Pesticides registered for pest control on a given vegetable crop can also be used for that vegetable’s seed crop, unless prohibited. For pesticide recommendations in addition to those listed below, see the appropriate vegetable section in this handbook.
Important notice Several pesticides with 24c SLN (Special Local Need) registrations for use on seed crops lack legal tolerances established for pesticide residues that may be on the seed, screenings, or hay at harvest. Therefore, certain seed growers associations in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho have declared, through their respective state departments of agriculture, that the crop produced for seed in those states is a nonfood crop. This declaration means that none of the seed, screenings, hay, or sprouts produced from harvested seed will be available for human or animal consumption when these pesticides have been applied. The grower must notify the seed processing plant in writing of any seed treated with these pesticides. Processed seed must be labeled: “This seed was produced using one or more products for which the United States Environmental Protection Agency has not established pesticide residue tolerances. This seed, in whole, as sprouts, or in any form, may violate requirements of the Federal Food and Drug Administration, the Oregon Department of Agriculture and other regulatory agencies.”