Supersweet Corn Seeds Without Nicotinoids?

[retiredwith4acres]

I look and shop for seeds without the pink coatings but have trouble with my mother buying them. She wants her corn supersweets and usually buys those with the coating. I am asking "do any of you have suggestions of where to buy those supersweets without nicotinoids"? That way I can cut her off and order the seeds next year before she buys them. I am afraid our honeybees are being poisoned by the chemicals. We lost 85% of our hives last year. I know we cannot control the corn and soybeans planted nearby but can at least control what goes into our garden. The corn is the last thing for us to change, mainly because she wants her supersweets.

 

[ducks4you]

I'm sorry that I can't suggest, but have you called any local farm supply stores? I know that our local Urbana FS would search for this, if I asked for it.
It is AMAZING to me what some of parents have learned to do. My mother swears by insecticides and MiracleGro, but her "Master-Gardener-by-Way-of-feeding a family" father grew his magnificent little garden on horse manure.
I'm hoping that you can go around her.

 

[bj taylor]

wish you luck with your corn. can't offer any ideas. would love to read more about your bees if you get the chance.

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

Check out Johnny's Seeds http://www.johnnyseeds.com/c-347-super-sweet.aspx those that are treated say they are on this page.

 

[digitS']

It may not be all that difficult for you to find untreated seed online from a major catalog, '4acres.

Stokes Seed has Extra Early Super Sweet and say quite clearly "Untreated seed."

Johnny's says something about most of their seed is untreated and I think that it is only the treated seed that is identified as such in their catalog.

Go ahead and check out http://www.stokeseeds.com. Take a look at their Extra Early Super Sweet. A note Johnny's may be necessary to ask about treated/untreated.

Steve
wishing you the best of luck with your bees

edited to add: Here is Osbourne Seed's list of untreated seed. You will notice that there are a half dozen untreated supersweets:
http://www.osborneseed.com/product-category.cfm?untreated

 

[seedcorn]

I'm unaware of very many seed companies putting nicotinoids on their seed. Most will use a standard fungicide with a color dye. Fungicides control fungus diseases like pythium and photophoria (my spelling is bad) while nicotinoids like poncho/gaucho are insecticides.

Now on farmer hybrid seed, it is becoming the standard. I bought sweetcorn from a company that sells both and mine had no insecticide on it.

Sweet corn is susceptible to most diseases which is why they prefer to treat it with something.

 

[majorcatfish]

the pink seeds from stokes is a fungicide not a pesticide.
have been growing g121j sweet corn from stokes for years...great corn for canning

biggest thing is to remember is not to spray while plants are in bloom.... if you need to spray for bugs use neem oil ..bee safe...

 

[retiredwith4acres]

Thanks for all the responses. I will check these out.

BJ, we have 6 hives. I have been beekeeping for 5 years. I am not real successful since I lose some every year. I began with 2 hives and added as we go along. For us I think 6 is a good number. Not too much work for a aging couple. We got about 25 quarts last year from two hives. If all goes well we should maybe get 30 this year from the two. I am trying not to get too positive since something could still happen. The others are new this year and therefore not to be robbed. Two hives are weak and not real promising. When we got into them a few days ago they didn't have any or few brood.

We have a great beekeeping association and that is where I have learned what I know. We have great mentors from the club.

Beekeeping as most hobbies eats the money. I will need to get about 30 quarts to sell to get my money back this year. If I could get through the winter with all hives healthy and have a decent honey flow in the spring, we should get 200-400 quarts. BUT, we are not that good!!