Coated seed and methods for reducing seed dust

Abstract

Methods for reducing dust by treating a seed with a lubricant composition are described herein. The disclosure also provides for a method of reducing planter dust released during seed planting by applying a lubricant composition to a seed. Methods for increasing seed lubricity by coating a seed with a lubricant composition are also described. Compositions and seeds useful in these methods are also described.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of reducing dust comprising
 (a) first treating a corn, soybean or cotton seed with acetamiprid, dinotefuran, nitenpyram, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam, or abamectin to produce pre-treated seed;   (b) then applying an organic lubricant composition consisting essentially of powdered polyethylene wax to said pre-treated seed;   wherein seed dust from (1) said pre-treated seed with the applied organic lubricant composition is reduced relative to (2) seed of the same type pre-treated with acetamiprid, dinotefuran, nitenpyram, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam, or abamectin with an applied coating of talc and/or graphite and without said organic lubricant composition;   wherein the organic lubricant composition is applied about 0.5-4.0 ounces per 100 pounds of seed; and   wherein the seed dust is measured by a Heubach Dustmeter.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said organic lubricant composition further comprises a wax selected from the group consisting of carnuba wax, paraffin wax, polypropylene wax, oxidized polyethylene wax, montan wax, microcrystalline wax, Fischer-Tropsch wax, amide wax, ethylene-acrylic-acid wax, polyolefin wax, ethylene bis stearamide wax, bees wax, lanolin wax, and vegetable wax. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said organic lubricant composition is applied to said pre-treated seed prior to planting said seed. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said organic lubricant composition is applied to said pre-treated seed at the time of seed planting. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein seed to which the organic lubricant composition is applied reduces seed dust emissions by 50% or more. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said organic lubricant is applied to said pre-treated seed in a planter mechanism or hopper of the planting mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said seed is corn or soybean seed. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising planting said seed with a mechanical planter, wherein said mechanical planter is an air or vacuum planter. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said seed is corn seed. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said seed is soybean seed. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said seed is cotton seed. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pre-treated seed is treated with acetamiprid. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pre-treated seed is treated with dinotefuran. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pre-treated seed is treated with nitenpyram. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pre-treated seed is treated with thiacloprid. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pre-treated seed is treated with thiamethoxam. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pre-treated seed is treated with abamectin. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said lubricant composition is applied to seed at about 1.0-3.0 ounces per 100 pounds of seed. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said organic lubricant composition consists essentially of powdered oxidized polyethylene wax. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said organic lubricant composition further comprises TEFLON™ (polytetrafluoroethylene).