According to the American Bee Journal, almond growers in California may not have access to the honey bee colonies necessary to pollinate this year’s crop. “We need 1.6 million colonies, or two colonies per acre, and California has only about 500,000 colonies that can be used for that purpose. We need to bring in a million more colonies but due to the winter losses, we may not have enough bees,” says Eric Mussen, PhD, extension apiculturist at the University of California Davis (UC Davis) Department of Entomology. While CCD appears to have multiple interacting causes, including malnutrition, pests, parasites, pathogens, and stress, a range of scientific evidence points to sublethal pesticide exposures as important contributing factors. Neonicotiniods, a class of potent systemic insecticides, are particularly suspect, especially in combination with the dozens of other pesticides bees are exposed to in their hive and when foraging.
Jeff Anderson, will discuss the shortage of commercial honeybees for this year’s upcoming California almond pollination season In the special series produced by The Organic View Radio Show called “The Neonicotinoid View”, hosts June Stoyer and special guest host, Tom Theobald will discuss this crisis with featured guest, Jeff Anderson. Mr. Anderson is the owner of California-Minnesota Honey farms, which is a commercial migratory beekeeping operation. He also represents the beekeeping industry on the National Beekeeping Advisory Board and The National Pollinator Defense Fund. The discussion will focus on the critical state of California’s almond pollination industry and the devastation caused by neonicotinoid pesticides.
Neonicotinoids are defined by the EPA as a class of insecticides with a common mode of action that affects the central nervous system of insects, causing paralysis and death. All of the neonicotinoids were registered after 1984 and were not subject to reregistration. Some uncertainties have been identified since their initial registration regarding the potential environmental fate and effects of neonicotinoid pesticides, particularly as they relate to pollinators. Data suggests that neonicotinic residues can accumulate in pollen and nectar of treated plants and may represent a potential exposure to pollinators. Adverse effects data as well as beekill incidents have also been reported, highlighting the potential direct and/or indirect effects of neonicotinic pesticides. Therefore, among other refinements to ecological risk assessment during registration review, the Agency will consider potential effects of the neonicotinoids to honeybees and other pollinating insects.
Neonicotinoid pesticides have been a key concern for global bee losses. Commercial beekeepers and environmental groups have been demanding a ban in the United States for several years. Recently, the European Union announced a pending ban on several neonicotinoids which is to go into effect July of 2013. According to statistics from beekeeping groups, the United States may have lost up to 70% of its commercial honeybees even though the antiquated statistics from agency officials claim a 30% estimate of losses.
“Dutch Toxicologist, Dr. Henk Tennekes predicted this in his research and in his widely acclaimed book, Disaster In The Making” said June Stoyer, Executive Producer of the show. “It is sad to see that the regulatory agencies have allowed this to happen.”
An archive will be available at http://www.theorganicview.com/podcasts/ or listeners can subscribe to the archives via the RSS feed located at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theorganicview.rss All podcasts are also available for download on all major podcast providers such as iTunes and Zune. Read more about the host and the discussion on The Organic View’s website at www.TheOrganicView.com. Listen to the broadcast:
http://www.blubrry.com/theorganicview/1684165/will-the-california-almon…
Sources: eNews Park Forest, 12 February 2013
http://www.enewspf.com/latest-news/science/science-a-environmental/4033…
SBWire (http://s.tt/1A2ky), 20 February 2013
http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/neonicotinoids/honeybees/sbwire-21…
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