2026 Minnesota Neonic Forum

Neonicotinoids (“neonics”) are used on 11 million + acres annually across Minnesota as a common method for agricultural pest management. This forum will present current research and feature scientific and practitioner perspectives on the widespread use and impacts of neonic insecticide seed treatments in Minnesota.

Register for the free forum here. You may participate in person or online. Lunch is provided for in-person registrants.

This one-day event is hosted by University of Minnesota Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships. Since 1997, The Partnerships have worked to connect community-identified needs with University resources to drive sustainability and resiliency in Greater Minnesota.

Forum purpose:
Using research-based information to educate the public about the current uses, efficacy and impacts of widespread use of neonicotinoids in Minnesota agriculture. Provide digestible data to support informed decisions around agricultural practices that balance productivity with economic and environmental health.

Forum audience:
Event is open to the public. Content will be targeted to a primary audience of agricultural professionals and educators, farmers, agricultural community members, and state and local agencies. Additional audience groups include anglers and hunters, conservationists, rural community members, and others interested in understanding neonic use and impacts on the landscape.

Forum goals:
● Provide research-based information that increases audience members’ knowledge about what neonicotinoids are, why and how they are used in agricultural systems,
present seed treatment effectiveness data, and gain deeper understanding of what the current and projected effects of widespread use are in MN.
● Host a respectful and science-forward dialogue about neonicotinoids informed by research that welcomes diverse perspectives and fosters collaboration on neonicotinoid use in agriculture.

Topics will include:
● A look at the history, current use, and data on effectiveness of neonic seed treatments.
● How neonics move across land and water.
● Impacts of neonics on water and wildlife.
● Seed supply chain challenges and opportunities as discussed by a farmer and local seed company panel.
● Exploring alternatives to prophylactic (preemptive) seed treatments: lessons from New York on targeted application and supporting farmers through this transition.

Speakers will include:
Researchers from the University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin, Cornell University, farmers, family-owned seed companies, and other experts.

More information:
Please direct any questions and inquiries to Kathy Draeger, RSDP statewide director, at draeg001@umn.edu, or Danielle Piraino, RSDP Outreach Specialist at pirai006@umn.edu

About UMN Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships
The University of Minnesota Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP) works to connect community-identified needs with University resources to drive sustainability and resiliency in Greater Minnesota. This forum was conceived in response to an inquiry from a Minnesota farmer seeking research-based information on neonicotinoids. It has been designed to align with the mission of Extension and RSDP to connect Minnesotans with research-based information to make informed decisions.

Register for the free forum here. You may participate in person or online. Lunch is provided for in-person registrants.