Phoenix Permaculture Guild

Join us in creating a more sustainable Phoenix!

I ran across this article the other day:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13388.cfm
I hope the link works.
I guess German scientists have made an "unequivocal" connection to bee die off and the pesticide clothianidin. While Germany is suspending its use, the US seems to not be all that concerned...

Tags: bayer, bee, monsanto, pesticide

Share

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Hi Ericka,

I did a little digging and found the German institute who did the original studies is the Julius Kuehn Institute. JKI is the amalgamation of the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV). These three research centres were merged in January this year and they do research into everything concerning cultivated plants.

Their website has the original publications concerning the bee die offs (but it's in German). There is in fact a direct correlation between the use of an insecticide coating for corn seed produced by is produced by Monheim, Germany-based Bayer CropScience.

http://www.jki.bund.de/nn_813794/SiteGlobals/Forms/Suche/serviceSuc...

"It can unequivocally be concluded that a poisoning of the bees is due to the rub-off of the pesticide ingredient clothianidin from corn seeds," notes a press release from the Julius Kuehn Institute (JKI), the German federal agricultural research agency. Beekeepers in the region started finding piles of dead bees at the entrance of hives in early May, right around the time corn seeding takes place," says Walter Haefeker, president of the European Professional Beekeepers Association.

They believe the pesticide meant for the Western Corn Rootworm became airborn when the Corn seeds were planted (corn seeds are planted on these farms by shooting them into the soil – literally, they shoot seeds from heavy machinery and this caused the pesticide to become airborn).

Statement from Bayer states, “We are saddened by the loss of the bees, Bayer CropScience is keen to establish a certification system in cooperation with seed companies, in order to avoid incorrect use of seed treatment products in the future. At the same time, the company is working with manufacturers of pneumatic corn-sowing equipment to develop ways of avoiding the drift of product particles during sowing."

There you have it. The problem will be solved by better guns to shoot the seeds, not the banning the toxic pesticide. Afterall, how does that saying go, “Guns don’t kill people…”

Reply to This

Thanks for researching some more on this subject. It amazes me how the solution is "you're using it wrong!" when common sense tells us that the poison is the issue.

Because we are the top of the food chain, everything we do will eventually come back to us. Neuro-toxins killing bugs will eventually make it to our brains too. The bright spot in this conversation is people are starting to wake up and change.

SAVE THE BEES!
Ericka:)

Reply to This

August 18 - The Natural Resources Defense Council filed a lawsuit today to uncover critical information that the US government is withholding about the risks posed by pesticides to honey bees.
See this story:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_14192.cfm

The USDA claims that "one out of every three mouthfuls of food in the typical American diet has a connection to bee pollination." Something to think about as you eat...

Reply to This

RSS

Latest Activity

Kirsten Balatgek might attend Administrator's event30 minutes ago
Raising Chickens in Your Backyard with Rachel Bess at Drip Coffee Lounge, just south of Sheridan on 7th Street
July 29, 2009 from 6pm to 7:30pm
Raising Chickens in Your Backyard with Rachel Bess Wednesday, July 29th, 6:00 – 7:30 PM Location: Drip Coffee Lounge Requested donation: $10 Coffee and drinks only available for sale until 6 PM! Rachel will show you how easy it is to keep chicken...
Dana might attend Administrator's event6 hours ago
August 29, 2009 from 8am to 5:30pm
Fall 2009 Permaculture Design Course - 72 Hr Certification Course - Weekend 1 Saturday, August 29th from 8am to 5:30pm Become a Certified Permaculture Designer. You must pre-register for this class (see the "Events" tab, sub-menu "PDC Course" fo...
monica is attending Administrator's event8 hours ago
August 29, 2009 from 8am to 5:30pm
Fall 2009 Permaculture Design Course - 72 Hr Certification Course - Weekend 1 Saturday, August 29th from 8am to 5:30pm Become a Certified Permaculture Designer. You must pre-register for this class (see the "Events" tab, sub-menu "PDC Course" fo...
Melissa Rennells added a blog post10 hours ago
I found 2 hungry cherry tomatoes on my tomato plant. My malabar spinach is doing wonderfull. It's starting to get taller. It has been small forever. It's in full sun now,and loving it.
Nicholas DiBiase and Leann Christian are attending Administrator's event12 hours ago
Bermuda Grass Removal – a Double-edged Sword at University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County
July 23, 2009 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Bermuda Grass Removal – a Double-edged Sword Instructor: Don Titmus July 23rd (Thursday) 6:30 – 8:30 pm University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County Palo Verde Room, 4341 E Broadway Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85040 Cost: $15 (check or cash on...
Sholbk might attend Administrator's event19 hours ago
Bermuda Grass Removal – a Double-edged Sword at University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County
July 23, 2009 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Bermuda Grass Removal – a Double-edged Sword Instructor: Don Titmus July 23rd (Thursday) 6:30 – 8:30 pm University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County Palo Verde Room, 4341 E Broadway Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85040 Cost: $15 (check or cash on...
Janet L. is attending Administrator's event20 hours ago
July 29, 2009 from 6:30pm to 8pm
Composting - Getting The Good Dirt Wednesday, July 29th, 6:30 – 8:00 PM Requested Donation: $10 In this hands-on workshop, we will explore the myriad of methods for backyard composting, worm composting, types of compost bins, as well as the ins a...
Janet L. might attend Administrator's event20 hours ago
Herb Gardening for Desert Dwellers at Home & Garden Expo Center - Peoria
July 19, 2009 from 11:30am to 1pm
WESTSIDE LOCATION! (Peoria) See map: http://www.homeandgardenexpocenter.com/images/PeoriaMap.pdf Herb Gardening for Desert Dwellers Sunday, July 19th, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Requested donation: $10 Cash or check only Instructor: Doreen Pollack An he...

Desert Planting & Harvest Calendar

2009 Arizona Farmers' Market List

Proud member of:

© 2009   Created by Administrator

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Privacy  |  Terms of Service