So what is the real advantage of neonicotinoid seed coated canola?
As far as I was told by farmers, the stuff protects the young canola plants when sprouting. For four weeks. From insects that eat the canola.
They have to spray twice times again, one time when the blooming starts and another time near the end of the blossoming. This is the standard management here, with canola that wintered. Is it the same with you? Don't you have to spray anyway? Fungicides? What's your management?
To me it looks not very smart to treat against insects that are not there yet. Must cost a fortune to treat without the real need, isn't it? It also doesn't look very smart if it is still necessary to spray two times after that anyway.
I am not stupid and also I am not an alarmist or vegetarian or something. I am grown up country and grow my own food. So what I did is to talk to some local farmers and we have a partnership. I need solutions, solutions for my bees - now. The farmers I work with, my bees pollinate their canola, do not use neonics anymore. They spray the canola after sprouting, with fungicides and pyrethroid insecticides - if necessary. They spray it after winter and near the end of the blossoming. All without neonicotinoids. And hey, I do not suffer severe losses at those fields. I loose bees near neonicotinoid treated fields.
The only advantage I see with neonics is, you make good money with it, because you treat without a proper assessment of the necessity.
I would be interested in your canola management. Do you still spray after the seeding? Fungicides? Growth regulators? What are your pesiticide costs?
