[Pollinator] Fwd: FW: WSDA News: Gardening? Quick tips to keep bees buzzing in your garden

[Ladadams at aol.com]

Thanks to Erik.
 
 
  
____________________________________
 From: EJohansen at agr.wa.gov
To: ladadams at aol.com
Sent: 8/26/2013 11:26:31  A.M. Pacific Daylight Time
Subj: FW: WSDA News: Gardening? Quick tips to  keep bees buzzing in your 
garden



FYI 
 
 
From: Louisell, Mike (AGR)  
Sent: Monday, August 26, 2013 9:58 AM
To: AGR DL All  Employees
Subject: WSDA News: Gardening? Quick tips to keep bees  buzzing in your 
garden

 
 
For immediate  release:  Aug. 26, 2013   (13-27)                            
                Contact:  _Hector Castro_ (mailto:Hector.Castro at agr.wa.gov) 
 (360)  902-1815

Gardening? Quick  tips to keep bees buzzing in your garden   
OLYMPIA  – The _Washington  State Department of Agriculture_ 
(http://www.agr.wa.gov/)   (WSDA) has developed a new pamphlet meant to help guide home 
gardeners on the  ways to protect bees and other pollinating insects from the 
possible effects  of certain pesticides. 
The  guide, _“10  Ways to Protect Bees from Pesticides,”_ 
(http://agr.wa.gov/fp/pubs/docs/388-TenWaysToProtectBeesFromPesticides.pdf)   offers 
information on pesticide use and bees, web sites with information on  the topic, 
and tips to reduce the risk to bees.  
One  tip is to avoid applying pesticides to plants when they are in bloom, 
since  this is when bees are most likely to visit the plants.  Another tip 
urges  home users to read pesticide labels closely and look for specific 
instructions  regarding the protection of bees and pollinators. 
“There  has been a growing concern about the health of bees and other 
pollinators in  Washington and across the country,” WSDA Director Bud Hover said. 
“Our  agriculture community and our environment need these pollinators, and 
sharing  information like this is one way we can help more people do their 
part to  protect our bees.” 
In  addition to making honey, bees pollinate a variety of fruit and 
vegetable  crops. It is estimated that the value of the crops pollinated by bees in 
 Washington state was more than $2.75 billion in 2011. While no large bee  
deaths have been reported in Washington in recent years, there has been a  
general decline in the state’s bee population and significant bee death  
incidents elsewhere. 
According  to pollinator experts, the possible reasons for the decline of 
honey bee  colonies may include parasites, disease, genetics, poor nutrition 
and  pesticides. In mid-August, the _U.S.  Environmental Protection Agency_ 
(http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0c0affede4f840bc8525781f00436213/c1
86766df22b37d485257bc8005b0e64!OpenDocument)   (EPA) announced new 
pesticide labels that prohibit the use of some  neonicotinoid pesticides where bees 
are present. 
WSDA  has posted the pamphlet on its website and has advised retail 
associations  that it is available so they can share the information with 
homeowners  purchasing pesticides in local businesses.  
For  more information or copies of the pamphlet, email _pestreg at agr.wa.gov_ 
(mailto:pestreg at agr.wa.gov)   or call 360-902-2078.  

### 
WSDA is on  _You  Tube_ (http://www.youtube.com/user/WSDAgov/) , _Facebook_ 
(http://www.facebook.com/pages/Washington-State-Department-of-Agriculture/94
335697905)  and _Twitter_ (http://twitter.com/WSDAgov)  



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