Corn Dust Research Consortium Awards Research Grants

The nonprofit Pollinator Partnership announced the grant award decision of the Corn Dust Research Consortium, a multi-stakeholder initiative formed to fund research with the goal of reducing honey bee exposure to dust emitted during treated-seed corn planting.

The successful proposals were submitted by Reed Johnson of Ohio State University, Mary Harris of Iowa State University, and the Grain Farmers of Ontario on behalf of Art Schaafsma, University of Guelph. The research will be completed this fall and has as its objective a better understanding of the conditions found during the 2013 corn planting season.

This announcement coincides with the release of the USDA-EPA Report on the National Stakeholders Conference on Honey Bee Health. The key findings of this report identified four major influences affecting pollinator decline: Parasites and disease, nutritional stress, genetics, and pesticide exposure.

Research indicated that the most significant impact has been the overall loss of clean habitat. The genesis of the CDRC began in the collaborative discussions of the National Stakeholders Conference. These sessions encouraged collaborative efforts to develop strategic and sustainable change. The CDRC stakeholders bring expertise in crop protection, seed production, farm equipment, corn growing, beekeeping, academic, governmental, and conservation.

The CDRC participating organizations include the American Seed Trade Association, the American Honey Producers Association, the American Beekeeping Federation, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, Bayer CropScience, the Canadian Honey Council, the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association, the National Corn Growers Association, the Pollinator Partnership, Syngenta, and the University of Maryland. These organizations have come together to fund and oversee two research projects to better understand ideas for mitigating risks to honey bees from exposure to planter-emitted dust during corn planting.

Input on the selected research protocols is being sought from U.S. and Canadian regulatory and research agencies to ensure that the study is proceeding in a manner consistent with acceptable protocols.

Established in 1997, the Pollinator Partnership is the largest 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to the health, protection, and conservation of all pollinating animals. For more information, visit pollinator.org.