A new Guide to Treated Seed Stewardship provides a one-stop resource for those involved with handling, storage, transportation, and use of treated seed.

Developed by a group of seed industry professionals, the guide offers best management practices for insecticide- and fungicide-treated seed. It is designed to complement CropLife Canada’s seed treatment operations standards, which provide uniform health and safety practises for the storage and handling of seed treatment products in Canada.

It may also be helpful for those making operational decisions on the stewardship of seed enhanced with biological, inoculants, fertilizers, or functional seed coatings such as polymers.

The new guide expands on the storage and handling guidelines developed in 2005 to encompass transportation, use and disposition, said Dale Adolphe, executive director of the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association.

“We encourage seed growers and commercial producers to familiarize themselves and adopt these important stewardship practices,” said Adolphe.

“We strongly advise those who handle, transport, and use treated seed to implement the best management practices found in the guide,” added Dave Baute, president of the Canadian Seed Trade Association, which partnered with the seed growers’ association to develop the guide.

It is available at seedgrowers.ca and cdnseed.org.