<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:v = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml"><HEAD><META content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" http-equiv=Content-Type></HEAD>
<BODY style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" id=role_body bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 rightMargin=7 topMargin=7><FONT id=role_document color=#000000 size=3 face=Arial>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10">Thanks to Erik.</DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">
<HR>
From: EJohansen@agr.wa.gov<BR>To: ladadams@aol.com<BR>Sent: 8/26/2013 11:26:31
A.M. Pacific Daylight Time<BR>Subj: FW: WSDA News: Gardening? Quick tips to
keep bees buzzing in your garden<BR></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial>
<DIV class=WordSection1>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">FYI<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV>
<DIV style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #b5c4df 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 3pt">
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">From:</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> Louisell, Mike (AGR)
<BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, August 26, 2013 9:58 AM<BR><B>To:</B> AGR DL All
Employees<BR><B>Subject:</B> WSDA News: Gardening? Quick tips to keep bees
buzzing in your garden<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><IMG SRC="cid:X.MA1.1377543864@aol.com" alt=WSDALogo100Years-Color-WithText.png width=440 height=112 DATASIZE="37252" ID="MA1.1377543864" ><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><v:shapetype id=_x0000_t202 coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="202" path="m,l,21600r21600,l21600,xe"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"></v:path></v:shapetype><v:shape style="Z-INDEX: 251657728; POSITION: absolute; MARGIN-TOP: 4.05pt; WIDTH: 538.15pt; HEIGHT: 24.7pt; MARGIN-LEFT: -6.6pt" id=_x0000_s1026 type="#_x0000_t202" stroked="f"><v:textbox style="mso-next-textbox: #_x0000_s1026"></v:textbox></v:shape><SPAN style="Z-INDEX: 251657728; POSITION: absolute; mso-ignore: vglayout">
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<DIV style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 3.6pt; PADDING-LEFT: 7.2pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 7.2pt; PADDING-TOP: 3.6pt" class=shape v:shape="_x0000_s1026">
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: #060e9f">For immediate
release: Aug. 26, 2013
(13-27)
Contact: </SPAN><A title=mailto:Hector.Castro@agr.wa.gov href="mailto:Hector.Castro@agr.wa.gov"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">Hector Castro</SPAN></A><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: #060e9f"> (360)
902-1815<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></SPAN><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P><BR style="mso-ignore: vglayout" clear=all>
<P style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt" class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Gardening? Quick
tips to keep bees buzzing in your garden <o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">OLYMPIA</SPAN></B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">
– The </SPAN><A title=http://www.agr.wa.gov/ href="http://www.agr.wa.gov/"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Washington
State Department of Agriculture</SPAN></A><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">
(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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">The
guide, </SPAN><A title=http://agr.wa.gov/fp/pubs/docs/388-TenWaysToProtectBeesFromPesticides.pdf href="http://agr.wa.gov/fp/pubs/docs/388-TenWaysToProtectBeesFromPesticides.pdf"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">“</SPAN><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">10
Ways to Protect Bees from Pesticides</SPAN><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">,”</SPAN></A><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">
offers information on pesticide use and bees, web sites with information on
the topic, and tips to reduce the risk to bees. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">“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.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">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 </SPAN><A title=http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0c0affede4f840bc8525781f00436213/c186766df22b37d485257bc8005b0e64!OpenDocument href="http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0c0affede4f840bc8525781f00436213/c186766df22b37d485257bc8005b0e64!OpenDocument"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency</SPAN></A><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">
(EPA) announced new pesticide labels that prohibit the use of some
neonicotinoid pesticides where bees are present.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">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. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">For
more information or copies of the pamphlet, email </SPAN><A title=mailto:pestreg@agr.wa.gov href="mailto:pestreg@agr.wa.gov"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">pestreg@agr.wa.gov</SPAN></A><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">
or call 360-902-2078. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%" class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%" class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">###<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">WSDA is on
</SPAN><A title=http://www.youtube.com/user/WSDAgov/ href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WSDAgov/"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">You
Tube</SPAN></A><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">, </SPAN><A title=http://www.facebook.com/pages/Washington-State-Department-of-Agriculture/94335697905 href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Washington-State-Department-of-Agriculture/94335697905"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Facebook</SPAN></A><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> and </SPAN><A title=http://twitter.com/WSDAgov href="http://twitter.com/WSDAgov"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Twitter</SPAN></A><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #4c952b; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></FONT></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>