This year I planted corn from Henry Fields, which has now started treating all their corn seeds with some kind of coating. Henry Fields website says the coating is to enhance germination and provide vigor and protect against soil born diseases. So, I thought, no big deal, it's treated with a fungicide to prevent rot in the soil.
Recently I have read that corn is commonly treated with systemic pesticides such as Imidacloprid to kill soil pests such as the seed corn maggot among other pests. I'm thinking that killing the maggot would classify as enhancing germination. I've contacted Henry Fields multiple times asking what is in their seed coating, but have not received a response.
Does anyone know what is in the coating they put on their corn seeds? Is it just a fungicide or is there also a systemic pesticide.
If I don't find out what is in this coating, I'll find another source for my corn seeds in the future. Right now I have a lovely stand of corn, that until recently, I thought was pesticide free.
