[Pollinator] CropLife Canada and bees

[John Purdy]

Actually pesticide exposure is about the same for both high loss and low
loss groups and as several published source have pointed out, the exposure
is below the no-effect level in most cases.  Any correlation between bee
losses and agricultural intensity is due to the well known correlation
between beekeeping and farming.  In line with earlier reports such as the
one by Mullin et al  that surveyed pesticide exposure, the residues are
detectable but the levels are not high enough to cause harm.  Also
speculation about mixture effects has not been substantiated.  This is in
line with the Australian government review, the United Nations review, the
COLOSS review, and the reviews by Blaquiere and Fairbrother et al.  There
are other reviews but they have not structured their assessment on an
exposure versus hazard model.


On Mon, Aug 25, 2014 at 4:48 PM, Krusac, Dennis -FS <dkrusac at fs.fed.us>
wrote:

>  Let’s make sure we don’t lose focus here.  The issue is way bigger than
> just honey bees, it involves all our native pollinators.
>
>
>
> Dennis L. Krusac, Certified Wildlife Biologist
>
> Endangered species Specialist/Pollinator Conservation Coordinator
>
> USDA Forest Service
>
> 1720 Peachtree Road, NW, Suite 816 N
>
> Atlanta, GA 30309
>
> 404-347-4338 (office)
>
> 404-660-4377 (cell)
>
> 404-347-4154 (fax)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Pollinator [mailto:pollinator-bounces+dkrusac=
> fs.fed.us at lists.sonic.net] *On Behalf Of *John Purdy
> *Sent:* Monday, August 25, 2014 12:54 PM
> *To:* Clement Kent
> *Cc:* NAPPC listserv
>
> *Subject:* Re: [Pollinator] CropLife Canada and bees
>
>
>
> It may also be useful to note that there are beekeepers with high losses
> and beekeepers with low losses. this is inconsistent with the idea that
> pesticides are the whole story.  As bee diseases are known to be be a major
> reason for this, it will be important to promote biosecurity.
>
> As one beekeeper in Quebec said.  "I want to be a beekeeper that is
> successful in todays agricultural environment"  Many beekeepers are.
>
>
>
> On Fri, Aug 22, 2014 at 1:52 PM, Clement Kent <clementfkent at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> The last Pollinator Digest (v 1382, issue 1) had a note from CropLife
> Canada pointing readers to their "Beepocalypse? No" literature. Some
> readers may not know CropLife Canada - it is a trade organization supported
> by the largest manufacturers of pesticides including Bayer, Dow, DuPont,
> Monsanto, and Syngenta. In the past, they sought to bring suit in the
> Supreme Court of Canada against the City of Toronto for introducing a "no
> cosmetic use of pesticides" bylaw. The Canadian Environmental Law
> Association intervened and the bylaw was sustained and has been widely
> copied in Canadian municipalities.
>
> At present, according to the  Sierra Club Foundation of Canada, "CropLife
> is in the midst of a major lobbying and public relations campaign to
> prevent Canada from adopting a ban on bee killing neonicotinoid pesticides"
> and has recently installed a just-retired Member of Parliament from the
> ruling Conservative Party on its Board of Directors. Sierra Club says "We
> are advised that this could constitute a conflict of interest" under a
> federal act and have asked the Federal Ethics commissioner to investigate.
>
> This is useful background on CropLife Canada for pollination advocates to
> understand. The substantive claim on their web page is limited to the
> statement that the number of beehives in various jurisdictions is not in
> decline. What they do NOT mention is the loss rate of beehives, which has
> been much higher in recent years than the past in the same jurisdictions.
> Up to a point, beekeepers can replace lost hives, but this increases costs
> and has made many beekeepers unprofitable in recent years.
>
> So, while the number of beehives does not yet indicate "Beepocalypse",
> loss rates are making it difficult for many beekeepers to stay in business.
> This is a warning sign we must heed.
>
> Clement Kent
>
>
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