Tell your governor: Ban toxic seeds that kill birds and bees

Just one small seed has deadly consequences for birds and bees. Millions of seeds are treated with neonicotinoid pesticides, contaminating the entire plant as it grows. Plus, most of the pesticides on the seeds don't stay there -- 95% gets rubbed off or washed away, contaminating the surrounding environment. That turns a cornfield into a toxic minefield for a tiny bee or a hungry bird.

Tell your governor to ban toxic seeds that kill birds and bees.

Subject: Ban neonic-coated seeds that kill birds and bees

Your Letter:

I urge you and your state agencies to ban seeds treated with neonicotinoid pesticides. Each year, neonic-coated seeds are planted on 150 million acres across the country. That's a huge portion of American farmland that poses a threat to pollinators.

Neonicotinoid pesticides can paralyze and kill bees. Most of the pesticides on the seeds don't stay there -- up to 95% gets rubbed off or washed away, contaminating the surrounding environment. Bees can fly through lethal doses of pesticides stirred up during planting. And birds accidentally eat toxic seeds left behind after planting, which can kill them on the spot.

Farmer's don't need to use pesticide-coated seeds. The Environmental Protection Agency's research found little benefit to coating soybeans in neonics. And some studies have found the seeds reduced crop yield by killing off the target pests' natural enemies.

By restricting seeds treated with neonic pesticides, you can help protect birds, bees and other important pollinators. Please ban neonic-coated seeds.

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