APRIL 7, 2025
Keep treated seed out of your grain deliveries!
Treated seed residues can present a serious risk to human and animal health at certain levels. Grain elevators must maintain a zero tolerance for treated seed in grain deliveries. Canadian grain producers can help maintain Canada’s reputation for high-quality grain by ensuring their grain deliveries do not contain treated seed residues by:
• cleaning up spills and disposing of leftover treated seed as required by their province or municipality
• using a seed bag collection program if one is available in their area
• using dedicated bins for treated seed if they can
• clean all equipment, bins and vehicles thoroughly after seeding and before harvest
• visually inspecting equipment and bins for treated seed: before harvest or before transferring grain between bins or before transferring grain to a truck or railcar for delivery.
FARMER TIP:
Last week a local farmer called the MPSG office and provided a timely tip on how to prevent treated seed residue from getting into your soybean delivery destined to the elevator.
Seed treatment containing coloured dye can still be a little wet when you pick up the seed, causing residue to dry and stick to your trailer walls and bed which can be difficult to clean off. The remedy: use a sprayer and pre-coat your trailer with a thin layer of 100% vegetable oil on any surfaces the seed will touch. An inexpensive sprayer from Princess Auto or Canadian Tire would work well for the job. A hand pump sprayer may work too. The farmer claims the vegetable oil coating will help prevent the seed treatment residue from sticking to surfaces, making cleaning much easier. If seed treatment residue has been a problem on your farm, give it a try!