Long ago, to show that GMO crops really were not neeeded, a study showed
that there was minor or no increase in yields between GMO crops and none
GMO crops. That study was touted by the anti-GMO people until it was
pointed out that there was a dramatic decrease in pesticides applied to the
GMO fields. (Plus, the study was done in developed countries. In
non-developed countries there was a dramatic increase in yeilds with GMO
crops.)

You can also show that there is no difference between seed treated crops
and non-seed treated crops. But what about the needed difference in
treatments between the two? The only alternative to seed treatments is soil
drench or spray, both of which have a large order of magnitude in amounts
used. Drench or soil injected pesticides are much more likely to exceed
amounts in nectar and pollen since there is more of it and it will be
applied later and closer to bloom. Sprayed pesticides are the same. Both
also kill off all the beneficial insects and worms.

Worried about run-off? More pesticides, more run-off.

So seed treatments are more benign for bees and the environment than the
alternatives, which seems to be the case in all the field studies and
actual experience, while sprays and drench treatments of the same
pesticides are more harmful to bees and the environment, also shown by
studies and practice.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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