A single seed treated with neonicotinoids, or neonics, can kill a bird. ABC’s Untreated Seed program helps growers source seeds free from these harmful pesticides.
Western Meadowlark perched in meadow brush. Photo by Scott Carpenter.
Common Pesticide, Unintended Consequences
Neonicotinoid insecticides (neonics) are the most commonly used pesticides in the United States, mostly due to their use as a coating on the outside of crop seeds. These “seed treatments” are applied before the seeds are planted and are intended to be absorbed into the developing crop, turning all of the parts of the plant toxic to pests.
Most of the pesticide — up to 98 percent — never makes it into the plant, however. It is lost as dust or seeps into soil and water where it kills non-target beneficial insects. The seeds may be eaten by birds and other wildlife with devastating consequences: just one seed is toxic enough to kill a songbird.
In the majority of cases, these neonic treatments applied to seeds do nothing to benefit farmers. They come at a higher cost to growers and are not economically beneficial: The pests they target are not present at the time of planting, or the conditions to justify the use of neonic seed treatments never materialize. Yet farmers are paying for these treatments, increasing on-farm pest resistance to insecticides, and unintentionally decreasing local biodiversity without reaping any benefits to their crop.
ABC knows that neonics can be beneficial in some cases, but farmers should have the choice of whether or not to use them. They should not have to accept unnecessary pesticide use as the de facto option. To help, we have solutions for farmers, legislators, regulators, and birders.
Solutions for Growers
Want to buy neonic-free seed for common crop varieties? ABC has prepared a guide listing seed dealers across the United States that offer common row crop varieties without neonicotinoid coatings. All listed dealers have been verified by a farmer in the state as sourceable.
Download ABC’s State Bird Conservation Legislative Guide (PDF)
ABC also offers incentives to growers looking to transition away from neonic-coated seeds. We will be enrolling growers for the 2027 season beginning fall of 2026. To be added to the information distribution list for incentives opening in the fall, please email untreatedseedprogram@abcbirds.org.
We had an overwhelming response to our first year of the Untreated Seed Pilot Program. ABC enrolled more than 5,600 acres of cropland, and participation from growers across the country helped us better understand and respond to challenges producers face when it comes to reducing or eliminating neonic seed coatings in their farming operations.
Solutions for Legislators
States can play a leading role in changing the way neonicotinoid-coated seeds are used and regulated. Federal law exempts neonicotinoid-coated seeds from much oversight and regulation due to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Treated Article Exemption. Nuestro State Legislative Guide has a section on this issue and legislative solutions that can be adopted. State-level solutions include:
Requiring verification of the need for neonicotinoid seed coatings prior to use
Tracking seed coating pesticide use in your state
Giving express authority to state pesticide agencies to regulate neonicotinoid-coated seeds.
