Agriculture officials recently warned harvesters that just a single seed treated with pesticide found within a bin of soybeans or corn could mean major financial losses for the harvester who sold the grain.
Seeds that have been treated with pesticides and fungicides are popular among farmers who want to protect seedlings when they are planted. These particular seeds are dyed with bright colors, distinguishing them from the seeds that did not have treatments.
If even a handful of colored seeds are found in storage bins or truckloads, the whole lot qualifies as contaminated. It cannot be used as food for animals or humans.
In addition, the farmers may also have civil forfeitures that they must face in court. This holds the harvesters responsible for the expense of the contaminated grain.
"Federal law has zero tolerance for treated seed in harvested grain," Lori Bowman, director of the Agrichemical Management Bureau in the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), said. "The product is considered adulterated for both human food and animal feed. We have had a case in Wisconsin fairly recently where an entire bin was condemned because an employee saw a small quantity of colored seed pass from the farmer's truck into the bin."
More Stories
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE: CDFA Announces one Vacancy on the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee
- AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION: Support Ag Literacy Through the AFB Foundation for Agriculture’s Online Silent Auction
- AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION: Farm Bureau: Members Accept Leadership Roles on National Committees
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE: CDFA Office of the Farm to Fork Invites Application for 2021 Farm to School Grants
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE: CDFA Awards Funding to Support Agricultural Education and Leadership Opportunities as part of the Calag Plate Program
- AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION: AFBF Welcomes Nomination of Katherine Tai for U.S. Trade Representative
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE: CDFA Announces Vacancies on Feed Inspection Advisory Board Technical Advisory Subcomittee
- AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION: AFBF Stands-Up for Farmers in Predatory Shakedown
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE: CFDA Issues Stop Use Notice and Statewide Quarantine on Organic Fertilizer AGRO Gold WS
- AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION: Registration Open for American Farm Bureau Virtual Convention, Featuring Mike Rowe, Rorke Denver and Beth Ford