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 *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html