Treated Seed Disposal Concerns and Potential Ramifications on Beneficial & Pest Insect Communities

Typically, ethanol plants process harvested grains as a primary carbohydrate source in the ethanol process, however, an ethanol plant in Mead, NE was processing millions of pounds of outdated surplus treated crop seeds which resulted in highly contaminated discharge water and pesticide laden waste also known as mash or wetcake. The improper disposal practice and widespread systemic pesticide pollution issue has led to major concerns over the short and long-term impacts to local human and wildlife communities. This presentation shares the story of what is happening in Mead, NE, how honey bees played a role in discovering the problem, and the local and national responses that have resulted from this case study.