Right here in our country’s heartland, farmers’ livelihood and health is at stake all due to greedy corporate interests that operate in the guise of helping farmers. This “help” is destroying farmers and we must fight back NOW.
Neonics, short for neonicotinoid, is a very real and pervasive problem. It’s tied to special interests like Monsanto and by default the Farm Bureau. First you must understand the issue to then be able to take action and seek help – with this understanding there is a way forward.
Through the acquisition of Monsanto by Bayer in 2018 the prevalence of neonicotinoid-coated seeds has exploded. This is a form of pesticide attached to the seed that is banned in the European Union due to its harmful effects.
Nearly every corn seed and most soybean seeds planted across the Midwest are coated with neonicotinoid insecticides – these are toxic chemicals pushed by big agribusiness onto farmers under the guise of “protection.” But instead of helping farmers, these coated seeds are wreaking havoc on land, pollinators, waterways, and even crop yields. They are the silent plague. They are injuring farmers.
Here’s the brutal truth about what’s happening in fields across America as corporate interests enrich themselves off the backs of farmers and the American consumer.
Environmental Carnage
- Pollinators Under Siege: Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators are being poisoned en masse. Dust from neonic-coated seeds drifts into hives, kills insects outright, and contributes to catastrophic population declines. The creatures that sustain our crops and ecosystems are dying so corporations can profit.
- Waterways Contaminated: Rain washes neonics into rivers and streams, killing the aquatic insects that feed fish, birds, and wildlife. Entire ecosystems are being poisoned — quietly, systematically, and legally.
- Soil Life Devastated: The chemicals obliterate beneficial insects and microbial life in the soil. Nutrient cycling, carbon capture, and the very fertility of the land are being undermined for the sake of chemical dependence. This short-term focus will sow long-term harm.
Crop Damage and Economic Betrayal
- Reduced Yields: Ironically, neonic-coated seeds can backfire, reducing crop yields. In 2015, studies showed that coated soybean seeds killed predators of damaging pests like slugs, causing a 5% loss in yield. Farmers pay a premium for seeds that can hurt their harvest all so that corporate interests can enrich their coffers as they dupe the farmer.
- Pest Resistance Nightmare: Widespread, unnecessary use of neonics is breeding super-pests that no longer respond to these chemicals. Farmers are trapped in a cycle of escalating chemical inputs. These are the chemical inputs that then increase the market share of corporate giants now like Bayer, who acquired Monsanto.
- Questionable Value: In fields with low pest pressure, these seeds often deliver little to no benefit; in addition, the seeds’ pesticide characteristics are known not to work well at cooler temperatures prominent in the Midwest. The chemical exists with little to no known benefit, leaving farmers paying huge sums for a “solution” that’s mostly hype with negative externalities.
The GM Seed Problem
- Superweeds Rising: Herbicide-tolerant GM crops have fueled the creation of herbicide-resistant weeds, forcing farmers to turn to harsher chemicals or destructive tillage, again enriching those who sell such products.
- Collateral Damage: Herbicide drift, such as from dicamba on tolerant crops, wrecks neighboring intolerant crops, hurting fellow farmers and reducing trust in local communities.
- Insect Resistance: Insects are evolving resistance to Bt toxins in GM corn, undermining a key pest-control tool and creating even more dependency on chemicals.
The Consequences for Farmers
This is corporate control at its worst. Midwest farmers are facing:
- Skyrocketing production costs
- Crop damage caused by the very “solutions” sold to them
- Long-term dependency on chemicals and patented seeds
- Limited choices due to the consolidation of the seed industry