In the first of its kind case, Minnesota has compensated two beekeepers whose hives were damaged last spring by dust from the neonicotinoid insecticides on corn seed.

“It’s the first test of landmark environmental law,” says Janet Knodel, North Dakota State University Extension entomologist.

The bee kills were linked to exposure to dust from neonicotinoid insecticides in the seed treatments on corn, she says. Neonicotinoid insecticides are also used in soybean seed treatments.

Here are the essentials of the case, as reported Sunday by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

Minnesota finds that neonicotinoid insecticide dust that drifted during corn planting killed bees in nearby hives.

It happened last year. The beekeeper – an organic farmer who manages five hives – discovered the damage the day after corn was planted across the road from her hives. The wind had been blowing toward her hives.

Tests conducted duriung the Minnesota Department of Agriculture investigation found that even two days later, dead bees carried acute levels of the insecticide and dandelions nearby showed significantly higher concentrations of the insecticide.

There was no violation of state or federal pesticide application law because seed treatments are not considered a pesticide.

Since 2014, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture has investigated 10  complaints. This is the first time it found evidence of a pesticide kill.

Knodel says growers should reconsider their use neonicotinoid seed treatments, especially on soybeans.

“Research conducted at NDSU and other universities have found that neonicotinoid seed treatments applied to soybeans do not provide any additional benefits to yield, unless you are planting into a high risk fields with a history of soil insect pests (wireworms or seed corn maggots), for example,” she says.

For the latest recommendations on using neonicotinoid seed treatments in the Dakotas, and for information about the research NDSU, South Dakota State University and other area universities conducted, see: http://farmprogress.com/story-should-treat-soybean-seed-neonicotinoid-9-136459.