is not much of a  
threat, if at all.

I've seen what weevils can do to corn after harvest if stored too  
long and you need to prevent it from happening to a seed crop for  
certain.

So my question is...how would I know the difference?

Because of flooding, poor weather, and cool temps, most of corn is  
not tasseling yet.  All of our corn is dent corn, not sweet corn...as  
is most the corn crops grown...sweet corn is a fraction of the  
national crop compared to "yellow" corn or dent hybrids grown (not  
arguing or anything, just pointing it out to those that do  
not...you'd be surprised how many people do not understand the  
difference).

Cheers!

Richard Stewart
Carriage House Farm
North Bend, Ohio

An Ohio Century Farm Est. 1848

(513) 967-1106
http://www.carriagehousefarmllc.com
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